Referenties

Curriculum Vitae (CV) 2008;

Robert Parker, december 2010,
95/100
The 2008 CV is one of this winery’s prestige offerings, not cheap and in short supply usually, which is one reason for the price spike. It is usually one of my favorites, although not always the right bang-for-the-buck choice from Cristiano van Zeller’s team. This year’s version is potentially brilliant, not quite as rich and sexy as the ’07, but perhaps better structured and more ageworthy. I loved the integration of its parts, the steel underlying the velvet, the ripe, full fruit and the balance. It is rich enough –while remaining elegant in the mid-palate, hardly jammy--so that you don’t at first notice the tannic hit and its bright demeanor. Indeed, it is bright and fresh, not even close to jammy. Make no mistake, too, despite the initial hit of fruit—this has a very serious backbone. As always with wines from this vintage, the ultimate proof may really be a decade or so down the road, when I would expect this old vines bottling to show more complexity and elegance as well, but this is an early wine-of-the-vintage candidate. It drank brilliantly the next day, too, still tight and still evolving. If the price tag is a little too rich for your blood, Cristiano’s ’08 Vale D. Maria is a lot cheaper and awfully fine as well. Drink 2013-2030.

Proefschrift, september / oktober 2010,
8/10
Diverse druivensoorten, 90 jaar oude stokken; pieppaars, zeer mineralig, overrijp fruit, zuren zorgen voor spanning, veel concentratie, hint van paprika, veel spanning, vooral mineralen, veel lengte.

Jancis Robinson, 14 september 2010,
17/20
Sappy, fresh oak with black fruit with piquant spices and a dry tannic finish. Impressive and expressive, but very young yet with oak slightly dominating. Chocolate, coffee, minerals. (RH) 15% Drink 2014-2024

Curriculum Vitae (CV) 2007;

Perswijn, februari 2011,
****(*)
Zacht en kruidig, mooi romig en peperig, kersen en confiture, fruit en sap, goede tannines, lekker.

Wine-pages.com, 10 juni 2010,
91/100
More than 25 different varieties. Massive alcohol (15.5%), and a massive nose with a little raisined note to dense black fruit and a touch of chocolate. The palate is dry and coats the palate in a thick, rich film of tannin and savoury fruit. Given the huge concentration and weight, surprisingly easy to drink.

Sarah Ahmed, 6 januari 2010,
Cima Corgo (Torto Valley): aged (average 60 years old) mixed vineyard plantings. Cristiano van Zeller’s CV is one of my favourite 2007s. From an older, north-facing parcel of vines opposite Quinta do Vale Dona Maria with more Touriga Nacional, it sees 100% new oak. Beautifully structured, it has a super-long, saturated finish – a lithe long distance runner.

Robert Parker, december 2009
93/100
The 2007 CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a Douro field blend, some 20 grapes identified according to owner Cristiano van Zeller, aged in 90% new oak. This is usually the biggest wine in the stable, and so, too, here. It comes in at 15.5% alcohol, and has plenty of everything—oak, tannin and density of fruit. Usually, there is no problem with this wine being in balance despite its size, but the alcohol is obvious on opening this year, at war with the sweet and quite delicious fruit. Despite that, while this was the wine on opening that I thought was most problematic, it was also the wine in this stable that showed best with the longest aeration on Day 1, and retained its depth and focus best on Day 2—not to deny that there was always some noticeable alcohol, which constrains my enthusiasm and makes me a little cautious. There were moments when it was very stereotypical Barossa Shiraz-like. For the most part, it still holds its own pretty nicely, showing remarkable richness, ripe fruit, sweet oak and good depth. Many will adore it, and don’t misunderstand—it is big and rich, but it is not a caricature of a wine. The question is going to be how it evolves. There were 5, 960 bottles produced, along with some large format bottles. Drink now-2021.

