Luc Morlet to the rescue!!

The last two days have seen a few interesting turn of events. I was told by Gallo that they were unwilling to sell me just a ton of Semillon from Monte Rosso as the small volume would be hard to accommodate. Since everything is sold in five ton minimum lots I asked if I could find someone to share the fruit with, if it was picked on the same day. The grower rep, who is the awesome Doug Wilson, said that such an arrangement could probably be made.

Though several names passed through my head, my first contact was with the man responsible for what I consider to be the best Bordeaux blanc style blends made in the United States. Luc Morlet, who recently released the first wines under his private label, was the long-time winemaker at Peter Michael and briefly at Staglin. At Sir Peter’s he was responsible for the L’Apres Midi, a barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc blend, of power, poise, and personality. His newly released “La Proportion Doree” under his label is sourced from old vine Sauvignon, Semillon, and Muscadelle from Dry Creek and Napa. Every report of it is glowing, 94 from Parker, 92 from Tanzer, yadayadayada.

I was amazed when, upon telling him the specs of the vineyard– 95 year old vines, glowing reviews from Diane and Zelma Long who got the fruit at Simi in the 80’s, beautiful aspect on a steeply sloped west facing vineyard on well drained volcanic red soil, etc.– that he would take half the fruit. I immediately contacted Doug, he pitched it to the powers that be, and we are now contracted for the fruit.

Though it is exciting that I will be getting enough Semillon to make an almost perfect replica of Haut-Brion Blanc, it is more exciting that I will get to glean some knowledge from the man responsible for the best made wines of the type in California.