| Score: |
99 RP.
"The top Chardonnay cuvée, which is flirting with perfection, is the 2012 Chardonnay Coup de Coeur. Aromas of roasted hazelnuts, almond paste, brioche, honeysuckle, white peach and delicate pineapple are followed by a full-bodied, stunning wine displaying a subtle hint of oak (one-third new oak barrels are used). Drink this sensational Chardonnay over the next 7-10 years. Run, don’t walk – take your checkbook or credit card out and splurge for the Luc Morlet Wine Express. Morlet, who comes from a family of winemakers in Champagne and consults at the Peter Michael Winery where his brother Nicolas is in charge of the winemaking, has his own operation on Route 29 north of St. Helena. His Napa cuvées were reviewed in Issue #215. His Sonoma offerings are remarkable wines that are about as good as wines made from Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah can be. Morlet is not only a fabulous winemaking talent, he knows how to bring the French savoir faire of complexity, elegance and precision to the ripe, concentrated, intense fruit of California." Wine Advocate #216, Dec 2014 |