Ovid, Red Wine, Napa Valley

A week with Sue, others, restaurants, Napa and a rebirthday party; 4/6/2026-4/13/2026 (Various) : Recent buy, along with a mag of this (!) to go with a winery 3 pack lying in wait. When I last had, 8 months ago, I noted that this vintage of this bottle was in danger of becoming house red at my domicile, yet even with all of the bottles in tow, it had been 9 months since the last bottle (and it may be …

2008 vintage

Into the decanter we go, some bricking on the edges, but otherwise nothing visual alarming. Had planned on 4 hr of air, but decided to check in at 2.5 hr, and well, this did not need any more air. Take all my prior notes, mash them together, perhaps amplify the best of them and then you get the picture of what this is. I kept trying to find a flaw in this wine�because I couldn�t, well Mr. Benjamin says we�re …

2008 vintage

Into the decanter we go, some bricking on the edges, but otherwise nothing visual alarming. Had planned on 4 hr of air, but decided to check in at 2.5 hr, and well, this did not need any more air. Take all my prior notes, mash them together, perhaps amplify the best of them and then you get the picture of what this is. I kept trying to find a flaw in this wine—because I couldn’t, well Mr. Benjamin says we’re …

2008 vintage

Drinking absolutely perfect! Velvety smooth!

2008 vintage

Popped and poured. Was fantastic from the start and continued to deliver over the long dinner.

2010 vintage

Popped and poured this beauty for our anniversary and it was an absolute delight. Candied plums, mocha, cigar box and cherry compote on the nose gives way to a palate filled with silky smooth tannins, raspberry reduction, macerated blueberries, spiced plum, coffee liqueur and vanilla extract. The finish was soft yet structured, and continued on and on, surprising us with tertiary flavors of crushed gravel and forest floor. A wonderful representation of Pritchard Hill -- where rocky, well-drained soil and …

2010 vintage

3 hour slow ox. Quite good but unfortunately didn’t show as well as prior bottles which were exceptional. That said, super enjoyable with smooth mellow tannins and plenty of fruit.

2010 vintage

Big and bold but drinks so smoothly.

2010 vintage

A pre-4th treat for friend Steve, who enjoys wine and has a good palate but has a small wine spend so this wouldn�t be in his wheelhouse. Unsurprisingly similar experience to last bottle, although I aerated in a decanter rather than the bottle, and we finished it off in about 90 minutes after the 90 minutes of air. Just fabulous with a grilled leg of lamb and veggies; I�ve always maintained that this wine is just as good with a …

2008 vintage

A pre-4th treat for friend Steve, who enjoys wine and has a good palate but has a small wine spend so this wouldn’t be in his wheelhouse. Unsurprisingly similar experience to last bottle, although I aerated in a decanter rather than the bottle, and we finished it off in about 90 minutes after the 90 minutes of air. Just fabulous with a grilled leg of lamb and veggies; I’ve always maintained that this wine is just as good with a …

2008 vintage

Short (relatively, this is me after all) note here, on this, my favorite bottling, with this vintage I’ve had most often. Revisited in light of both having bought 3 more recently at auction and a *slightly* diminished experience with the last bottle, not clear if because the bottle wasn’t as good or because of too much aeration on my part. Well, while we’ll never solve that one, I can say that this bottle lived up to the prior ones, far …

2008 vintage

Short (relatively, this is me after all) note here, on this, my favorite bottling, with this vintage I�ve had most often. Revisited in light of both having bought 3 more recently at auction and a *slightly* diminished experience with the last bottle, not clear if because the bottle wasn�t as good or because of too much aeration on my part. Well, while we�ll never solve that one, I can say that this bottle lived up to the prior ones, far …

2008 vintage

In a great spot. Has years to go

2010 vintage

A visit from Katerina and Tom (Chez Walker - New Hope, PA) : First red of the evening. Purchased at release, in my cellar since. Last tasting of this vintage was 2017..time to check in on it. I needed a couple wines to compliment my "famous" braised brisket. Heeding the decanting guidance, I slow oxed for about 2 hours, then decanted 90 minutes prior to drinking. Dark garnet core, opaque, slighty faded at the edges. Nose showing red fruits, cedar, …

2008 vintage

Wow, this wine is aging super well or at least this bottle is. Fig, leather, cigar with dark cherry on the nose, absolutely stunning nose and soft and well balanced on the palate with enough structure to keep it enjoyable. Fantastic.

2010 vintage

Excellent. Forest floor!

