Still plump with vanillin lemon curd on the front end, with the luscious components outweighing much precision or delineation of flavor. Comes off a bit ripe. Served next to a 2016 Vice Versa Platt Chardonnay that exhibited superior acidity, tension, and purity.
I also sensed there might be a slight flaw here, with a muted nose throughout consumption and the ever-so-slightest hint of wet cardboard on the tail of the finish (which was undetected by other tasters). Otherwise, enjoyable but not next-level. A little plush for me, especially as it warmed past 46-48+ degrees in the glass.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Transparent gold. Initially reticent on the nose offering tropical fruit and buttered popcorn before opening fuller to aromas of toasted marshmallow, vanilla, and blueberry pancake. Full bodied with a very rich mouthfeel but still well-balanced by some fresh medium acidity. Took about 30 minutes in the decanter to open up on the palate offering layers of dried apricots, white chocolate, papaya, and lemon curd, and some nuttiness mid-palate. Left a single glass for day two which was just as good -- nose of green apples and candied papayas with orange peel on the palate and a savory finish. Was better a little bit chilled, there was some heat on the finish when it warmed up. Delicious example of this style, 92+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I enjoy comparing wines between producers, vintages, and vineyards, in order to see what differences and similarities exist - to parse the flavors and texture, to figure out how wines vary, some form of intellectual test (and excuse to open two bottles). For these reasons - and as a longtime fan of Morlet’s Chardonnays - I was excited to compare the 2017 Ma Douce (Fort Ross-Seaview) and Ma Princesse (Russian River) side-by-side. I’ve loved each wine over the years, but was there really a difference between the two?
Um, not really. Try as I might, I couldn’t detect a significant difference between the two. They weren’t identical, but the similarities far outweighed the differences - the golden color, creamy texture, and vanillin overlay. So, without further ado, here comes my first ever comparative / non-comparative tasting note:
Golden yellow in color and full in body, the wines offer aromas of brioche, lemon peel, almond, and warm saline. The flavors are viscous, with notes of orange rind, almond, and creme brûlée, with an oily and briny finish that resembles a freshly made lemon curd (partly acidic, but mostly creamy). Perhaps the Ma Douce offered more green apple, perhaps the Ma Princesse more pear - but this is truly splitting hairs. 14.8% alcohol for each. These do better at cooler temperatures, since they loosen up too much (at least for me) as they warm up.
The lack of similarities could easily be a fault of the taster, the oak treatment (which seemed to lay over each wine), or just tonight. That said, I really enjoyed the Ma Douce when I tasted it last fall (9/19 - 95 points), but it came across as less precise and more blowsy tonight. I enjoyed these wines on their own, but together they seemed to ask me the question: why did you buy each of us? One night isn’t enough to dismiss the possibility of real differences, but they sure were hard to decipher this evening. 94 for each for now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened at the last minute, then splash double decanted to take to dinner; still delicious, but this bottle was less evolved & definitely would have benefited from a longer decant or another year or 3
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
With its plump yellow citrus core on full display, the 2017 Ma Princesse is showing a more vanillin-laced profile than six months ago when I last sampled it. A rounder dose of creamy oak and some heat circulating around the lemon curd and yellow apple flavors made for a succulent but slightly slower execution this go-around. Acid and overall verve/tension were more in the background, with a downshift in speed and grip. Certainly scrumptious and tasty, displaying more modern and richer attributes of the varietal in its current state. As Morlet Chardonnays go, this matronly princess is more on the buxom side.
Perhaps it’s still shedding its winter coat? Try again in another year or two and hope it integrates its parts more seamlessly so as to reacquaint balance back into the equation. However, I’m not totally sure it will gain any added endurance as time passes. This may always be a bit fleshy and stout.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Morlet: From the Ritchie site, the Ma Princesse delivers a serious push of mineral-inflected yellow citrus flavors. Outstanding energy, even after having been open for 2 days! More pure and vibrant than the Ma Douce, though also displaying a decent amount of viscosity that adds to its overall substance. Finishes with lemon verbena and olive oil notes. 95-96+ points.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
9/8/2023 - Handy1 wrote: 95 Points
Very nice balance between some oak creaminess and lemon acidity. Drinking great
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2022 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 97 Points
Consistent with notes of 7/9/2021
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2021 - shaferguy91 wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding Chard
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2021 - Handy1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious chardonnay great balance between fruit and acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2021 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Similar to prior notes after a 1 hour SO; outstanding, drink or hold
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2021 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 97 Points
fantastic wine - powerful floral aromas are followed by waves of peach, fennel, honeysuckle and wet stone. Finish goes on and on.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/14/2021 - csimm wrote:
Still plump with vanillin lemon curd on the front end, with the luscious components outweighing much precision or delineation of flavor. Comes off a bit ripe. Served next to a 2016 Vice Versa Platt Chardonnay that exhibited superior acidity, tension, and purity.
