2019 Morlet Family Chardonnay Coup de Coeur

Lastly, the 2019 Chardonnay Coup De Coeur is a top barrel selection by Luc Morlet, and it's a magical Sonoma Coast release that tops out my scale. White flowers, lemon curd, honeyed toast, almond paste, and chalky mineral are just some of the nuances here, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, incredible texture, integrated acidity, and one heck of a long finish. It's slightly richer and more opulent than the other two releases, yet it has this brilliant minerality, a weightless mouthfeel, and does everything right. As with the other 2019s, it needs another 6-12 months of bottle age and will evolve for at least a decade.

Coup de Coeur is a barrel-selection blend of Morlet's Chardonnay vineyards, using exclusively Old Wente clone selection. A barrel sample to be bottled in February 2021, the 2019 Chardonnay Coup de Coeur comes skipping out of the glass with bright, cheery scents of fresh pineapple, passion fruit, pink grapefruit and lime blossoms with suggestions of fresh ginger, almond croissant and chalk dust. The medium to full-bodied palate has an electric intensity of citrus and tropical fruit layers with compelling tension and a beguiling, mineral-tinged finish. 195 cases are due to be made.