Ma Douce comes from a vineyard in Fort Ross-Seaview—not far from Marcassin Vineyard. It is planted mainly to Old Wente clone selection. The 2017 Chardonnay Ma Douce comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of ripe peaches, pink grapefruit and guava plus hints of butterscotch, toasted almonds, orange blossoms and acacia honey. Full-bodied, the palate is laden with exotic fruit and citrus layers, offset by a wicked backbone of freshness and the most seductive creaminess to the texture, finishing very long with tons of savory sparks. 450 cases were made.

Named for winemaker Luc Morlet’s wife, the 2017 Chardonnay Ma Douce shows the fresh, focused style of the vintage as well as complex notes of orange blossom, caramelized citrus, brioche, and white flowers. With beautiful acidity as well as plenty of sexy fruit and texture, it’s a brilliant 2017 Chardonnay that does everything right. This cuvée is brought up in just 20-25% new French oak.

The 2017 Chardonnay Ma Douce is one of the most intriguing wines in this range of Chardonnays. Bright, focused and also beautifully translucent, the 2017 is distinguished by its layered, subtle personality. Even so, there is plenty of the depth and dimension that are such signatures of the Morlet wines. This is beautifully done. -- Antonio Galloni