Cuvaison is a Napa Valley winery that uses certified sustainable growing and production practices. They have land in Carneros (where they grow Pinot Noir and Syrah) and also a vineyard on
Mount Veeder, an AVA on thin volcanic soil that produces noteworthy Cab Sauvs.
I recently tried the Cuvaison 2007 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
First impression: Soft, subtle, fruity, jammy
1) Color: Inky dark burgundy
2) Nose/Aroma: Black cherry, black currant, strawberry
3)
Mouthfeel/Taste: Flavors of subtle oak and warm blackberry. The finish was subtly floral and thus a bit unexpected - it was almost too refined and nuanced. I thought the initial flavors and aromas would have been better balanced by a more assertive finish.
4)
Score: 91. This wine
was very smooth and refined with excellent, crisp fruit-forward flavors. It had an outstanding balance and structure, although the tannins could have been more developed and bold. I would recommend storing this wine for a few more years before drinking.
~
Here's the scale that I'm basing my score on:
Wine Spectator’s 100-Point Scale:
95-100 — Classic; a great wine
90-94 — Outstanding; superior character and style
80-89 — Good to very good; wine with special qualities
70-79 — Average; drinkable wine that may have minor flaws
60-69 — Below average; drinkable but not recommended
50-59 — Poor; undrinkable, not recommended
