Morlet Family Vineyards Ma Douce Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
The cool maritime breeze and mild and sunny mountain climate create ideal conditions for this hillside vineyard located on the second ridge from the Pacific Ocean. Handcrafted using classical Burgundian winemaking techniques, this wine is dedicated to Jodie Morlet. It is ‘My Sweet’ or ‘Ma Douce.’
Full yellow color. Aromas of lemon drop, Crème Brulée and orange zest intermixed with strong notes of minerality (wet stones) and fresh hazelnut. Full-bodied, mineral driven, this wine displays a creamy texture and very long mineral finish. Built to age gracefully for a decade, this wine is already very approachable.
Propietary Name Ma Douce
Name Meaning My Sweet “Douce brize” from the Ocean
Varietal composition Chardonnay
Type of wine Vineyard designated
Appellation Fort Ross-Seaview
Vineyard singularity On the second ridge off Ocean High elevation Goldridge soil
Typical harvest date End of October
Picking Manual, small lugs, refer truck
Sorting Cluster by cluster
Fermentation In barrel through native yeast 100% Malolactic
Upbringing Sur lies with bâtonnage
French oak from selected coopers
Bottling Unfiltered
Cellaring time 5-10 years
Serving Slightly below room temperature Decanted when served young
Review:
"Lots of white peach, quince, white flower, and green almond notes emerge from the 2020 Chardonnay Ma Douce, a full-bodied barrel sample with beautiful depth as well as freshness."96 Points Jeb Dunnuck:
Mt Monster Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Gentle pressing and free run juices create the base of this wine.
Traditionally Mt Monster Chardonnay is 100% fermented and matured in stainless steel, this receives some lees contact to add texture and complexity to the palate, but essentially this wine is pure Chardonnay fruit.
Review & Tasting notes:
Bright straw color, with hints of lime green. Fresh figs and melon, with vibrant lemon citrus fruit. The nose also shows some yeast complexity from extended lees contact. Fresh tangy melon fruit flavors, & a clean acid finish. Although it may benefit from up to 2 years maturation in bottle, this wine is best consumed when young and fresh.
- Australian Wine Showcase (December 2016), 94 pts
Mt Monster Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Gentle pressing and free run juices create the base of this wine.
Traditionally Mt Monster Chardonnay is 100% fermented and matured in stainless steel, this receives some lees contact to add texture and complexity to the palate, but essentially this wine is pure Chardonnay fruit.
A balanced and memorable Chardonnay that starts with aromas of orangeblossom, Asian pear, crème fraiche, peaches and chamomile, complemented bynotes of toffee, honeysuckle, and graham cracker. On the palate, flavors of greenapple, Meyer lemon and stonefruit are finished with notes of tangerine and vanilla.This Chardonnay is smooth, creamy and balanced with a lingering acidity and a longfinish. This is the perfect wine to pair with a brie or gouda cheese plate drizzled withlocal honey and hazelnut.
Review:
Fruit is sourced primarily from the southern part of Napa Valley, and aged five months in French oak. With its billowy mouthfeel, the liquid seemingly floats above the palate. Lemon curd, daffodil, cinnamon toast, and creamy vanilla sandalwood are delicious and generous flavors. This is approachable luxury. - The Tasting Panel, July/August 2025
-Tasting Panel/Somm Journal 92 Points
Nickel & Nickel Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
The 2023 Nickel & Nickel Truchard Chardonnay opens with enticing aromatics of tropical fruit, tangerine, and a hint of honeysuckle. On the palate, it presents a bright and vibrant profile, with a natural lift from its fresh fruit flavors and lively acidity. The tropical and citrus notes are complemented by a subtle brioche character, while the oak imparts a pleasant roundness, bringing balance and weight to the wine.
Review:
The freshness and pure fruit flavors of this generous wine ring clear as a bell. Crisp green apples, Bosc pears and subtle oak spices like vanilla bean and toasted almonds fill the palate. While medium-bodied, it feels full and generous and has a lingering finish. Drink now or hold.
-James Suckling 94 Points
Winemaker Joe Harden ages his Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay for 10 months in 30% new French oak, with minimal stirring and no malolactic fermentation, allowing for a slightly more pronounced oak presence. Truchard, one of Carneros' most esteemed sites, is characterised by rolling hills with ideal sun exposure and cooling breezes. Harden sources fruit from eight distinct blocks across the vineyard’s expansive 109 hectares, with harvests spanning roughly a month. Among the selections is Clone 809, a Muscat clone that adds floral aromatics and a touch of baking spice. The Truchard Chardonnay exhibits a silky texture on the palate, layered with citrus peel and tropical hints of apricot and peach. A rich spine of acidity is further heightened by vivid mineral tension, creating a wine that is both racy and rich. Elegantly balanced, it’s a delightful sipper with impressive depth and vibrancy.
-Decanter 94 Points
Niner Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec.
2021 was a benchmark vintage for Cabernet in Paso Robles. The long, cool growing season was ideal for our Bordeaux grapes and allowed them to slowly ripen, creating complex flavors and wines built to age. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon was aged 21 months in French Oak barrels and is one that you’ll want for your collection. It is an elegant wine with a balance of dark fruit flavors and herbaceous notes with lush tannins.
Review:
92 points, Editor's Choice - Wine Enthusiast
Ghost Hull Cabernet Sauvignon is made of 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
Aromas of blackberry, elderberry and ripe plum are accentuated by notes of mocha, fresh tarragon, vanilla and oak. The palate is full-bodied and offers a lovely balance of acidity and tannins accompanied by rich flavors of dark fruit and black currant, ending with a juicy and lingering finish
Influenced by the northeastern side and the features of the terroir, Vigna del Lago is an elegant, light and sapid Brunello. It exhibits a distinctive, slightly pale, ruby-red colour and notes of ginger, cherry, orange peel, bitter orange and dried flowers. Medium-structured, silky and delicate tannins with a slightly salty finish.
Vigna del Lago is located on the northeastern slope of Montalcino, which is influenced by a continental climate, with harsh winters and very hot summers. The surrounding nature is reminiscent of the Crete Senesi, with hills and cypresses and a lovely lake next to the vineyards. The soils are clayey.
Ageing takes place in a dedicated cellar, 24 months in 40-hl Slavonian oak barrels, followed by 6 months in concrete and 9 to 12 months of bottle maturation.
Review:
This 2018 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino Vigna del Lago is looking really beautiful in this 2018 vintage. The nose is bright with delicate, fragrant rose and ripe strawberry notes. The palate has a very tangy, juicy acidity and plenty of savory, fine-textured tannins. There is a sublime texture with that wonderful quality of weightless harmony. This is a lovely wine that just feels very gentle and flows across the palate like a little wave.
-Wine Independent 97 Points