Morlet, Force de la Nature Cabernet Franc, California

This was a big wine. Maybe a touch sweet for my taste, but still enjoyable.

2012 vintage

Strong Bouquet aroma, taste very rounded, a bit sweet but just the right amount. Such beautiful Cab Franc! Thought I was in Bordeaux for a minute!

2015 vintage

Similar to prior notes after a 90 min. double decant; outstanding & likely the best CF I've ever had, drink or hold

2012 vintage

Deep garnet purple color. Lots of dark fruits in the nose, black cherries and blackberries with notes of espresso, chocolate, earthiness and floral. Black cherries, plums, black raspberries, and hints of chocolate in the flavor. A big concentrated wine with plenty of time in the bottle, full bodied, well balanced with a great mouthfeel, complex, and a long lingering finish.

2015 vintage

Luc morlet arguably makes The best cab francs in America and right up with best anywhere! Pure cab franc from beckstoffer to kalon. May ultimately deserve the 100 rating that I think RP and JS both gave it . Great now but still on the upswing so no rush! I’d decant 2 hrs if you go now….

2015 vintage

Closed for business--relatively speaking. Immensely detailed texture, but understated on the nose and the palate. Admittedly broad and complex once it gets going. Green olive, perfectly ripe black and red fruit, clove, pencil lead, and plenty of lovely herbs. But not explosive or powerful the way almost all other Morlet wines I've had are, and in fact a bit backward and reticent at the moment. Tannins obviously ripe and high quality. Alcohol is evident on the finish. 2 hours in …

2015 vintage

Best wine I’ve had this year. All the pieces are there and working together - fruit, acid, tannins. Drank at a byob wine dinner and was wine of the night.

2012 vintage

Similar to prior note after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding, near perfection, drink or hold (having trouble as it is so good!)

2012 vintage

Here is the conclusion, best CF among Napa is produced here, by Morlet and Realm. Luc and Benoit different a lot on nose, this one was more fruit driven. The palate is so similar along realm and morlet, both are massive, mouth-filling, board and well balanced. Tannins of this one were a bit too strong for me and it will get softer with age.

2015 vintage

More like my 1st bottle after double decanting for 2 hrs, deep ruby, black cherries with chocolate & just a whiff of green pepper, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding, drink or hold. This is a wine that is hard to put down!

2012 vintage

Similar to prior note after a 2 hour double decant; a little more green, but still outstanding, drink or preferably hold

2012 vintage

Double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby, black cherries with some vanilla & a whiff of green pepper, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding, drink or hold. Everyone at our brownbag group guessed Napa cab as I did the 1st time I tasted it blind. It was WOTN!

2012 vintage

Decanted one hour. Seamless and balanced on the palate with excellent mouth feel, chewy tannins, and totally integrated flavors of red and black fruit, herbs, minerality without a trace of bitterness, and a touch of aromatic spice. This is a pricey wine because of Parker's 100 points but it's the best California Cab Franc I've ever had. I continue to be a huge fan of Luc Morlet. First of three bottles bought at auction. It will be interesting to see …

2015 vintage

Somewhat similar to my experience with this wine from 2.5 years ago (June 2, 2018), though perhaps more relaxed and accessible at this juncture in terms of front-end approachability. Earth, spice, and violets flank the dark red and black berry core fruit. There are faint hits of mineral and slate elements that help to form the frame, but some of the would-be complexities that are evident here are clipped slightly by the booze creeping up on the back end. Decanting …

2012 vintage

Double decanted back into bottle and then poured through aerator for the first glasses. This was more open for business on the palate with the extra aeration than last time. Black cherry, plum, bramble fruit, cherry cola, Dr Pepper, and hints of chocolate and meat. Very intense and unrelenting finish but not unbalanced. A touch of heat. The wine closed up somewhat by the last glass and while just about drinkable now really does need to sleep. 96 score reflects …

2015 vintage

Double decanted and poured back into bottle shortly befote dinner. Bouquet of fruit compote and a hint of green leaf. Ultra powerful raspberry, strawberry, black cherry, milk chocolate, cinammon and raspberry soda or sarsaparilla finish. At times over the top, the wine usually (though not always) came back to a more measured finish with plenty of tension and verve. Once or twice the heat showed through but that is impressive for a young wine with this amount of alcohol. I …

2015 vintage

Pop and pour. Dried herbs on the nose. On the palate, delicate yet powerful notes of spice, wildflowers, chocolate, river rocks, redcurrants with fine tannins. Second of two bottles, drinking beautifully.

2012 vintage

Clearly a very good wine but a bit cloaked and over the top in some ways, though does depend on your palate and preference. Initially out the gates it has huge fruit and a silky softness in a huge frame. Almost a bit sickly sweet and the high alchohol is truly hidden which is a good thing. Plenty of cassis and coffee going on with rich fruit. Oak and tannins are there but help complement the wine and very much …

2012 vintage

Unbelievable! As my friend the "Great" Bemowski would say! Very young, so I set it on the counter in the mid afternoon to rid the chill for about 4 hours. Opened and poured at dinner. Lots of acidity up front until it had time to sit for 15-20 minutes. The wine opened, softened and became more powerful as the night wore on. 14% alcohol. Black fruit mixed with cigars and earthiness up front. Nice tannin, warmth and luxury on the …

2015 vintage

Decanted over cocktails and served. Herbal bouquet. On the palate, fine tannins balanced with integrated acid and intense redcurrant, herbs, river rocks, and a bit of graphite. Superb showing. It's noteworthy that Luc Morlet can make world-class wines in so many different styles.

2012 vintage

Napa Cabernets + SQN + others (Home) : Compared/served directly next to a 2008 and a 2012 Morlet Coeur de Vallee. This Force de la Nature had some notable precision (especially when distinguished from the Morlet Coeur de Vallee wines, which offered up more in the fruit department in general; whereas the Force has a laser-like focus that elevated the intensity and provided lift for its distinct flavors). The Force seemed more earth and spice driven as well, with less …

2012 vintage

On the nose, somewhat muted aromas of ripe, wild berries and alcohol. On the palate, initial notes of raspberry liqueur, blueberry, boysenberry, licorice, and some spice. The fruit is just a tad reserved, and cloaked by an initially prominent but friendly wafting of alcohol. The purity of fruit is admirable and the tannins are beautifully sweet. Not a hard edge to be found on this wine. Decanted for 30 minutes and the wine started to shut down a bit, with …

2012 vintage

Worth the $225-$250 price tag. A truly remarkable bottle that sets the benchmark for cab franc.

2012 vintage

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Morlet, Force de la Nature Cabernet Franc, California

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