2009 Las Piedras
Chappellet’s Las Piedras, a Spanish term that translates to “the rocks,” is a wine that celebrates the prized, rugged terrain of Pritchard Hill. The thin, rock-laden soils of our vineyards yield small, concentrated berries with robust flavors. Winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus blended individual lots of all five of the traditional Bordeaux varietals—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot—to create this expressive wine.
| Vintage: | 2009 |
| Wine Type: | Red Wine |
| Varietal: | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Varietal Composition: | |
| 50% | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| 34% | Merlot |
| 7% | Malbec |
| 5% | Cabernet Franc |
| 4% | Petit Verdot |
| Appellation: | Napa Valley |
| Harvest Date: | September 14 - 23, 2009 |
| Sugar: | 23.4–28.6° Brix at Harvest |
| Acid: | TA – 0.59g/100 ml |
| PH: | pH - 3.69 |
| Barrel Aging: | |
| 18 months | |
| Ageability: | 8 - 10 years |
| Bottling Date: | July, 2011 |
| Alcohol %: | 15.1% |
The aromas open with a lush blend of ripe boysenberry and cassis fruit, leading to notes of vanilla bean, clove and cocoa, all surrounded by sweet, toasty French oak that underscores the wine’s intensity. There is a sense of hedonism that brims from the glass, preparing the palate for the radiant tannins and rich, fleshy structure. Though concentrated cherry and pomegranate flavors give the impression of an almost liqueur-like richness, there is also suppleness and balance to this thoughtful blend.
Though rainfall was little more than two-thirds of normal for the third year in a row, the timing of the precipitation was in the vines’ favor, as late spring rains delayed irrigation needs. June, July and August were cool, but September was quite warm, which helped the fruit reach complete maturity. A large storm hit in mid-October, but all of our grapes were harvested before the rains.
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