Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Premiere Napa Valley Auction 17/Lot 121 Vineyard 7&8 Collaboration

Absolutely outstanding - Notes of dark, dark inky fruit, supple leather, iron, graphite, damp cool forest floor, hint of espresso with dark black cherry juice, sexy tannins, still holding some cheeky acidity with fantastic balance, looooong, gorgeous finish which begs for more. Tasted cool. Hits the * spot - no overpowering baking spices or sweetness…just a beautiful dark, full bodied wine. Delicious with not only the short rib at Zasu but with the chocolate almond budino for dessert. Like feeling …

2011 vintage

A standout expression of Napa Cabernet, showing remarkable grace and poise at 14 years of age. Classic Napa structure frames vibrant, still-lively fruit—a rarity for the vintage. There’s an elegant femininity here, likely lent by the Cabernet Franc component, offering floral lift and delicate spice that’s uncommon in the valley. Medium tannins—softer than the typically firm grip expected from Beckstoffer fruit—give the wine a silkier texture, while the site’s pedigree still shines through in its depth and precision. Balanced + …

2011 vintage

Best 2011 tasted. Thinking it needed a decant, it was really beautiful right out of the bottle although er ultimately decanted for an hour. Iinky and dark with a light edge halo. On approach beautiful aromas of black cherry with slight hint of oak and baking spices. Subtle black cherry with crème de cassis on the initial taste. By mid-palate it was creamy smooth and lucious. A little blueberry that lingers on the long soft finish. Tannins are well integrated …

2011 vintage

Decanted - some sludge sediment. Good right out of the bottle - developed a bit with some air but not much decant needed. Beautiful nose with floral notes. Wonderfully balanced mouthfeel with big but soft tannins. Ripe fruit, spice with a nod to old world character. Long, lingering finish. Great wine.

2011 vintage

Opened up beautifully after decanting

2011 vintage

Open that bottle night 2023. This was as good a Cabernet as exists out there for a 2011. Great balance for a wine. The nose is very abundant with dark cherry aromatics and sweet plum skin. In mouth it is an mixture of violet candy, vanilla and chocolate, and currant. I must say that 2011 was known as a poor vintage but clearly this Morley didn't get that memo.

2011 vintage

Good, not great. Drink now

2011 vintage

Pop and pour, my last of six bottles. Stunning effort for the vintage with full, balanced palate of chewy red and black fruit and wet earth. Au revoir!

2011 vintage

Given whatI’d heard about this wine and reviews I was expecting more. It was curiously muted - no faults, but nothing that exciting either. I don’t think it was corked - no off putting odours or anything suspicious. Maybe it needs more time in bottle (or air).

2011 vintage

Decanted for about 1 1/2 hours. Really think it should have been longer. Dark red fruit with a layer of current and some green pepper. Early in the glass the green pepper was a little too prominent. The finish was long and some coffee entered the equation. After about another 1/2 to 3/4 hour the green pepper began to fade into the background and some earthiness and spice showed up. This was really singing by the last few sips. I …

2011 vintage

Pop and pour with chicken marsala. This Cab Sauvignon/Cab Franc blend is still singing, with intense pure fruit, light acid, sous bois, black tea, achiote, and notes of dried flowers and herbs. Just a stunning effort for the vintage and drinking at peak.

2011 vintage

The age on this wine is showing quite nicely. Black currant fruit, dusty cedar, loads of anise infused herbs, tobacco leaf, and earth. Very nice balance of fruit and savory elements. Nice fragrance highlighting the Cabernet Franc influence.

2011 vintage

Fairly big, bright fruit, soft, with good balance and acidity.

2011 vintage

Inky Black appearance, took some time to open; consumed over 2 days Cabernet grape 55% and Cab Franc 45% Licorice and casis predominates, minimal fruit on the nose and palate. Has taste of licorice, light wood and forest floor. Smooth and light mouthfeel with tempered tannins and minimal heat. Wish it had more dark fruit remaining, but perhaps this is the style of Morlet-Bordeaux character comes through

2011 vintage

Pop and pour from Magnum. Wow! Absolutely singing 2011 from master winemaker Luc Morlet. The Cab Sauv and Cab Franc blend seamlessly in a bright, velvet palate of purple fruit. With some air, a nice light charred earth on the finish. Outstanding for the vintage.

2011 vintage

Lovely wine. Needs decant. Nice integration, mouth feel and finish. Delayed entry so not many notes!

2011 vintage

This bottle didn't show as well as the other two on pop and pour. Still good, but more ordinary.

2011 vintage

Popped and poured with ribeyes and sweet-potato fries. Just had to pop another one of these because it's drinking so well. Beautiful, pure To-Kalon fruit filling the palate. Yum.

2011 vintage

Wow! Best 2011 I've had. This Left-bank Bordeaux blend from top winemaker Luc Morelet's own brand and perhaps the top vineyard in America is simply gorgeous even in this cool year. Pure, concentrated fruit fills the palate over a bed of chocolate. Ready to go on pop and pour and improved with a little air. Bravo.

2011 vintage

No idea how long this wine was open, but probably was for an hour before I got there today. This wins the youthful fruit award (even beats the 13 Amici). This wine is massive, and displays a lot of ample chalky blackberry fruit, vanilla, and some lavender. The middle is darker, and finishes with good length, good acidity, excellent structure, and great balance. Was going to open the 2009 to compare, but will instead save this for another day. I'd …

2011 vintage

Decanted for 3 hours and drunk over the next 2. Classic big napa cab - cassis, rich blackberry, smoke smoke, great length - but perhaps needs a few more years for the fruit to soften so there is a touch more acidity in balance. But that said if fab. Was great with lamb rack and roast tomatoes

2011 vintage

Surprisingly good for a 2011. This wine is not a Cab Sauv, rather the blend was about 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1/3 Cabernet Franc. Rather than adding green flavors, the Cab Franc seemed to round out the wine and it was balanced with nice flavor and no green notes. Not a plush wine like many Beckstoffer To Kalons, but quite good.

2011 vintage

28th California Futures Tasting (Mandarin Oriental DC) : This was the best of the three Morlet by far for me. Tannins 9/10 on my scale and the Cabernet Franc influence is clear.

2011 vintage

Bassins 28th Annual California Barrel Tasting (Mandarin Hotel, Washington, DC) : Again, very concentrated with prominent coffee/toast, but some pure red fruit and mint pokes through with an herbal edge. Also has some bitterness on the backend, but the freshness of the fruit carries though. Cab franc component seems to be quite noticeable. 91-93

2011 vintage

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Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Premiere Napa Valley Auction 17/Lot 121 Vineyard 7&8 Collaboration

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