Such a beauty! I’ve heard tell that California’s 2023 wines are going to be better than the 2021 vintage that I keep raving about, and this wine seems to shout it from the rooftop. This is a bottle with a long track record, and this may be the best one yet. Rich aromas of white flowers, golden apple and a little marshmallow edge lead to what one person in my tasting group called an “explosive entry” — a fitting description I’m fully on board with. Bright acid carries flavors of apple, nectarine and pear, with soft spice and herb accents that linger through a long finish. Pricey for what many think of as a second-tier grape in California, but this is top tier stuff, and it will age for several years.
Chappellet, Napa Valley (California) Chenin Blanc 2023
By Rich Cook