More about the 2022 MORLET MA DOUCE FORT ROSS-SEAVIEW CHARDONNAY: High above the Pacific, where sunlight meets the cool breath of the ocean, the 2022 Morlet “Ma Douce” Chardonnay comes to life on the steep, wind-swept slopes of Fort Ross-Seaview. The vineyard’s elevation and Goldridge soils create a setting of rare intensity, where small clusters ripen slowly under the push and pull of mountain air and maritime fog. Each detail of its creation reflects Luc and Jodie Morlet’s commitment to precision: hand-harvested fruit picked at night, native yeast fermentation, aging on the lees in fine French oak, and bottling without fining or filtration. The result is a wine that speaks of both patience and place—an eloquent expression of California’s far-coastal Chardonnay at its most refined. In the glass, it glows with a golden sheen edged in green, revealing layers of citrus blossom, lemon curd, and crushed chalk that unfold gradually with air. Notes of toasted hazelnut and sea spray add depth, while the palate strikes a perfect chord between richness and verve. There’s texture without heaviness, power without excess—an interplay that carries through to a finish that lingers on saline minerality and bright citrus zest. Every sip feels sculpted by the coast itself, a meeting point of precision winemaking and elemental energy. What makes the 2022 “Ma Douce” so compelling is its quiet confidence. It doesn’t chase opulence; it achieves harmony. This is a Chardonnay that captures the essence of Fort Ross-Seaview—wild, pure, and poised—and distills it into something timeless. Beautiful now for its vibrancy, yet built to reveal new dimensions with age, it stands among the great coastal Chardonnays that redefine what elegance means in California wine.