2009 Morlet Family Ma Douce Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Product Description
Full yellow color. Aromas of lemon drop, Crème Brulée and orange zest intermixed with strong notes of minerality (wet stones) and fresh hazelnut. Full-bodied, mineral driven, this wine displays a creamy texture and very long mineral finish. Built to age gracefully for a decade, this wine is already very approachable.
Expert Ratings
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 94-96 pts, Robert Parker - The 2009 Chardonnay Ma Douce exhibits abundant nectarine, peach, honeysuckle, citrus oil and mango notes intermixed with a hint of subtle oak, a concentrated mouthfeel and a stunning finish. This comes from a vineyard planted at a 1,300 foot elevation with both the old Wente clone (20%) and Dijon clones (80%). (Not yet released)This exceptional group of wines is limited in quantity (from a low of 125 cases to a high of 400+ cases for several of the Chardonnays) cuvees. This is the visionary project of Luc Morlet, a Frenchman who worked for Peter Michael and still consults there with his brother, Nicolas. In issue 192 I reviewed the Morlet Familys Cabernet Sauvignons from Oakville. The following reviews include his brilliant Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Syrahs from cool climate sites primarily located on the Sonoma Coast, but also in the Russian River and Bennett Valley. The 2009 Chardonnays are as concentrated as the 2008s, which is rather remarkable since the yields were higher in 2009. The alcohols are slightly lower, but these are some of the finest 2009 Chardonnays I tasted in California. Like the 2008s, Morlet believes in the old Wente clone of Chardonnay as opposed to some of the newer Dijon or older Davis clones. Tasted from barrel, all three 2009 Chardonnays are perfumed and perhaps thats what sets them slightly apart from the brilliant 2008s. The Pinot Noirs, which tend to come from suitcase clones taken from several of the most famous vineyards in Vosne-Romanee, are all destemmed. The vines are planted between 1,000 and 1,250 feet on high ridges in the Sonoma Coast.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 94-96 pts, Robert Parker - The 2009 Chardonnay Ma Douce exhibits abundant nectarine, peach, honeysuckle, citrus oil and mango notes intermixed with a hint of subtle oak, a concentrated mouthfeel and a stunning finish. This comes from a vineyard planted at a 1,300 foot elevation with both the old Wente clone (20%) and Dijon clones (80%). (Not yet released)This exceptional group of wines is limited in quantity (from a low of 125 cases to a high of 400+ cases for several of the Chardonnays) cuvees. This is the visionary project of Luc Morlet, a Frenchman who worked for Peter Michael and still consults there with his brother, Nicolas. In issue 192 I reviewed the Morlet Familys Cabernet Sauvignons from Oakville. The following reviews include his brilliant Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Syrahs from cool climate sites primarily located on the Sonoma Coast, but also in the Russian River and Bennett Valley. The 2009 Chardonnays are as concentrated as the 2008s, which is rather remarkable since the yields were higher in 2009. The alcohols are slightly lower, but these are some of the finest 2009 Chardonnays I tasted in California. Like the 2008s, Morlet believes in the old Wente clone of Chardonnay as opposed to some of the newer Dijon or older Davis clones. Tasted from barrel, all three 2009 Chardonnays are perfumed and perhaps thats what sets them slightly apart from the brilliant 2008s. The Pinot Noirs, which tend to come from suitcase clones taken from several of the most famous vineyards in Vosne-Romanee, are all destemmed. The vines are planted between 1,000 and 1,250 feet on high ridges in the Sonoma Coast.
