Beginnend mit dem Jahrgang 2006 haben Luc Morlet, ehemaliger Winzer der Peter Michael Winery, und seine Frau Jodie Morlet in Handarbeit Terroirweine und einzigartige Cuvées aus Cabernet Sauvignon und Cabernet Franc aus dem Napa Valley sowie Chardonnay und Pinot Noir aus der Appellation Sonoma Coast hergestellt. Sorgfältig bewirtschaftete Weinberge und Weinherstellungstechniken mit geringem Eingriff bringen kraftvolle und dennoch raffinierte Weine hervor. Durch die Übernahme alter Prinzipien und deren Anpassung an Kalifornien führt der Morlet-Stil zu Weinen, die in ihrer Intensität, Fülle, Komplexität und Raffinesse harmonisch sind. Das Coeur de Vallée liegt in der berühmten Appellation Oakville, im Herzen des Napa Valley. Es liegt an der Ost-West-Straße, die den Weinberg „Au Paradis“ von Peter Michael Winery, Dalla Valle Vineyards, Screaming Eagle, To Kalon Weinberg und Harlan Estate umfasst. To Kalon Creek schlängelt sich durch das Grundstück der Morlet Familie, die Cabernet Sauvignon und Cabernet Franc Reben profitieren vom kiesigen, schlammigen Ballenboden, der aus einem alluvialen Delta in diesem warmen, aber gemäßigten Klima stammt. 

Luc Morlet 
Dunkellila. Intensives und komplexes Bouquet aus roten, schwarzen und Blaubeeren, vermischt mit Noten von Cassis, Quetschpflaume, hellem Tabak und einem Hauch von schwarzem Pfeffer. Vollmundig, der Gaumen erinnert an die Nase, mit cremiger Textur, Fülle, kraftvollem Mittelgaumen und schöner Tiefe. Die seidigen Tannine und komplexen Aromen bilden ein harmonisches Ensemble, das zu einem sehr langen und sanften Abgang führt. Dieser Sammlerwein wird Jahrzehnte lang in Würde altern. 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc. 

Decanter 
A new addition to the Place de Bordeaux this year, the 'heart of the valley' comes from a 10ha plot in Oakville, that overlooks Mount St. John in the Mayacamas Range and shares the same soil profile as the nearby To Kalon vineyard. Chocolate covered cherries and blackcurrants on the nose, really expressive and aromatic with elements of mocha and graphite. Deep and rich - so intense from the get go., sensual and seductive. A dense texture, smooth but deep is so impactful and really quite memorable, velvet and imposing in the mouth - it's the absolute signature of the estate. It's so charming, the flavours slowly expand from start to finish and side to side coating the tongue and cheeks in ripe red and black fruit, cocoa powder, sweet cinnamon and vanilla and a touch of toasted black pepper and liquorice spice. Round and generous but well delivered, feels purposeful and direct but still with excellent acidity giving a juicy and salivating quality to the wine as well as sweet spices that dot the palate. A lovely expression that is layered vertically giving energy and definition. Lifted, bright and finessed. The definition really lingers, not too heavy yet delivering so much flavour. An excellent wine by Luc Morlet. The second vintage of this wine. Ageing 16 months in French oak barrels. 

Jane Anson 
Tasted in Bordeaux a few months ago, and it is once again strikingly successful, with floral freshness, dense but velvety tannins, run through with juicy acidity, pure and focused damson and bilberry fruit, chocolate, sage and slate. Concentrated but with momentum and grace. A wonderful vintage for this wine, so easy to recommend. Native yeast, unfined, unfiltered, 85% new oak, 600l oak casks for 2/3 of ageing, with the rest in stainless steel. 

Lisa Perrotti-Brown 
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Coeur de Vallee is deep garnet-purple colored. It gallops out with expressive notions of warm cassis, blackberry pie, and blueberry preserves, followed by hints of cedar chest, tilled soil, bay leaves, and iron ore. The full-bodied palate is taut, with a nice combination of bright crunchy black fruits and juicy blue fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral-laced. The Coeur de Vallee vineyard is in Oakville, just across the road from To Kalon, and is planted entirely to clone 4 with a small amount of Cabernet Franc (clone 1), which does well on the clay-loam soil. The 2019 blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc. 1300 cases were made.