2021 Morlet Family Vineyards ‘Ma Princesse’ Chardonnay Russian River Valley
Straw yellow color. Aromas of lemon drop, apple skin and fresh herbs (chamomile). Full-bodied and concentrated, this wine displays a creamy and rich texture which coats the palate for a very long time. Built to age gracefully for over a decade, this wine will gain being cellared for 6 months to a year before starting to reveal itself.
Wine Advocate
Assembled from barrel for this tasting, the 2021 Chardonnay Ma Princesse is a standout this vintage, being plump and succulent, with pear, melon and citrus shadings. It's medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated yet shows tremendous length and elegance on the finish.
Vinous
The 2021 Chardonnay Ma Princesse is racy and super-expressive right out of the gate. Lemon confit, marzipan, passionfruit and sweet spice are beautifully layered. There's lovely mid-palate oiliness and texture here, along with plenty of richness, but no excess weight. This is the most overt of Luc and Jodie Morlet's Chardonnays.
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Chardonnay Ma Princesse comes from the Ritchie Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, which is planted to the old Wente clone of Chardonnay and produces small clusters with tiny little berries. In the glass, the wine reveals notes of preserved citrus, wet stone, wildflowers, vanilla bean spice, and fresh pear. Medium to full-bodied, it’s more linear in feel, with more citrus on the palate, although it retains beautiful, fresh, floral notes through its long finish. It carries fantastic tension, concentration, and elegance, with persistent energy driving the wine. It’s phenomenal and is only going to improve with another few years in the cellar. Drink 2024-2036.