Back to Home Advertise Subscribe
Email this Article ARCHIVES Back to newsletter

CUVAISON
Carneros, North Napa Valley, California

Cuvaison’s first wines from the recently built state-of-the-art winery, the 2004 Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, come from estate-grown vines, small crops that have concentrated fruit. “ In Carneros the soils are limiting so they restrict the vigor of the vines, and so shallow that the roots are forced to struggle and look deep for water,” says Steve Rogstad. “ It's our wonderful vineyards that shape the style of each wine and that's as it should be."

click here to listen to a live interview with winemaker Steve Rogstad

by Simone Zarmati Diament

This is a very exciting time for Cuvaison: first of all it is showing the first wines from the new state-of-the-art winery built in its Carneros estate: the 2004 Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs; then, Steve Rogstad’s new office has a view of the Cuvaison vineyard instead of the facing the windshield of his jeep.

As a winemaker who had to truck the grapes through the heat to the former winery in Calistoga, which is 90 minutes away from Carneros, the new Cuvaison winery right in the midst of the vineyards, makes a difference in what we taste in the bottle. “ It’s a blessing to make the wine right off the vineyards,” said Steve Rogstad in an interview with FOOD & WINE TALK (click here to listen to the interview). “The fruit comes to the winery in top condition and that gives us a head start on making wines that are aromatic, have a nice sense of both tannin and acid, and white wines that have a kind of nerve about them: more structured and interesting.”

Cuvaison’s wines come all from estate-grown vines, small crops that have concentrated fruit. “ In Carneros the soils are limiting so they restrict the vigor of the vines, and so shallow that the roots are forced to struggle and look deep for water,” says Steve Rogstad who strives to hold on to the character of the fruit. “Our wines must be the unique expression of the singular sites from which they come, it's our wonderful vineyards that shape the style of each wine and that's as it should be."

Cuvaison Winery is situated on the historic Silverado Trail in northern Napa Valley. In 1969 Thomas Cotrell and Thomas Parkhill, both Silicon Valley engineers, founded Cuvaison with a 27-acre vineyard at the winery’s present location. New York publisher Oakleigh Thorne purchased the winery in 1974 and then appointed the Swiss-born Philip Togni as Winemaker. In 1979, the Schmidheiny family of Switzerland purchased Cuvaison as well as 400 acres of prime vineyard land in the Carneros region in southern Napa Valley. The fall of 1998 marked the purchase of the historic 170-acre Brandlin Ranch on Mt. Veeder.

As Cuvaison’s winemaker since January 2002, Rogstad -- an University of California, Davis MA in Enology and Viticulture who developed a passion for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay working at Saintsbury where he learned the unique climate and geography of the Carneros region, then became Assistant Winemaker in the production of wines from such luminaries as Spottswoode, Neyers and Viader Vineyards in St. Helena before becoming Assistant Winemaker at Spring Mountain, and winemaker at Clos Pegase -- uses his in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of mountain vineyard farming. He supervises and directs new plantings and vineyard development at the two key Cuvaison estate vineyards: the 400-acre Carneros estate, and the 170-acre Brandlin Ranch vineyard on Napa’s Mt. Veeder. The Brandlin property, purchased in 1998, is planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon and will produce its first harvest under Rogstad’s direction in 2002. “My style and philosophy are based on expressing the unique character of our estate grapes and doing as little as possible to them. When one has such wonderful fruit to work with, that should be one’s emphasis,”

Cuvaison Winery produces approximately 63,000 cases per year, 65% of which is Chardonnay.

Cuvaison 2003 Estate Selection Chardonnay, California $35.00 A big and bold Chardonnay with the ideal balance of fruit, oak and structure. Intense and full-bodied with crème brulee, almond and orange peel. Aromas of pear, honey, allspice with tropical fruit.

Cuvaison 2004 Estate Selection Pinot Noir, California $48.00 Plum, rose petals, cola nut and nutmeg. Wild strawberries, raspberry, orange tea and caramel. A serious Pinot Noir with rich layered fruit, sweet tannins and fine acidity.

Cuvaison 2004 Chardonnay Carneros, California $22 Winemaker Steven Rogstad sums it up best, “My style and philosophy are based on expressing the unique character of our estate grapes and doing as little as possible to them. When one has such wonderful fruit to work with, that should be one’s emphasis.” White peaches, melon and honeysuckle with citrus peel for a splendid acidity.

Cuvaison 2004 Pinot Noir Carneros, California $30.00 This is a classic example of Pinot Noir grown in our Estate Vineyard. Aromas of red raspberry, black cherry, smoky leather and allspice. A rich palate with integrated tannins. Flavors of damson plum, spice and orange peel, with a long finish.

Cuvaison 2002 Merlot Carneros, California $29.00 An appealing wine that exhibits an array of ripe berry flavors, and which will also continue to age gracefully for many years. Broad nose of mocha, black cherry, and plum with hints of black licorice. Filled with bright concentrated flavors of ripe dark fruit with overtones of allspice.

Cuvaison 2003 Syrah Carneros , California $28.00 Dense and delicious aromas of dark red berries, wild fennel, sage turn into red currants, raspberry and elegant plum fruit in the mouth with smooth tannins. A lip-smacking Syrah, enjoy it now in its riotous youth, or let it mellow in your cellar over the next five to 10 years.

Cuvaison 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, California $45.00 A dark concentrated wine that is both elegant and polished, with aromas of black cherry, lavender, mocha, licorice, cola and allspice. Good structure on the palate with integrated flavors of bright fruits, rosehips and hints of coffee.

Home

Advertise

About Us