On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, we had the opportunity to interview Phillip Corallo-Titus, the winemaker for Chappellet and Acumen wineries. We covered a 2024 Chenin Blanc and four 2022 reds from Chappellet. A Cabernet Franc and three Cabernet Sauvignons. We also covered the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc and a 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon from Acumen. You can learn all about what is new with Phillip, both wineries, and these wines in this post.
Before we get to the wines, I thought I would share some tidbits that Phillip shared in the interview.
- Chappellet wine updates.
- Chenin Blanc: They can always pick every block perfectly ripe because it comes in earlier than everything else.
- Cabernet Franc is a combo of Estate and neighbor’s fruit. For instance, Chappellet takes all they can get from Stagecoach and Acumen’s Edcora.
- Hideaway is currently 15 acres. Long term another 20 acres is planned. They already have secured the permit.
- Acumen wine updates
- Peak is going away. The wines will be “Estate.”
- Sauvignon Blanc
- 40% new oak is used.
- They pick the vineyards late.
- They split the vineyard with Spottswoode.
- They are very excited about the 2024 vintage.
- Acumen wines going forward: Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Edcora. About 1,200 cases total.
- Vintage Overviews
- 2022 – Light wines with lower tannins. Drink earlier.
- 2023 – Late Harvest – lower tannins.
- 2024 – A wet spell in October. Low tannin as well.
- What is the story behind the Chappellet “Mountain Cuvee Proprietor’s Blend” wine.
- It is a distributed wine and can be found on a lot of wine lists.
- They buy a lot of the fruit to make it.
- The Cab is from Chalk Hill, the Merlot is from Napa and the PV is from Pope Valley. The wine also contains Cab Franc and Malbec.
The links below are to our full reviews. If you are interested in ordering and trying these wines, you will find the “Signature” Cab and the “Pritchard Hill” Cab via your favorite fine wine shop or on top quality wines lists. The “Napa” Cab, the Chenin, and the Cabernet Franc are also available for order via the Chappellet website. The “Pritchard Hill” and “Hideaway” are for members of the Pritchard Hill Estate Allocation list. If interested, you should join the list. As for the Acumen wine, the Sauvignon Blanc is available via their website. For the Cab you can call the winery and ask for it, as it has not been released yet.
- Acumen 2023 Sauvignon Blanc “PEAK” (Napa Valley) $55 (KWGTP 93.5)
- Acumen 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon “PEAK Edcora Vineyard” (Napa Valley) $175 (KWGTP 96)
- Chappellet 2024 Chenin Blanc “Signature” (Napa Valley) $75 (KWGTP 93.5)
- Chappellet 2022 Cabernet Franc “Napa Valley” $95 (KWGTP 94.5)
- Chappellet 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon “Signature” (Napa Valley) $95 (KWGTP 94)
- Chappellet 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon “Hideaway” (Napa Valley) $200 (KWGTP 96.5)
- Chappellet 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon “Pritchard Hill” (Napa Valley) $325 (KWGTP 97)
You can find reviews of past and future Chappellet wines that we cover on the Chappellet KWG winery page on our website. You can find reviews of past and future Acumen wines that we cover on the Acumen KWG winery page. We hope you enjoy these terrific wines as much as we did. Cheers! – Ken