Wine reviews
One of the greatest Cabernet Francs made in California is Luc Morlet’s 2014 Cabernet Franc Force De La Nature, which is 100% Cabernet Franc from Oakville. The 2013 was a perfect wine, while the 2014 is a mere mortal. However, there is plenty to get excited about with this wine, as it has a huge floral, black raspberry and violet-scented nose, forest floor notes, licorice and subtle toast. It is deep, rich, medium to full-bodied and crosses the palate with intensity, but no real heaviness. It is a gorgeous wine coming from the remarkable Beckstoffer To Kalon vineyard in Oakville. Drink it over the next 15-20 years.-RP 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 cuvées of Chardonnay, three cuvées 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.