The 2023 season began with a generous reprieve after multiple years of low rainfall. Abundant winter rains graced our site through March. Mild temperatures and turgescent fog provided an unhurried and deliberate start to the growing season. A moderately late budbreak guided us into a delightfully temperate spring and start to summer.
July, August and September held exemplary ripening temperatures allowing the fruit ample time to develop the flavor and aroma precursors, the odorless compounds found in grapes that then transform into aromatic molecules during winemaking.
Lush October heat invited a delayed harvest after a cooler-than-normal growing season. Each block endured until every bunch reached its zenith of quality, with harvest beginning on October 11 and the last fruit coming in on October 25.
We were lucky enough to have a friend of the winery, Vanessa Conlin, Master of Wine, share her tasting notes with us and now you.
The 2023 OVID Napa Valley is eloquently aromatic, with notes of crushed violet, incense, cedar, blueberry and black plum tart. Fine-grained tannins frame a lush core of unsweetened cocoa, black currant and savory herbs. Texturally sophisticated, the wine continues to unfurl layers of complexity in an unrushed manner on the lasting finish.
View Note Card
Critical Acclaim
Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter
Bursting out of the glass with pure blackberry fruit, as unsmoked tobacco notes mingle with gorgeous smoked graphite tones, all building around perfectly ripe superfine tannins laced with mineral intensity. Iron and graphite nuances layer throughout with violet aromatics and pops of cassis, too. Pure-fruited, explosively flavourful, and poised with balanced tension and freshness.
Each year, the blend at OVID varies by vintage, as winemaker Austin Peterson prefers not to pre-plan the composition and instead approaches each harvest with a fresh perspective. The vineyard includes a significant proportion of Clone 4, planted across four of the estate’s 17 blocks within the 6ha site, contributing a distinctive savoury character and polished structure to the palate.
This vintage stands alongside the 2021, which also earned a perfect score, thanks largely to its freshness amid the typically robust, black-fruited, loamy-earth character of that year. As with the 2021, the 2023 shows striking mineral intensity – an iron fist in a velvety glove – and will only deepen in complexity with time. A serious collector-level wine from the 2023 vintage. 99 points.
Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Palate
Deep garnet-purple colored, it sails out with fragrant notions of lilacs, lavender, and cinnamon stick, leading to a core of warm cassis, cherry pie, and blueberry compote with a touch of wild sage. The full-bodied palate is so, so plush and juicy with bags of freshness and a long spicy finish. This is shaping up to be a stunning vintage for OVID! 97-99 points.
Ryan Montgomery, JamesSuckling.com
The level of polish and purity here is impressive, with a sense of harmony and precision. Aromas of blackcurrant, crushed stones, licorice, black olive, bay leaf, bitter chocolate and lead pencil. The palate is finely tuned and silken in nature, with supple black and blue fruits cut through by bright acidity and firm yet ultra-refined tannins, finishing with a mineral and savory edge. Drink or hold. 98 points.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The 2023 OVID is a dark, brooding wine. Blackberry, incense, cloves, new leather, lavender, and grilled herbs exalt Cabernet Sauvignon varietal character. Dollops of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot round of the blend. This is another wine that will almost certainly have more to say in another few years' time, once all the elements come together a bit more fully. There is certainly a lot to look forward to. 97 points.
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com
The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is another absolutely magical effort from this estate. Deep ruby/purple-hued, it offers cassis, redcurrants, dried flowers, spice, and leather that all shine on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, round, layered, and seamless, it has a great finish and outstanding length. This is more about finesse and elegance than sheer power, and it's going to cruise for 15-20 years in cold cellars. Drink 2025-2045. 97 points.
