Ovid 2016 Napa Valley "Proprietary Red Wine"

Robert Parker 99 Points: "Blended of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Proprietary Red Wine gives bright, vivacious scents of crushed red and black cherries, blackcurrants and warm plums with vibrant wafts of lilacs, powdered cinnamon, black pepper and fenugreek plus hints of wild sage and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied with a very firm structure of wonderfully ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, it has a taut, muscular fruit profile laced with loads of energetic red and black fruit sparks with a very long, spicy finish. Wow!

“With the Cabernet Franc being so beautiful, it was hard for us to ignore,” said Ovid’s winemaker, Austin Peterson, of the winery’s concept behind the creation of Hexameter. In 2006 Ovid was mainly Cabernet Franc; after that it was decided that in exceptional years for the grape, they would make Hexameter. “Hexameter is another expression of the estate," Peterson says. “Both Ovid and Hexameter express the site in very compelling ways.""

Antonio Galloni 97+ Points: "The 2016 Ovid is another superb wine from Ovid. Black cherry, mocha, spice, leather and menthol are all beautifully delineated. Powerful and yet light on its feet, the Ovid shows many of the qualities that make wines off this Pritchard Hill estate so compelling. I can't wait to see how this ages."