PINOT NOIR

Earth bark spice and exotic oak flavors intermingle with fresh fruits. Black cherry is echoed on the palate. The firm tannic core is enveloped in a satiny robe of black and red cherries and red plum skin flavors. Generous without heaviness, the wine is sophisticated and confident.

This is the personal label of Luc Morlet and his wife Jodie. Luc created Newton Vineyard’s Chardonnay Unfiltered, a collector favorite that’s received 96 points from Robert Parker, Jr. He then became the head winemaker for Peter Michael Winery and crafted their wines from the 2001-2005 vintages, where he made a 98-point Cabernet-blend and a 99-point Chardonnay!

This Pinot Noir is made from the very best section of the excellent "Coteaux Nobles" hillside vineyard on the eastern slope of the second ridge from the ocean, on the Sonoma Coast. Hand-crafted using classical Burgundian techniques, this unique wine is also named after the seductive character of the Pinot Noir grape. It is the "Charming Character" or "Joli Coeur."

ROBERT PARKER 93 POINTS - "Luc Morlet (whose brother Nicolas Morlet is winemaker at Peter Michael) continues to fine-tune his beautiful historic stone winery on Rt. 29, just to the north of the Culinary Institute of America. His newest lineup of wines continues his production of three cuvees of Chardonnay, three cuvees of Pinot Noir, a Syrah, a Sauvignon/Semillon Blanc, five Bordeaux-inspired Cabernet Sauvignons and a Cabernet Franc. All of the Chardonnays are based around the Old Wente clone that is so popular with the top Chardonnay winemakers. Rumor has it that it probably came from the great Grand Cru vineyard known as Corton-Charlemagne in Burgundy in the 1930s, but no one has the evidence to prove it."

"Morlet's top selection is the 2014 Pinot Noir Joli Coeur. This has the darkest fruits, crisp acids, more minerality, structure and tannin with a more muscular, backward feel. This wine would benefit from a year of bottle age and drink well for at least 10-15 years."

ANTONIO GALLONI 95 POINTS - "Things seem quite busy at Morlet Family Vineyards. Luc and Jodie Morlet are developing an additional 3.5 acres of land at their estate vineyard in St. Helena. Last year, the Morlets planted a new vineyard in the heart of Oakville, so there will be a greater focus on estate fruit in the future, once those newly planted vineyards come on line. Stylistically, the wines offer plenty of textural richness and opulence, as they always have. At the same time, I see a bit more freshness in these wines than was common just a few years ago."

"The 2014 Pinot Noir Joli Coeur offers a super-appealing interplay of juicy dark red cherry and raspberry flavor, with striking inner sweetness and lifted aromatics. Dense, pliant and voluptuous, the 2014 is exceptionally polished."