We had the pleasure of hosting Luc Morlet last Friday for yet another fabulous Graileys tasting. Each label offered its own great personality as they hold stories of his life and those closest to him. He grew up in his family’s Champagne house of Pierre Morlet where he still makes his Champagne. His California bottling was the first wine of the night- the NV Morlet Grand Reserve Champagne. It was refined and balanced with notes of ripe red apple, sweet pear, and hints of pastry, this Champagne was easy to enjoy and enjoy we did.
The 2012 Luc Morlet La Proportion Doree White Blend was a firm favorite. Influenced by Bordeaux’s Haut Brion Blanc, this Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc blend was compelling with bright notes of candied lemon, fresh honeysuckle, juicy apricots, and sweet quince with a luscious mouthfeel and complexity. This was one of my favorites of the lineup.
2012 Luc Morlet Ma Princess Chardonnay boasts from Russian River Valley’s famous Ritchie Vineyard and showed beautiful and complex notes of ripe orchard fruits, richness and energetic spice. Dedicated to his daughter Claire, this Chardonnay was Meursault like in style with its elevated spice and weight.
2012 Luc Morlet Joli Coeur Pinot Noir source their fruit from the heart of the Coteaux Nobles vineyard in Sonoma Coast and is made with the influence of Helen Truly and David Hirsch. A “True Sonoma Coast” Pinot- it was incredibly silky in texture, fully concentrated in red and black fruits, loads of fresh spice, and a finish that delicately lingered on and on.
2011 Luc Morlet Mon Passionement Cabernet Sauvignon is a special cuvee dedicated to his wife Jodie Morlet and is a selection from only the finest barrels from his three terroir driven Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards on the Oakville bench, Knights Valley, and St. Helena. This Cab was intense: a full gamut of berries and crème de cassis, with layers of cedar, spice and earth- it was showing well at the tasting and with a couple more years this Cab could be your cellar gem.
2011 Luc Morlet Mon Chevalier Cabernet Sauvignon comes from their vineyard on the hillsides of Knights Valley and is dedicated to his son, aka “his knight”. My favorite red of the flight, it offered sweet, round notes of blueberry and licorice upfront with a monstrous structure that will tame over many years to come.
2011 Luc Morlet Billet Doux Late Harvest Semillon was the last wine of the night and was a great sweet note to finish, pun intented. From old Semillon vines, this late harvest dessert wine showed rich aromatics of tropical fruits: golden kiwi, sweet pineapple and wild honey while layers of sweet caramel apple, rose water, and lychee coated the palate in the mid. The finish was equally generous with notes of yellow plum and spice.
Other Outstanding Wines of the Night…
2011 Nelin Priorat Blanco
1997 Olivier Leflaive Batard Montrachet
1993 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuit St. Georges Premier Cru Les Saint Georges
1985 Pichon Lalande
2000 Lagrange
2010 Salvestrin Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 Favia Cerro Sur
2011 Robert Foley Merlot