what does "cuvee" mean?

[Serge Birbrair]

I see this term used here and there, I'm sure I drank it, but what does it mean exactly?

[verne batchelor]

A blend. VB

[Serge Birbrair]

VB, any particulars or ANY blend can be called cuvee?

[Florida Jim]

I disagree.
It can be any particular lot that a winemaker wishes to designate separately. It could be a blend but it could also be a single lot of a particular variety.
For instance, the Taluau I just wrote up is 100% cab. franc but has been designated by the proprietor as an old vines cuvee.
As far as I know, it has no sanctioned definition in any country and so it can be used in any number of different ways according to the whim of the proprietor.
Best, Jim

[Serge Birbrair]

so, now I am confused....

VB: Cuvee is blend

Jim - cuvee can be ANYTHING, like "barric" can be ANY kind of barrel, with no particular descriptor, French, American, new, old...

why do winemaking industry uses terms which can be interpreted any way one wishes?

[Thomas]

In Champagne, cuvee is used to identify the first juice to flow, which is supposed to be the best. After that, cuvee is used to identify a blend for the base wine in Champagne--plus it is used outside of Champagne to identify any blend or particular lot of wine the producer wishes to call a cuvee--there is no standard for the word.

Outside of Champagne, you could say "cuvee" is the same as "reserve" in America--relatively meaningless information, but it sounds good.

"Cuvee" stems from "cuve," which refers to a tank or vat.

Cuve close is used to identify bulk sparkling wine.

[Serge Birbrair]

cool,
so when I decide to sell a bottle on eBay, I'll use descriptor
"Special Cuvee, aged in unique barrick, extremely reserved, Mystic Ruler score - 105", to get extra $$ from somebody with no clue...but who likes the "big words"

[Florida Jim]

I believe they call that "puffing" - and the MR score adds a nice touch.
Best, Jim

[Serge Birbrair]

Jim, "puffing" is used to be my middle name....sometimes I wish English was my native tongue...I'd own Petrus AND Lafite vineyards...