Winemaker Notes
Dark purple. Intense and complex bouquet of red, black and blue berries intermixed with notes of blueberries, Crème de Cassis, plum, cedar and a hint of cedar and cigar box. Full bodied, the palate is reminiscent of the nose, with a creamy texture and a great intensity. The luscious tannins, the intense aromatic complexity and its opulence create a flamboyant yet harmonious ensemble, leading to a very long, complex and smooth finish. This early charming and collectible wine represents the passionate, uncompromised and on-going pursuit of quality. Passionnement features the close interaction of both bench and hillside manicured vineyards, Morlet winemaking style and the very best of what Napa Valley and Knights Valley have to offer. It is simply the ‘ne plus ultra’ of the Morlet wine production.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The exquisite 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnement, my favorite of this trio, is a 250-case cuvee of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. It boasts an opaque purple color along with an extraordinary perfume of graphite, blueberries, blackberries, flowers and cassis intermixed with hints of white chocolate and toast. The wine possesses terrific concentration, full-bodied power and a stunning, multidimensional mouthfeel and finish. This exceptional wine should drink well for 30+ years.
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Jeb Dunnuck
I was blown away by the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnement, which is showing marginally better than the 2012, despite 2008 being a more difficult vintage. Black fruits, licorice, black olives, and meaty notes give way to a rich, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon that has a great mid-palate, full body, no hard edges, and remarkable purity of fruit.
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.