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. This wine possesses youthful, yet sweet tannins and is characterized by its overall richness, suave character and approachability.
Professional Ratings
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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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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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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.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.