I also sensed there might be a slight flaw here, with a muted nose throughout consumption and the ever-so-slightest hint of wet cardboard on the tail of the finish (which was undetected by other tasters). Otherwise, enjoyable but not next-level. A little plush for me, especially as it warmed past 46-48+ degrees in the glass.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2021 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Similar to prior notes after a splash double decant; outstanding, drink or hold
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2020 - timothynbond Likes this wine: 92 Points
Transparent gold. Initially reticent on the nose offering tropical fruit and buttered popcorn before opening fuller to aromas of toasted marshmallow, vanilla, and blueberry pancake. Full bodied with a very rich mouthfeel but still well-balanced by some fresh medium acidity. Took about 30 minutes in the decanter to open up on the palate offering layers of dried apricots, white chocolate, papaya, and lemon curd, and some nuttiness mid-palate. Left a single glass for day two which was just as good -- nose of green apples and candied papayas with orange peel on the palate and a savory finish. Was better a little bit chilled, there was some heat on the finish when it warmed up. Delicious example of this style, 92+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2020 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Similar to prior notes after an hour double decant; outstanding, drink or hold
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2020 - Bob23 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Exotic yellow fruit, nice acidity, ample body. Not remotely similar to French Chardonnay, but delicious new world.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2020 - msuwine wrote: 94 Points
I enjoy comparing wines between producers, vintages, and vineyards, in order to see what differences and similarities exist - to parse the flavors and texture, to figure out how wines vary, some form of intellectual test (and excuse to open two bottles). For these reasons - and as a longtime fan of Morlet’s Chardonnays - I was excited to compare the 2017 Ma Douce (Fort Ross-Seaview) and Ma Princesse (Russian River) side-by-side. I’ve loved each wine over the years, but was there really a difference between the two?
Um, not really. Try as I might, I couldn’t detect a significant difference between the two. They weren’t identical, but the similarities far outweighed the differences - the golden color, creamy texture, and vanillin overlay. So, without further ado, here comes my first ever comparative / non-comparative tasting note:
Golden yellow in color and full in body, the wines offer aromas of brioche, lemon peel, almond, and warm saline. The flavors are viscous, with notes of orange rind, almond, and creme brûlée, with an oily and briny finish that resembles a freshly made lemon curd (partly acidic, but mostly creamy). Perhaps the Ma Douce offered more green apple, perhaps the Ma Princesse more pear - but this is truly splitting hairs. 14.8% alcohol for each. These do better at cooler temperatures, since they loosen up too much (at least for me) as they warm up.
The lack of similarities could easily be a fault of the taster, the oak treatment (which seemed to lay over each wine), or just tonight. That said, I really enjoyed the Ma Douce when I tasted it last fall (9/19 - 95 points), but it came across as less precise and more blowsy tonight. I enjoyed these wines on their own, but together they seemed to ask me the question: why did you buy each of us? One night isn’t enough to dismiss the possibility of real differences, but they sure were hard to decipher this evening. 94 for each for now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/19/2020 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened at the last minute, then splash double decanted to take to dinner; still delicious, but this bottle was less evolved & definitely would have benefited from a longer decant or another year or 3
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2020 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
With its plump yellow citrus core on full display, the 2017 Ma Princesse is showing a more vanillin-laced profile than six months ago when I last sampled it. A rounder dose of creamy oak and some heat circulating around the lemon curd and yellow apple flavors made for a succulent but slightly slower execution this go-around. Acid and overall verve/tension were more in the background, with a downshift in speed and grip. Certainly scrumptious and tasty, displaying more modern and richer attributes of the varietal in its current state. As Morlet Chardonnays go, this matronly princess is more on the buxom side.
Perhaps it’s still shedding its winter coat? Try again in another year or two and hope it integrates its parts more seamlessly so as to reacquaint balance back into the equation. However, I’m not totally sure it will gain any added endurance as time passes. This may always be a bit fleshy and stout.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2020 - Handy1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Creamy vanilla taste with lemon and good viscosity. Delicious
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2020 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Similar to prior note after a splash double decant; outstanding, drink or hold
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/9/2019 - csimm wrote: 96 Points
Morlet: From the Ritchie site, the Ma Princesse delivers a serious push of mineral-inflected yellow citrus flavors. Outstanding energy, even after having been open for 2 days! More pure and vibrant than the Ma Douce, though also displaying a decent amount of viscosity that adds to its overall substance. Finishes with lemon verbena and olive oil notes. 95-96+ points.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2019 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Double decanted, deep gold, creamy lemon with pear; delicious, drink or preferably hold. I am loving the 17 CA chards, in spite of their youth!
After recorking & a night in the fridge, this has amazingly improved (upped score)!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment