Tasting Notes

The 2011 vintage was certainly not a typical year in Napa Valley, and it is challenging vintages like this that distinguish the great vineyards. In 2011, the best place to be was on top of the hills on the eastern side of the valley. Our elongated days with the gentle breeze and visiting fog from the Bay and the pure rock vineyard soils gave the much-needed advantage to our site Pritchard Hill in this cooler vintage.

The 2011 OVID Napa Valley wine is truly eloquent. It speaks first of violets, then freshly-crushed currant and blueberries follow, with notes of tobacco, baking spice, and forest floor and a long, resonant finish. The wine is at once mouth-filling and focused - like a great Pauillac. Gorgeous and expressive now, the 2011 OVID will abundantly reward those collectors patient enough to cellar it.

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Critical Acclaim

Antonio Galloni

Perhaps the biggest surprise in this tasting, the 2011 OVID is superb. Aromatically nuanced, finessed and silky on the palate, the 2011 hits all the right notes. Next to the other wines in the range, the 2011 is a bit lighter in feel, but in exchange, there is a level of detail and precision that is not present in years such as 2007 and 2009. This is an eye-opening wine. Among other things, the 2011 shows what was possible in hillside sites with diligent farming and winemaking in this very challenging vintage.

Stephen Tanzer

Deep red-ruby. Aromas of plum, black raspberry, crushed blackberry and coffee. Bright, sharply delineated and sweet, with dark berry flavors complicated by sage, white flowers, sassafras and sexy oak tones. Finishes with noble, round, serious tannins that reach the front teeth and perfumed Cabernet Franc notes of licorice and flowers.