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2019 OVID Napa Valley Syrah | Three-Bottle Collection
  • 2019 OVID Napa Valley Syrah | Three-Bottle Collection
2019 OVID Napa Valley Syrah | Three-Bottle Collection

Three-Bottle Collection 2019 OVID Napa Valley Syrah

$825.00

The Syrah Story

In art, there is the concept of negative space, defined as the area in or around a subject that is not the subject. “Negative,” in this case, is neither pejorative nor signifies emptiness. Rather, negative space’s power is to differentiate the subject it surrounds, creating compositional balance and contrast. When viewed a certain way, negative space can even have its own form and meaning (e.g. the famous black-and-white image “Rubin’s Vase”), throwing the understanding of positive and negative into disarray.

Our Syrah’s origin is a story of negative space. In 2006, after we finished planting our main vineyard blocks and constructing the winery, a small, three-quarter acre area between the vineyard and winery remained. We saw it as negative space, but not in a way that meant it should remain unplanted. Rather, it was an opportunity to contain something that creates contrast and compositional balance with the vineyard as a whole. We chose Syrah to perform that function. Unlike the earnest and well-behaved decisiveness of Cabernet, its color is purplish black and its nature is wild and primordial, passionate and animalistic. Rich and savory, it deliciously casts a different perspective on all our other wines and vines.

Tasting Notes

2019 OVID Napa Valley Syrah

Our Syrah is truly hand-crafted in tiny batches, and our non-interventionist methodology has steadily evolved since we made the first OVID Syrah in 2009. We included a portion of whole clusters in our compact open-top tank to add structure and intrigue. Following spontaneous fermentation, the wine was aged in Burgundian French oak barrels with minimal racking until bottling in June.

Vivacious and brimming with power, the 2019 OVID Syrah exudes dense notes of fresh blueberry and boysenberry, rose petals, tar and licorice root. Bay leaf and molasses lend depth to the aromas and complement the layered and burnished palate. Enchanting and ebullient, this wine will continue to reward for many years to come.

Critical Acclaim

Jeb Dunnuck

Incredible complexity, ripe, silky tannins, and a great finish

A very different wine from the 2018, the 2019 Syrah saw one-third stems as well as aging in a mix of new and used barrels. Classic Syrah notes of blueberries, smoked game, lavender, bay leaf, and bacon fat all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with incredible complexity, ripe, silky tannins, and a great finish. This is going to be a thrilling Syrah that readers should snatch up.

96-99 points.

Antonio Galloni

A rush of black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol gives the 2019 its superb depth and textural resonance.

The 2019 Syrah possesses tremendous density and volume. A rush of black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol gives the 2019 its superb depth and textural resonance. All the elements are so well put together. In 2019, Austin Peterson blended the Syrah on the earlier side, which certainly seems to have helped in turning out a wine of exquisite beauty and harmony. 96 points.