Morlet Estate St Helena Napa Valley 2018

USA : CALIFORNIA : NAPA VALLEY — ST. HELENA

Organic : Cabernet Sauvignon

FULL-BODIED, CASSIS, PENCIL LEAD, DARK PLUM, VIOLETS, TOBACCO LEAF

The Morlet Estate vineyard sits on the western foothills just north of St. Helena, where volcanic tuffa and alluvial soils split across three blocks at elevations ranging from 240 to 440 feet. Luc Morlet farms it himself — organically, with a full-time crew, berry-by-berry sorting through his patented Le Trieur™, native yeast fermentation, 16 months in artisan French oak, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. 390 cases total.

The 2018 was Napa’s slowest growing season in years — a cool summer and extended hang time into late October gave winemakers precision alongside the appellation’s usual concentration. Wine Advocate gave it 99 points; Antonio Galloni and Jeb Dunnuck each gave 98. Jeb called it “the most Bordeaux-like wine in the lineup,” which tracks: cedar pencil, bouquet garni, and graphite sit alongside the classic cassis and dark plum. The structure argues for patience — best from 2026 through 2035, with decades of arc beyond that.

PAIRINGS :