Community Tasting Notes 6

• Erete Likes this wine: 94 points

  January 20, 2024 - Closed for business--relatively speaking.
  
  Immensely detailed texture, but understated on the nose and the palate. Admittedly broad and complex once it gets going. Green olive, perfectly ripe black and red fruit, clove, pencil lead, and plenty of lovely herbs. But not explosive or powerful the way almost all other Morlet wines I've had are, and in fact a bit backward and reticent at the moment. Tannins obviously ripe and high quality. Alcohol is evident on the finish.
  
  2 hours in the decanter probably just made it even more confused--maybe this needed 48 hours, or just 20 minutes? Open if you must, but I'd keep holding.

  Comment

• Fake Drinker Likes this wine: 98 points

  May 4, 2022 - Here is the conclusion, best CF among Napa is produced here, by Morlet and Realm. Luc and Benoit different a lot on nose, this one was more fruit driven. The palate is so similar along realm and morlet, both are massive, mouth-filling, board and well balanced. Tannins of this one were a bit too strong for me and it will get softer with age.

  Comment

• Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 98 points

  February 24, 2021 - Decanted one hour. Seamless and balanced on the palate with excellent mouth feel, chewy tannins, and totally integrated flavors of red and black fruit, herbs, minerality without a trace of bitterness, and a touch of aromatic spice. This is a pricey wine because of Parker's 100 points but it's the best California Cab Franc I've ever had. I continue to be a huge fan of Luc Morlet. First of three bottles bought at auction. It will be interesting to see how this develops.

  2 people found this helpful Comment

• Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 96 points

  October 11, 2020 - Double decanted back into bottle and then poured through aerator for the first glasses. This was more open for business on the palate with the extra aeration than last time. Black cherry, plum, bramble fruit, cherry cola, Dr Pepper, and hints of chocolate and meat. Very intense and unrelenting finish but not unbalanced. A touch of heat. The wine closed up somewhat by the last glass and while just about drinkable now really does need to sleep. 96 score reflects potential for upside (95-97 now).

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 96 points

  September 20, 2020 - Double decanted and poured back into bottle shortly befote dinner. Bouquet of fruit compote and a hint of green leaf. Ultra powerful raspberry, strawberry, black cherry, milk chocolate, cinammon and raspberry soda or sarsaparilla finish. At times over the top, the wine usually (though not always) came back to a more measured finish with plenty of tension and verve. Once or twice the heat showed through but that is impressive for a young wine with this amount of alcohol. I toyed with giving this a 95 given its occasional monolithic nature (sometimes tasted more like a southern Rhone grenache) or a 97 given its myriad amount of personalities and flavours and settled on “96 with upside”. If Bordeaux is your thing this is just about barely in your wheelhouse. Think turbocharged Ausone that is just about drinkable with a decant and demands food. 96 now 97+ in a few years.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

Pro Reviews 2

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2015
• Type Red
• Producer Morlet Family Vineyards
• Varietal Cabernet Franc
• Designation Force de la Nature
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Napa Valley
• Appellation Oakville

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 10 (2%)
• In Cellars 453 (77%)
• Consumed 123 (21%)

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