For Napa winemakers used to Bordeaux varieties, Pinot Noir can feel like unfamiliar territory—but not for Luc. His family has made Pinot for generations, and when he and Jodie founded the winery, leaving it out wasn’t an option. Even their kids got involved early, stomping a small vat each harvest. In order to produce a fresh, mineral style, Luc and Jodie, looked to Fort Ross-Seaview on the Sonoma Coast, specifically the second ridge in from the gusty Pacific. The vineyard, at 1100-1300 feet is rich with prized Goldridge sedimentary soils, offering just enough structure to complement the elegance of the wine. After a night harvest and partial de-stemming, the Pinot was fermented with native yeast in large French oak puncheons and allowed to rest for 14 months in French oak prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The resulting wine offers wild red raspberry, forest floor, and graphite.

About Morlet Family Vineyards
The story of Morlet Family Vineyards is both a literal and figurative marriage between France and California. While Luc Morlet, the fifth generation of a French winemaking family, was studying viticulture and oenology in Champagne, Jodie Morlet (at that time Hauser), was launching a career as a behavioral therapist across the world in California. A French language program brought Jodie to Paris in 1994, where she met Luc, who introduced her to the Champagne region. After two years of long-distance letters, Luc made the leap to California, where he married Jodie the following year.

Jodie soon transitioned into a full-time role in wine, importing French selections, while Luc worked alongside Michel Rolland for five harvests in Napa Valley—all while raising their two children. In 2006, Luc stepped into a consulting role at Peter Michael Winery, with the goal of eventually launching Morlet Family Wines.

Today, the wines have become lauded across the world, consistently garnering high scores across the spectrum of critics. These are our three favorite offerings from the Morlet family.