Captures the grape's perfume beautifully without smothering it with excess oak. Full, velvety and plump with plenty of juicy fruit.

Under the leadership of president, Dan Zepponi and winemaker, Steve Rogstad, Cuvaison Estate Wines goes from strength to strength. They have recently changed their name to emphasize the fact that all of their fruit is estate grown in their superbly sited vineyard in Carneros. They have also just completed a new, state-of-the-art winery in the middle of their vines, rather than transport the grapes a 40 minute drive to their Calistoga headquarters. Cuvaison has around 280 acres under vine in the cool Carneros region just south of Napa. Following phylloxera, they began replanting their vineyards in the early 1990s with the finest Burgundian clones and rootstocks, closer spacing and better training and orientation of the vines, all of which demonstrate a huge commitment to quality. The work involved has been enormous and expensive but the resulting wines have reached new heights.
Pinot Noir - Whole-berry fermented in open fermenters, with pigeage and matured for 9 months in French oak barriques (40% new)