2009 Ovid Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

“At 13 years of age, the 2009 Ovid is fresh, lively, and teeming with energy. It is a powerful and still-youthful red wine rife with impressive purity of fruit, well-endowed with structure. Ripe blackberry fruit aromas are laced with tobacco spices, a pop of capsicum, black pepper, vanilla and cedar. Full-bodied with satiny red and black fruits, candied violets and sagebrush with slivers of iron shavings. Powerful tannins build on the finish, framed by a backbone of excellent acid tension and energy. Early vintages had been aged in 100% new French oak. Still, by 2009, with confidence building in farming and site selection and in the wines themselves, the winemaking team began backing down from all that new oak to usher in a new decade of transparency of place. (JC)” (12/2022)

“The 2009 Ovid is stunningly beautiful. At times it shows a little more depth, power and richness than the Hexameter, but both wines are compelling. Endless layers of fruit saturate the palate as this rich, intense wine conquers the heart and intellect. A totally vivid wine, the 2009 is even more impressive from bottle than it was from barrel. Over the time I followed it, the 2009 gained finesse and elegance in the glass, which bodes quite well for the future. Intense graphite, crushed rocks and pencil shaving nuances add energy to the polished, huge finish. (AG) 98+” (12/2012)

“With a beautiful purple color, this wine quickly exhibits classic Cabernet aromas of black currants and cedar. In the mouth, it’s full bodied and concentrated, showing powerful, sweet blackberry fruit. It’s incredibly refined, impressively structured, massive, impeccable and frankly delicious. This should develop over the next 20 years, at least.” (10/2012)

“Gorgeous aromas, plump and generous, lead to ripe, rich, juicy plum and black cherry flavors that show touches of cedar, fresh earth, black licorice and spice. Gains momentum and finesse, with a long, subtle, detailed finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. (JL)” (10/2012)

“Bright, full, deep ruby. Very sexy, musky nose conveys liqueur-like ripeness to the aromas of black fruits, licorice, menthol and minerals; a faint leesy quality adds nuance without distracting from the fruit. Plush, sweet, highly concentrated and seamless; this wine was a bit strict in the early going but today it really captures the creamy side of this vintage. Perhaps most impressive on the slowly building finish, which features suave tannins and a firming touch of graphite minerality. Really expands on the palate with air. Utterly delicious today but capable of holding for at least another decade. (ST)” (07/2019)