2017 Ovid "Experiment F2.7" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

2017 Ovid "Experiment F2.7" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

In addition to their cult Cabernets, Ovid bottles an extremely limited run of Bordeaux-style blends where the winemaking team experiments with different clonal and varietal selections, appropriately called the "Experiment" series. Notes from winemaker Austin Peterson: "We first planted our vineyard on Pritchard Hill back in 2000, clearing brush and removing boulders from the raw land. There was no vine history on the site so we cultivated 15 acres with 17 different clone and rootstock combinations to see what would work best with our newly cleared rocky, volcanic mountain top. We experimented by fermenting each block separately, tracking each lot’s evolution for a year and recording the differences. This analytical process helped us develop a deep understanding of how each block behaves and how it responds to changes in farming practices. Co-fermentation trials used in producing the Experiment white wine inspired us to try choosing lots to ferment by the underlying chemistry of soil, rather than by block design. The 2017 Experiment F2.7 is a harmonious blend that exhibits juicy notes of cola, black-berry, rhubarb entwined with baking spice, forest floor and bay leaf. Saturating and layered, this congruous Experiment should mingle beautifully for years to come."