Named for Luc and Jodie’s daughter Claire, ‘Ma Princesse’ is a beautiful sun-kissed expression of Chardonnay, skillfully balancing minerality with richness. The vines are rooted in rocky Goldridge soil on the river bench of Russian River Valley with Southern exposure. Tiny Old Wente clone berries give the wine a satisfying concentration. After harvest, fermentation took place in French barrel with the employment of only native yeast. Regular batonnage was conducted for texture in the final wine, which exhibits an expressive nose of golden delicious apple, chamomile, and lemon drop. The palate dances delicately the line of richness and mineral verve.

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.