2016 Ma Princesse Chardonnay

The 2016 Chardonnay Ma Princesse comes from Old Wente clone vines in the Ritchie vineyard in Russian River. It hits the ground running with bold notions of pineapple, white peaches and green guava plus suggestions of almond croissant and popcorn plus a waft of honeysuckle. Full-bodied, rich and decadent in the mouth, it has a wonderfully creamy texture and bags of tropical fruit and savory layers, finishing long and layered. 550 cases produced.

Sourced from the Old Wente clone in the Ritchie Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, the 2016 Chardonnay Ma Princesse is another sensational effort from Luc Morlet. Honeysuckle, marzipan, caramelized citrus, and hints of tangerine all flow to powerful, deep, concentrated Chardonnay that’s classic Russian River Valley all the way. It’s a big, rich wine that never puts a foot wrong. I loved these latest releases from Luc Morlet and family, and they show a sensational mix of classic, balanced, even old-school, characters mixed with killer California fruit. As a whole, the 2014s show more elegance and complexity, with the 2015s possessing more power and richness. These are rockstar wines.

The 2016 Chardonnay Ma Princesse fills out its broad frame effortlessly. Tasted from tank just before bottling, the Princess is quite savory and phenolic in style. I imagine it will be a few years before the Princesse is at its best. Apricot, tangerine and hazelnut overtones make an appearance with time in the glass, rounding things out in style.