The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Coeur de Vallee is deep garnet-purple colored. It gallops out with expressive notions of warm cassis, blackberry pie, and blueberry preserves, followed by hints of cedar chest, tilled soil, bay leaves, and iron ore. The full-bodied palate is taut, with a nice combination of bright crunchy black fruits and juicy blue fruits, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral-laced. The Coeur de Vallee vineyard is in Oakville, just across the road from To Kalon, and is planted entirely to clone 4 with a small amount of Cabernet Franc (clone 1), which does well on the clay-loam soil. The 2019 blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc. 1300 cases were made. (LPB)

On this occasion, as part of a long vertical, I was even more impressed by Morlet's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Coeur de Vallee than I had been in the past, when I awarded it 95 points. Marked by scents of cassis, blueberries and cherries, it's full-bodied, plush and rich, showing wonderful balance between concentration and lightness and finishing long.

A new addition to the Place de Bordeaux this year, the 'heart of the valley' comes from a 10ha plot in Oakville, that overlooks Mount St. John in the Mayacamas Range and shares the same soil profile as the nearby To Kalon vineyard. Chocolate covered cherries and blackcurrants on the nose, really expressive and aromatic with elements of mocha and graphite. Deep and rich - so intense from the get go., sensual and seductive. A dense texture, smooth but deep is so impactful and really quite memorable, velvet and imposing in the mouth - it's the absolute signature of the estate. It's so charming, the flavours slowly expand from start to finish and side to side coating the tongue and cheeks in ripe red and black fruit, cocoa powder, sweet cinnamon and vanilla and a touch of toasted black pepper and liquorice spice. Round and generous but well delivered, feels purposeful and direct but still with excellent acidity giving a juicy and salivating quality to the wine as well as sweet spices that dot the palate. A lovely expression that is layered vertically giving energy and definition. Lifted, bright and finessed. The definition really lingers, not too heavy yet delivering so much flavour. An excellent wine by Luc Morlet. The second vintage of this wine. Ageing 16 months in French oak barrels. (GH)