2009 Morlet Family Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnement
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Tasting notes
Bright ruby-red. Aromas of cassis, black cherry, violet and licorice, with an emerging note of black pepper; lovely perfume. Plush, fine-grained and sweet, with flavors of black fruits, violet and graphite minerality dominating. Not quite as pliant or harmonious as the Coeur de Vallée but very long and firm on the rising aftertaste, with firm but noble tannins ensuring a continued slow evolution in bottle. This very concentrated, densely packed wine possesses very good energy but still conveys an element of medicinal reserve and needs patience. No, this boasts terrific energy and precision. (15.2% alcohol)
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Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
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Morlet's 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnement offers up sweet red cherries, flowers, licorice and sweet spices all meld together in this subtle, delicate wine. A lovely center of minerality gives the wine its poise. Passionnement is a selection of Morlet's best barrels from fruit sourced in Oakville (To Kalon, Missouri Hopper) and Knights Valley, but I often feel that something is lost in that selection process.
Morlet’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnement offers up sweet red cherries, flowers, licorice and sweet spices that all meld together in this subtle, delicate wine. A lovely center of minerality gives the wine its poise. Passionnement is a selection of Morlet’s best barrels from fruit sourced in Oakville (To Kalon, Missouri Hopper) and Knights Valley, but I often feel that something is lost in that selection process. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029. Luc and Jodie Morlet’s 2010s are off the charts. The 2010s have huge structure, but the fruit is so ripe and voluptuous in these wines that the perception of tannin is often imperceptible. The 2009s, on the other hand, are made from grapes that weren’t as physiologically ripe, so the tannins remain firm and in need of time in bottle to soften. As good as the Morlet range is, the most exciting wine appears to be the Morlet Estate, from a vineyard in St. Helena the Morlets purchased a few years ago. Tel. (707) 967-8690; www.morletwines.com
(100% cabernet sauvignon; made from the best barrels from three Oakville vineyards): Good bright, deep red. Cassis, graphite, cedar, licorice, tobacco and flowers on the nose. Seamless and fine-grained, with lovely precision and lift to the dark berry and violet flavors. Impressively complex and intense wine with a light touch (especially for its 3.95 pH). Finishes with terrific sappy perfume and a tight tannic spine for extended aging.