2010 vintage

After a stellar bottle in �21 and a meh bottle last year, I decided to hit the �08 again. Thankfully, this bottle was more like the one from �21. Decanted in a beaker decanter, initial nose was heavenly, first sips at 3.5 hr. Drank over another 3 hr. Mrs Geaux drank more than her usual share � hints everywhere Nose�red spiced fruit, wood, cigar box, iron rocks, pencil shavings, dried sage, dried flowers/ potpourri. Palate-black tea, black cherry, baking spice, …

2008 vintage

After a stellar bottle in ‘21 and a meh bottle last year, I decided to hit the ‘08 again. Thankfully, this bottle was more like the one from ‘21. Decanted in a beaker decanter, initial nose was heavenly, first sips at 3.5 hr. Drank over another 3 hr. Mrs Geaux drank more than her usual share … hints everywhere Nose—red spiced fruit, wood, cigar box, iron rocks, pencil shavings, dried sage, dried flowers/ potpourri. Palate-black tea, black cherry, baking spice, …

2008 vintage

One off auction purchase ($195) about 6 months ago. On the nose and palate, explosive notes of red cherry, dark berries, black currants, red licorice, bittersweet chocolate, espresso, the trademark Ovid forest floor-evergreen, lavendar, violets, rose petals, wet earth, graphite, asphalt and rocky minerality. Deep purple with a tinge of brown, medium to full bodied, thick legs. Powerful acidity and thick, silky tannins, with a minimal but exact right amount of separateness, no heat. Extraordinary complexity, persistence and intensity. Perfect. …

2010 vintage

Soft and integrated on the palate and still retains vibrant acidity. Medium bodied with bright fruit. No trace of any overbearing oak. Lost its charm on second day of air. Recommend drinking same day.

2008 vintage

Love the nose.

2010 vintage

Just beautiful. Nice Dark fruits with a small hint of band aid on the nose. Very soft and elegant and at a nice spot now.

2010 vintage

Decanted 60-90 minutes Perfumery-rose ref fruit, eucalyptus, dusty nose. Fruit still fresh cherry and boysenberry, eucalyptus , lavender, clay dust on the palate. Still strong tannins structure and will continue to develope over many more years. Affirmed the strong younger vintages are worth collecting

2010 vintage

Just a short note, since I�m starting to talk more about this wine than Austin Peterson or AE. Shared with new/old CT friend Mark and HMC against a �19 KE Anjea, a 2012 L&M et al and a 2012 Kamen Kashmir. They say generals are always fighting the last war, and I plead a bit guilty to that here. I opened this last for CT friends 5 months ago, and we drank it as a PnP, and while it eventually …

2008 vintage

Just a short note, since I’m starting to talk more about this wine than Austin Peterson or AE. Shared with new/old CT friend Mark and HMC against a ‘19 KE Anjea, a 2012 L&M et al and a 2012 Kamen Kashmir. They say generals are always fighting the last war, and I plead a bit guilty to that here. I opened this last for CT friends 5 months ago, and we drank it as a PnP, and while it eventually …

2008 vintage

Beautiful wine opened by Peter for our get together at El Bonita tonight. Not sure of the prep time but this is so soft, so integrated and so nice. A great evergreen feel to the fruit, a resinous component overall. Just a very, very nice wine. Thanks for bringing this one, my friend!

2008 vintage

CFB Week 1, time to pull something good with braised duck breast. Double decant and back under cork for additional time. Wine had seeped 2/3 up the cork but otherwise, seemingly fine. Prior bottles several years ago showed best at 4+ hrs of hour. Pulled a glass at 2 hr for a test drive. Nose of ice cool blue mint, baking spice, cola, blood iron, macerated berries, crushed fresh herbs. Palate not as giving, some white pepper and cherry and …

2008 vintage

CFB Week 1, time to pull something good with braised duck breast. Double decant and back under cork for additional time. Wine had seeped 2/3 up the cork but otherwise, seemingly fine. Prior bottles several years ago showed best at 4+ hrs of hour. Pulled a glass at 2 hr for a test drive. Nose of ice cool blue mint, baking spice, cola, blood iron, macerated berries, crushed fresh herbs. Palate not as giving, some white pepper and cherry and …

2008 vintage

We had to chase those In �n Outs with something after the corked Trot, and my Ovid was as good a candidate as any. I�ve written so much on this bottling, including this vintage, that I must be coming up against some sort of word limit, so I�ll just say that, 1) unlike the last bottle, this definitely benefited from air, coming out surprisingly hot and full, with most of that blowing off in the first 30-45 minutes, but this …