Jancis Robinson, 5 mei 2009
18/20
Top wine from 2003 onwards. Single vineyard of 80-year-old vines north facing. Field blend of 30 varieties. Lagares and feet.
Very deep crimson. Sweet, spicy, plummy nose. Gentle texture and really rich. Taste that sunshine! Fine tannins too. Set for a very long life. Drink 2013-20

Curriculum Vitae (CV) 2006;

Perswijn, februari 2011,
*****
Elegant en zacht, mooi fris en open, mooie zuren, piepjong nog, zacht en smaakvol, rokerig, puur.

Wine Spectator. Com, May 28 2008, Kim Markus
The C. V. is even more powerful—intense and rich with well-integrated mineral, pepper, rich dark fruit flavors and dark chocolate. It's potentially classic quality: 95-97 points, non-blind.

Revista de Vinhos, Oktober 2008,
17,5/20
A madeira nova ainda sobressai do conjunto, mas revela um grande nariz, com notas especiades e de fruto, complexas e ricas. Na boca mostra excelente corpo e estrurtura, alguma untuosidade, taninos fortes feitos para durar e final longo forrado de fruto e especiaria.

Curriculum Vitae (CV) 2005;

Jancis Robinson, 5 mei 2009
16,5/20
Magnum.
Spicy - quite modern. Very sweet. Velvety. Douro wine for the American market? Seems very good sweetness and smooth texture but a little short on local character. 14% Drink 2008-14

Decanter juli 2007
****
‘A field blend of old vines giving hugely extracted fruit, but purity of expression and no heaviness.’

Wine Spectator Insider, Vol. 3 No. 24, November 28 2007
93/100
‘Inky and rich, with a surplus of dark chocolate, blackberry and mocha flavors. Powerful but balanced. Has a long finish
of French roast and mineral, with plenty of Asian spice in the mix. Drink now through 2014.—K.M.’

Jancis Robinson.com, December 7, 2007
17+/20
Sweet blackberry and cassis fruit, with freshness increased by north- and west-facing slopes. Serious, cool, fresh and very concentrated with thick deep-pile tannins that need some time in bottle. 14.5% (JH) Drink 2009-14

Revista de Vinhos Februari 2008,
Aroma chocolatado, com multa fruta preta e vermelha. Profundo e intenso, muito envolvente. Entra na boca com textura sedosa e corpo robusto, apoiado em acidez perfeita e taninos finos e maduros. Contido, termina longo, profundo, achocolatado, picante, excitante apesar de reservado.

Curriculum Vitae (CV) 2004;

Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate no. 169
94/100
The 2004 “CV” (the initials stand for “Curriculum Vitae”) (Quinta Vale D. Maria) is another blockbuster, full in the mouth, round, with a gorgeous, lingering finish. In its youth, it has a touch of oak and licorice noticeable. Its attack is subtle at first, and then it increases in intensity to the point where it is rather focused and penetrating. It is structured and remarkably flavorful, with lovely red berry notes on the finish. Yet, I think it is also better balanced than the 2003. It is equally delicious. To me, this looks like a big winner. It adds another layer or so of fruit to the regular “tinto.” There were approximately 416 cases made. Drink 2009-2019.

The Wine Anorak, December 2006
91/100
‘Sweet, dark, tarry spicy nose with ripe, slightly chocolatey fruit dominating. The palate is concentrated, rich and quite tannic, with lovely fruit quality. It’s a fruit-driven wine in a modern style, with some oak showing. Very good/exc “

Wine Spectator USA December 2006, Kim Marcus, Dynamism in the Duoro
94/100
‘Ripe and full bodied. Mineral and licorice aromas, with a deep well of dark plum, blackberry and dark cherry flavors.’

Jancis Robinson, April 7 2007
‘Lemos is the name of Cristiano Van Zeller’s wife. Winemaker Sandra Tavares (of Pintas) has a share in this.
Sweet black cherries – all old vines (90+ years old). Luscious. But a little bit too sweet to my taste. Dry finish Many palates would love this. Bit astringent on finish at the moment.’

Proefschrift, JRG 20, Nr. 5, December 2007
‘Fraaie kleur, krachtig maar geen blockbuster, meer alcohol, zwoel in geur en smaak, gestoffeerd zwart fruit en frambozen, zacht, mooie tannines, veel marsepein, licht mocca (15%). –Jan van Lissum’

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