The 2014 growing season was easygoing. Grapevines found their happy place quickly, as warm spring soils brought an early budbreak, and the rest of the season was mild and relaxed, with high temperatures dancing in the mid 80’s. The vines and grapes developed smoothly, soaking up the dreamy vacation-like weather. Wine country got a little shaken in late August by an impressive earthquake, but the vineyards only felt a tickle on their roots and harvest proceeded with the same mellow vibe as the rest of the vintage.
In December, Robert Parker wrote "Luc Morlet is not only a fabulous winemaking talent, he knows how to bring the French savoir faire of complexity, elegance and precision to the ripe, concentrated, intense fruit of California." No sense arguing with Bob, he captured this vintage to a tee. A swirl of the glass reveals aromatics of red and black cherries mingled with cedar. The palate is teased by impeccable tannins, round and soft, with notes of blackberry, leather and cocoa, and the finish boasts a captivating yet laid back character.
Enjoy!
150 Cases Produced
The lighter, softer, easygoing 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon is pleasant and sexy, with supple tannins and an up-front, delicious, endearing style. Drink it over the next decade.
The vineyards of this small producer in Knights Valley sit at an 1,100-foot elevation and are composed of the famous aiken red soils over volcanic ash, which is a terroir well-suited for Cabernet Sauvignon. I tasted their three vintages, which certainly merit attention.
- Robert Parker, eRobertParker.com, The Wine Advocate, October 2016