American Beauties

[Dan_Kravitz]

American Beauties

2018 Korbel Natural, Russian River Valley, 65% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay – medium gold color, darker than expected. Gorgeous aromas of Macintosh apple and red cherries. The palate offers remarkably fine mousse for the age, excellent texture with real depth, flavors rather primary and simple (barely 4 years old) and a nicely long, sinewy finish. Don’t know the definition of ‘Natural’ here, but I’m guessing less than 0.5% residual sugar. Rated 92.5.
I was driving from Maine to Massachusetts, it occurred to me that I might need a bottle of bubbly where I was going, so swerved into the New Hampshire Liquor Control Board store off of I95 and picked this up for $17. Yes thank you. I should mention that getting the cork out was really hard.

1990 Cuvaison Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – cork came out in 2 pieces, almost intact. Decanted and poured.
Healthy medium dark ruby, no bricking. The aromas are fully secondary and stunning, a ripe panoply featuring black raspberry with hints of black pepper and freshly turned loam, with only the tiniest hint of volatility showing its 33 years. There is no mistaking this for Bordeaux. I don’t know where it’s from in Napa, but it reminds me of Krug or Inglenook from the 60s or 70s. This is glorious. Rated 96, drink up.

Dan Kravitz

[Ed_Steinway]

@Dan_Kravitz

1990 Cuvaison Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – cork came out in 2 pieces, almost intact. Decanted and poured.
Healthy medium dark ruby, no bricking. The aromas are fully secondary and stunning, a ripe panoply featuring black raspberry with hints of black pepper and freshly turned loam, with only the tiniest hint of volatility showing its 33 years. There is no mistaking this for Bordeaux. I don’t know where it’s from in Napa, but it reminds me of Krug or Inglenook from the 60s or 70s. This is glorious. Rated 96, drink up.

Some of the first wines my wife bought were Cuvaison Cabs from the mid-80’s. They were fantastic! I have no idea where their Cab came from, but their winery was right off of the Silverado Trail in Calistoga. I think they sold that property years ago. Someone else might have more info, but they made some good Cabs in those years. Glad you enjoyed it!

[TimDaly]

Couldn’t agree more! First case of wine I ever splurged for (which I couldn’t afford at the time) was a 1986 Cuvaison Napa Valley Cabernet. Also don’t know where they got their fruit back then but I thought it was one of the best Cab’s of that vintage. A really good wine.