2008 vintage

This wine is in a very nice place for my palate...that area where fruit and tertiary flavors are in balance...a peak window for my palate. The wine shows plenty of dark fruit(blackberry, cassis and dark cherry) with tertiary notes of earth, leather and forest floor all hitting the mid palate and hint of anise and dusty tannins coming through on a medium finish. Old world style but enough acidity to keep the fruit alive and still going strong enough to …

2008 vintage

We had to chase those In ‘n Outs with something after the corked Trot, and my Ovid was as good a candidate as any. I’ve written so much on this bottling, including this vintage, that I must be coming up against some sort of word limit, so I’ll just say that, 1) unlike the last bottle, this definitely benefited from air, coming out surprisingly hot and full, with most of that blowing off in the first 30-45 minutes, but this …

2008 vintage

Wow, this was drinking so great great right out of the bottle with a splash decant and only got better as the night progressed. These are definitely at peak and I will be popping my remaining bottles sooner than later.

2011 vintage

Great color. A bit unique. Nice dark fruit, with some Asian spice notes. Very soft on the palate. (Too soft?) Drinking great.

2010 vintage

First of 2 ($180@) from a recent purchase (then, less than 2 weeks after, I got 3 at an auction for $25@ less, so popping one stat became imperative). Pretty much an all around Ibid from my note of just over 3 years ago, continuing to be bang on in its tasting window. I write briefly in the context of having had a ‘05, ‘06 and another ‘12 in the past several months and the more recent TNs. Unlike others, …

2008 vintage

First of 2 ($180@) from a recent purchase (then, less than 2 weeks after, I got 3 at an auction for $25@ less, so popping one stat became imperative). Pretty much an all around Ibid from my note of just over 3 years ago, continuing to be bang on in its tasting window. I write briefly in the context of having had a �05, �06 and another �12 in the past several months and the more recent TNs. Unlike others, …

2008 vintage

Precocious and delicious. Highly recommended with a 3-4 hour cool decant.

2008 vintage

My clear cut choice as WOTN in a stacked lineup. The nose was deep and inviting, with a full broad pop of ripe fruit and subtle warm spices. The finish was long and left me reaching for just a small taste more!

2008 vintage

Wine wasn�t in a good place as it was carrying too much fruit and jam on the tongue. Had a beautiful nose but the balance wasn�t there.

2008 vintage

Wine wasn’t in a good place as it was carrying too much fruit and jam on the tongue. Had a beautiful nose but the balance wasn’t there.

2008 vintage

Really enjoyed the red fruited flavor profile here, strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb with nice spices. Well balanced and delicious. Fruit was a tad faded here and not as intense or deep as other vintages, however the profile of flavors was so yummy. A winner from this vintage. Bravo!

2011 vintage

More muted than prior bottles - wondering how much life is left, although there’s still discernible acidity and tannic structure. Just not sure how long the fruit will hold out.

2011 vintage

Brick red. Medium bodied. Raspberry, black cherry, limestone.

2011 vintage

Stunning. Classic mountain cab dominated red. Aromatically jumps from the glass with aromas of berries and plums, cassis, and violets. Beautifully balanced packed with red and black fruit flavors that are never heavy and are balanced by just the right touch of acidity. The tannins are still there but they're soft and are starting to melt into this silky beauty. I should have waited another 5+ years. This one was my last of the 2011s.... which despite the cold vintage …

2011 vintage

Spongy cork

2008 vintage

3 hr decant, some bricking now evident, dark crimson in color, weightless across the palate with the first sips. On the nose, a nice herbal / iron mix with an earl grey tea note, touch of fresh bay leaf and saline, along with a touch of brandy. The palate was a touch reticent, with unripened black cherry, blood iron, milk chocolate and spiced plum. Medium finish with tea notes appearing. Drank over another 2.5 hrs, definitely put on more weight …

2010 vintage

Double decant for 2 hours and firing on all cylinders . Tannins have softened but plenty of fruit left. In a great spot right now but no rush to drink. Tremendous wine, great with food or on its own.

2010 vintage

Very strong performance for a 2011 Napa red!

2011 vintage

deep red-purple color, cherry and cassis on the nose, spicy oak, on the palate waves of dense dark fruits, blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, good length and a light olive note, good stern structure, approachable now but I would cellar this is a while and see how it develops. ***+, approachable but further development worth some patience

2010 vintage

Wonderful wine. Complex and fruit forward! Tannins have softened. Great experience.

2010 vintage

Was like quintessa meets Dunn - loved it

2010 vintage

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Ovid, Red Wine, Napa Valley

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