Morlet Family Vineyards Where excellence comes second nature

Jodie and Luc Morlet in their Californian Sanctuary

Founded in 2006 by French winegrower Luc Morlet – the fifth-generation incumbent of a long line of Champagne producers - and his wife Jodie, the brand took on a new life in 2010 when they began restoring a historic St Helena winery. Their ambition was to create a sanctuary where each bottle possesses its own distinctive harmony.

The French names – Force de la Nature, Force Tranquille and Cœur de Vallée – belie the Californian origin of the wines. We were fortunate to host four vertical tastings down through four vintages of Force Tranquille and five of Cœur de Vallée and Force de la Nature. The most striking impression is the consistency of the wines, mirroring Luc and Jodie’s devotion to authenticity. The remarkable scores awarded to Cœur de Vallée 2021 (100/100), 2020 (99/100) and 2019 (99/100) say it all.

Tasting wines by Morlet Family Vineyards, you are immediately struck by the relentless pursuit of terroir purity. Here, pinpoint precision meets American power and pitch-perfect maturation.

Force de la Nature, from 2018 through to 2022, stands out for its purity – clean, vivid and delightfully untamed. It makes sense for a blend that isn’t really one at all, where Cabernet Franc is the sole backbone. The 2021 vintage deserves a special mention for its chiselled fruitiness and tannin structure showing incredible breed.

The vines used to craft the "Mon Chevalier" Label

Blending requires high-precision craftsmanship

The next step is to blend a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon with the more forthright Cabernet Franc. This is the idea that Luc and Jodie have distilled into Force Tranquille, which radiates natural clarity across the four vintages tasted (2019 to 2022). Like a memorable sporting moment, where sometimes the simplest movements are the most beautiful to behold, this wine captivates with its grace, poise and natural charm.

Then comes Cœur de Vallée, in all its regal splendour. Generous and expansive with every facet sculpted in granular detail, and clearly built for greatness. Its noble – at times racy – palate weight is underpinned by stellar oak. What more is there to say, except that in the past ten years, Gilbert & Gaillard has awarded only three 100/100 scores – and 2021 Cœur de Vallée is one of them.

In conversation, the finest technicians are instantly recognisable by their precision, honesty and encyclopaedic knowledge of their wines. But identifying the clear intent behind every bottle – even with the most challenging grape varieties – requires more than that. And Luc Morlet has what it takes.