This bottling of Chappellet’s Signature Chenin Blanc shows real purity of fruit year after year, and it is a pleasure to see it come across my desk once again. It’s easy to see why the winery remains dedicated to this grape. I keep hearing about Chenin Blanc having a “moment” domestically, but it is this wine and just a handful of others in California that keep the flag flying. This is the class of the bunch. White flowers, white peach, pear, and soft lemon zest. Stony salinity comes forward in the finish, leaving your mouth watering and wanting more.
Chappellet, Napa Valley (California) Chenin Blanc 2021
By Rich Cook