2011 Ovid Winery Proprietary Red Napa Valley

The 2011 Ovid is super-silky, finessed and beautiful. There is a bit less resonance and depth relative to most vintages, but the 2011 makes up for that with its aromatic complexity, pure expressiveness and long, resonant finish. With time in the glass, the spiced and floral notes become more apparent. The delicate, perfumed finish rounds things out beautifully. The 2011 is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, which is more Cabernet Sauvignon and less Franc than is usually the case. This is another striking wine from Ovid. Ovid was another of the many highlights of my fall trips to Napa Valley. The estate has done a magnificent job with their new and upcoming releases. Winemaker Austin Peterson describes 2010 as the coldest vintage ever on the estate, even more so than 2011. As for the wines, well, they are magnificent. It's as simple as that. Proprietors Mark Nelson and Dana Johnson and their team led by Managing Partner Janet Pagano are all about attention to detail and focus. The vineyard was developed by David Abreu and planted in small one acre parcels that are picked and vinified separately in small tanks built to match the size of the blocks. Winemaker Austin Peterson is one of the emerging stars in Napa Valley, and he has the support of consulting winemaker Andy Erickson. The results are in the bottle. (AG) Review Date: November 2013