Morlet Family Vineyards Billet Doux Late Harvest Semillon 2012 (half-bottle) is made from Sémillon (65%) Sauvignon Blanc (31%) Muscat à Petits Grains (4%)
rowing in the gravelly soil of an ancient riverbed in the beautiful Alexander Valley, the old vines benefit from hot afternoons and cool, foggy mornings, favorable for the development of Botrytis (Noble Rot). Extremely small yields in the Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat vineyards lead to the immensely concentrated fruit. Just as one receives a note from one’s sweetheart, we present this wine as a precious ‘Love Note’ or ‘Billet Doux.’
Deep crystal clear gold. Intense and complex bouquet of dry apricot, pêche de vigne and Reine Claude yellow plum intermixed with notes of quince, honey, Muscat and a hint of sweet vanilla. Full bodied, the palate is reminiscent of the nose, with a creamy sweet texture and a great intensity. The large amount of sugar and glycerin creates a highlighted viscosity. Along with the wine’s great concentration, richness and opulence, the classical aromatic complexity reveals a flamboyant yet harmonious ensemble, leading to a very long, complex and smooth finish.
Proprietary name ‘Billet Doux’
Name meaning Love Note
Type of wine Late harvest white wine
Appellation Alexander Valley
Vineyard singularity 25-60 year old vines Loamy and gravelly soils from an ancient river bed One cluster per shoot ‘de rigueur’
Typical harvest date November Picking Manual, small lugs, refrigerated truck
Sorting Cluster by cluster
Fermentation In barrel through native yeast
Upbringing 16 months French Oak from selected artisan Coopers
Bottling Unfined, filtered to prevent Malolactic
Cellaring time Decades
Serving Chilled and decanted
Review:
Produced from 65% Sémillon, 31% Sauvignon Blanc and 4% Muscat, the 2012 Billet Doux has a medium golden color and profoundly scented nose of beeswax, honeyed nuts, orange marmalade, Manuka honey and preserved lemons. Full-bodied, full-on sweet, rich, concentrated and oh-so-unctuous, it delivers powerful flavor layers and epic length. 175 cases were made.
-Wine Advocate 97 Points
Mortet Bourgogne Cote d'Or Rouge is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
A parcel of 90 ares, one part is 20 years old and the other part is 55 years old. Its is called Les Pressonniers, in Gevrey-Chambertin.
Bourgogne Rouge Côte d’Or comes from a plot of Gevrey-Chambertin vines, giving delicate fruit and body, as well as the character and complexity of the Gevrey-Chambertin terro
Oumsiyat Assyrtico is made from 100 percent Assyrtico.
Subtle aromas of white fruits and flinty mineral notes are framed by a delicate floral character. Linear on the palate with a wonderfully refreshing and mouthwatering finish.
RS: 2g/L
The grapes were carefully selected to ensure the healthy and ripe fruit was vinified and then gently pressed. The must was racked and cool fermented in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures of 14 to 16°C, with selected yeasts. The wine delivers a crisp, fresh style as it did not go through malolactic fermentation. It was lightly filtered prior to bottling.
Oumsiyat Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Intense aromas of luscious tropical fruit notes of ripe peach and pineapple are refreshingly balanced on the palate through to a clean and zesty finish.
RS: 2 g/L
The Chardonnay grapes were sorted prior to vinification to ensure the fruit was healthy and ripe. The grapes were then pressed, and the must was racked to stainless steel fermentation tanks, where the must was fermented at 14 to 16°C with selected yeasts. The wine did not undergo malolactic fermentation to maintain the crisp, fresh style. The wine rested on its fine lees for three months adding texture and subtle complexity before being gently filtered and bottled.
Pago de los Capellanes Tinto Joven is made from 100% Tempranillo.
Joven Roble is for everyone and for every moment. Fresh and vibrant, while at the same time complete and full of energy. A clear, affable, open and solid character. We take its production very seriously to obtain a blissfully satisfying wine with every vintage.
Review:
All Tempranillo, the 2022 Ribera del Duero Tinto Joven has a deep purple hue as well as beautiful blue fruits, violets, graphite, and charcoal aromas and flavors. Along with medium to full-bodied richness, it has wonderful purity and precision, fine tannins, and a great finish. It's a stunning value.
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
Palacio del Burgo Crianza is made from 90% Tempranillo & 10% Graciano
Palacio de Burgo's Crianza blends the concept of the intense fruity young wines traditionally made in Rioja and the old world wine making style that has made the region famous. The result is a complex wine that impresses for its intensity right from the moment it is poured in the glass.-Mike Good, Timeless Wines
Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats at controlled temperature; aged in American oak barrels for 12 months.
Red ruby colored wine with violet tones; well-balanced, black fruit, vanilla and coconut flavors. Powerful, complex and silky smooth…classic old style Rioja at a bargain price.
Pairs well with aged cheeses and grilled meats
Deep cherry red in color with a garnet rim. On the nose, it is intense and elegant, with a base of ripe fruits that blends with the subtle tertiary aromas of sweet spices and cocoa. On the palate, it is balanced, full-bodied but with sweet and pleasant tannins, with a long and very persistent aftertaste.
Review:
O'Shaughnessy Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% St. Macaire, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenère.
Blended from our three Estate vineyards in arguably the three best appellations within the Napa Valley: Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder and Oakville. Howell Mountain gives us structure and ripe red fruit, while Mt. Veeder adds an extra punch of tannins along with savory mineral driven qualities, Oakville balances out the mountains with its silky texture and pure fruit. This Cabernet is deep ruby red with an opaque center. Bold aromas of aged leather, black currant, and rum raisin, creating a layered and complex bouquet. A luxuriously sweet and rich entry, unfolding with ripe blackberry and velvety cocoa powder. The texture is smooth yet structured, balanced by moderate tannins and a medium level of acidity, leading to a long, elegant finish.
Review:
Based on 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% St. Macaire, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenère and aged two years in French oak (60% new, 40% second year), the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon offers blackcurrants, scorched earth, iron, sappy herbs, and tobacco. It's rich and medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, and has a layered, textured mouthfeel, ripe underlying tannins, and outstanding length. I slightly prefer the overall structure and balance here to the Mt. Veeder bottling, but both are successful 2022s with 10-12 years of longevity.
-Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points