Morlet Oakville Les Petits Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck - Vinous
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Displaying a very intense bouquet of black currant, candied red and black cherries and mocha, intermixed with hints of blond tobacco leaves and earthy notes of leather and toasted red pepper. Les Petits Cabernet Sauvignon possesses youthful, yet sweet tannins and is characterized by its overall richness, suave character and approachability.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Produced from estate grown, younger vines and from the barrels that didn’t make the cut for the final blends of the “grand vin” Cabernet labels, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Petits Morlet is a well-priced "second" label. Deep garnet-purple colored, it charges out of the gate with bold notions of blackberry pie, juicy black plums and black currant pastilles with hints of lavender, eucalyptus oil and cloves. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the palate is bursting with black berry flavors, supported by plush tannins and a lively backbone, finishing with impressive length. Forget that this is a second label—this impeccably made Cabernet is just plain delicious!
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Jeb Dunnuck
Readers looking for a peek at the quality of this domaine should unquestionably check out the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Petits Morlet, which can be thought of as the entry level blend from winemaker Luc Morlet. It reveals a dense purple color as well as a classy nose of blackcurrant liqueur, smoked herbs, chocolate, violets, and new leather. These carry to a ripe, full-bodied, sexy 2018 that delivers serious amounts of fruit, a lifted, perfumed, already complex style, and the ability to evolve for 10-15 years, if not longer.
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Vinous
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Petits Morlet is a delightful wine from Luc and Jodie Morlet. Soft, open-knit and so inviting, the 2018 is beautifully done. It captures all the house signatures, but in an accessible style, making it easy to drink and enjoy right now. Succulent dark cherry, raspberry, mocha, spice and licorice linger on the long, understated finish. This is an absolutely gorgeous second wine. Most of the fruit is from the Morlets' vineyard in Oakville, with some fruit from their sites in St. Helena and Knights Valley.
When Luc left France in 1996 to join his wife Jodie in her native California, his goal was to adapt the old world principles he knew so well to his new home. The Morlet style results in wines which are harmonious in their intensity, richness, complexity and refinement. Morlet wines clearly display personality, seamless character and graceful ageing capability.
In 2006, Luc and his wife Jodie began crafting wines, in limited quantities, from unique vineyards of Napa Valley and Sonoma County, under the Morlet Family Vineyards label. In 2010, the couple restored a pre-Prohibition winery located in the beautiful St. Helena appellation, as their family’s winery. With over 20 vintages under his belt, and with his own zest for innovation, Luc uses century old principles and classic Burgundy and Bordeaux methods adapted to California’s natural conditions. Passionate for both the expression of terroir, as well as for the continuous pursuit of ultimate quality, Luc calls his winemaking philosophy ‘neo-classic laissez-faire without compromise.’
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.