Morlet : Coeur de Vallée Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

On this occasion, as part of a long vertical, I was even more impressed by Morlet's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Coeur de Vallee than I had been in the past, when I awarded it 95 points. Marked by scents of cassis, blueberries and cherries, it's full-bodied, plush and rich, showing wonderful balance between concentration and lightness and finishing long.

Well-proportioned and alluring, with a hint of mulberry buried amid the darker currant and blackberry fruit notes, while alder, sweet tobacco and bay leaf accents flitter throughout. Very fine-grained through the finish. Lovely. Drink now through 2037. 1,300 cases made.

Rich and a little “sweet”, very voluptuous and hedonistic. Ultra-fine, powdery tannins, vanilla spices, cassis and a hint of roasted red capsicum and milk chocolate. Spicy, even and integrated on the palate with a long finish. Pure silk. 94% cabernet sauvignon and 6% cabernet franc. Very hedonistic and pleasurable Napa red. Drink now or hold.

Includes 6% Cabernet Franc. Champenois Luc Morlet, who has worked at Newton and Peter Michael in his time, presented this. Pale-rimmed wine that erred on the side of sweet and porty but was actually fun to drink and (just) not over the top. (JR)

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Cœur de Vallée is soft, racy and gracious. It presents gorgeous savory aromatics to play off its mid-weight structure and understated personality. Black cherry, mocha, leather, spice and menthol grace this understated Cabernet. This soft, open-knit Cabernet is already quite accessible and delicious.

Mostly Clone 4 Cabernet Sauvignon with 6% Cabernet Franc, all from a site next to To Kalon, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Coeur De Vallée offers lots of darker currant and black cherry fruits as well as notes of cedary spice, new leather, and dried herbs. These carry to a full-bodied, concentrated, incredibly complex Oakville Cabernet with sweet tannins, a great mid-palate, and one heck of a finish. Drink it over the coming 20-25 years.