The 2010 CV is the winery’s celebrated old vines (80+ years) blend, aged in a mixture of new (75%) and old barriques for 22 months (meaning that this was just bottled in August, 2012, making it a big, young puppy). Happily (about a full point) lower in alcohol than last year’s version, this is well balanced while once again being the deepest wine in the lineup. If it does not quite seem as fresh and elegant as the Vale D. Maria, in its own right it is still rather harmonious and a pleasure to drink, a wine that makes its bones with balance and concentration (relative to the vintage) rather than sweetness and power. It should become a remarkably graceful CV in time. It is a bit oak tinged at the moment, but that should be absorbed well. This is super and I think it is a big success, especially in the context of this vintage. It should be approachable young, but of course it will benefit from a few years in the cellar to allow it to develop some expressiveness. It tightens noticeably with air. There were 6,000 bottles produced, plus some large format bottles. Drink 2015-2026.
(WA 27th Dec 2012)
