The 2014 Vintage Auction Lot from PATEL is a 100% Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon, hand-selected and crafted by winemaker Luc Morlet. It is a true expression of the distinctive microclimate and terroir found in the Coombsville nested appellation and is barrel fermented using native yeasts, barrel aged in 100% new French oak, unfined and unfiltered. They feel that it is a reflection of our pursuit to create the finest Cabernet Sauvignon sourced exclusively from Napa Valley
At PATEL Napa Valley, they believe that great wine is made in the vineyard. Sourced from some of the finest vineyards in Atlas Peak, Carneros, Coombsville, Oakville, and Rutherford, each PATEL wine is passionately crafted to express the uniqueness of its terroir and exhibit a distinct individual personality. Since their inception in 2007, their singular focus has been: They strive to produce the most expressive Cabernet Sauvignon possible, from Napa Valley’s finest vineyards. Under the direction of winemaker Luc Morlet, PATEL Napa Valley strives to create beautiful Bordeaux-varietal wines that are crafted in a neo-classical style yet distinctively Napa Valley in expression. They are a testament to the perfect balance of power and elegance that Napa Valley’s finest vineyards have to offer.
A little bit about winemaker Luc Morlet: Wine has always been a way of life for Luc, who grew up working on his family Pinot Noir and Chardonnay domaine, Pierre Morlet & Fils, in Avenay-Val-d’Or, Champagne. Born in Epernay, France to a fourth-generation winegrower family, Luc, as a child, enjoyed learning about all of the practical and technical aspects of vineyard farming and winemaking.
His Winemaking Philosophy: Passionate for both the expression of the terroirs as well as for the continuous pursuit of the ultimate quality, Luc calls his winemaking philosophy neo-classic laissez-faire without compromise. In other words, Luc describes it as a non-interventionist winemaking style driven by an ongoing search for quality improvement. With over 20 vintages under his belt (13 in California and 9 in France), and with his own zest for innovation, Luc uses century old principles and classic Burgundy and Bordeaux methods, while adapting to California’s natural conditions.