Morlet Family Vineyards: Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier 2007-2019
BY ANTONIO GALLONI |
Knights Valley is one of the most fascinating regions in Northern California. The AVA lies just north of Calistoga and is nestled between Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill and Fountaingrove in a corner of Sonoma County that feels quite remote and pastoral. Knights Valley excels with red and white Bordeaux varieties. The reds are marked by distinctive savory and mineral notes that, at times, recall the great wines of Pessac-Léognan. Luc and Jodie Morlet’s Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier is a terrific example of what Knights Valley has to offer. This retrospective back to the inaugural 2007 provided a fascinating opportunity to see how the wine ages.
Morlet Family Vineyards is one of the few Napa/Sonoma wineries that have made the transition from a startup project relying on purchased fruit and shared production spaces to a true estate. It’s a remarkable American success story. Originally from Champagne, Luc Morlet is a fifth-generation winemaker. Morlet first gained recognition for the wines he made at Peter Michael. He later left to make wines at several estates while continuing to consult at Peter Michael. In 2006, Morlet and his wife, Jodie, founded Morlet Family Vineyards.
Luc Morlet’s pursuits touch many areas in the world of wine. He patented a design for a vibrating sorting table I first saw at Vineyard 7&8 about a dozen years ago. Morlet has long represented barrel cooper Darnajou in the United States, placing these barrels prized for their signature sweetness at numerous top addresses in Northern California. Morlet is also the first winemaker I know of to bottle Cabernet Franc-based wines from Andy Beckstoffer’s To-Kalon Vineyard, something that has now become quite popular as Franc continues to gain a presence in Napa Valley.
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Knights Valley is one of the most fascinating regions in Northern California. The AVA lies just north of Calistoga and is nestled between Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill and Fountaingrove in a corner of Sonoma County that feels quite remote and pastoral. Knights Valley excels with red and white Bordeaux varieties. The reds are marked by distinctive savory and mineral notes that, at times, recall the great wines of Pessac-Léognan. Luc and Jodie Morlet’s Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier is a terrific example of what Knights Valley has to offer. This retrospective back to the inaugural 2007 provided a fascinating opportunity to see how the wine ages.
