The day had come. After over a year of careful planning, Master of Wine Vanessa Conlin arrived at Luc Morlets studio in St. Helena for a barrel-tastingthe kickoff to Morlets first collaboration in over a decade.

There was a time when he made wine only for other people, such as Peter Michael Winery. Today, over two decades later, Morlet has twenty 100-point wines under his belt. His Morlet Family Vineyards is a grand success, and hes in a position to pick who he works with. We are incredibly honored that he chose Wine Access to be his first partner.

After hours of work, the 2019 Grande Sonnerie Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville Napa Valley came into focus. Grown on a 24-acre Oakville Bench property that rubs shoulders with the crown jewel of Napa vineyards, its intensely pleasurable from the outset: bursting with black fruit and sandalwood aromas, rich in body, framed by elegant tannins. Luc advises opening it at around age 810 with a grilled filet mignon, but the wine will continue beautifully for 2530 years. A six-pack or a case will provide fascinating drinking experiences over the years to come.

What is Grande Sonnerie? In mechanical clocks and luxury watches, its a complicated movement and striking system. Its other meaning is aspirational: because its such a complex mechanical feat, only the greatest watchmakers in the world have mastered it with precision and elegance. Thats why its such a perfect name for our collaboration with Luc Morlet, who is not only one of the greatest craftsmen in the Napa Valley, but indeed in the world of wine.

During his youth in Champagne, Lucs grandfather once told him that We are the people who must turn a tin can into a gold watch, and that has defined his career. Crafting world-class wines did not come easy. Intense, sustained hard work and financial sacrifice went into his success today, culminating in his passion project and home estate, Morlet Family Vineyards.

Only about a hundred cases of this wine were madewill you be one of the Wine Access members to claim a few bottles from this master of Cabernet craftsmanship?