(Ovid Napa Valley) The current release shows a dark, wild-plum-skin color, rich and dense in the glass. A lush nose, contrasting with the vibrant fruit explosion of the 2005, yields notes of vanilla with cooked black cherry and a vapor of cola. The soft texture hinted at on the nose is confirmed on the palate, where abundant layers of dark-red-to-purple fruit with a touch of licorice are followed by anise, well-integrated spices (particularly black pepper), and tannin. Notes of vanilla appear on the midpalate, ending in a creamy finish reminiscent of warm custard. Winery Spotlight: Ovid
By Ben Narasin
(Ovid Napa Valley) The current release shows a dark, wild-plum-skin color, rich and dense in the glass. A lush nose, contrasting with the vibrant fruit explosion of the 2005, yields notes of vanilla with cooked black cherry and a vapor of cola. The soft texture hinted at on the nose is confirmed on the palate, where abundant layers of dark-red-to-purple fruit with a touch of licorice are followed by anise, well-integrated spices (particularly black pepper), and tannin. Notes of vanilla appear on the midpalate, ending in a creamy finish reminiscent of warm custard. Winery Spotlight: OvidDecember 2009, (See more on Sommelier Journal...)