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The November 2026 Auction: Part 2
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1 / 2Lot 1263
Estimate: $470
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Reviews
96+AG
"The 2018 Ovid is a very delicate, elegant wine, certainly relative to the wines that have been made here in the past. Silky and perfumed, with tons of grace, the 2018 is super-expressive today. Bright floral notes, red cherry, plum and spice are all beautifully delineated. The 2018 is a wine of energy and tension. It will be interesting to see how it develops in bottle and if it gains more body. Today, it is very much lithe in build. The 2018 has also just been bottled, and these wines often blossom over time. I am super-impressed by the precision here. The 2018s and 2019s from Ovid are absolutely exquisite. That said, the wines require a major palate re-set, as Winemaker Austin Peterson has implemented a number of changes here in recent years that are just starting to truly make themselves felt in the wines. In the early days, the Ovid wines were typical of a style popular at the time that prized opulence and richness. A few years ago, Peterson began picking the vineyard when sections were ripe, rather than strictly block by block. Harvest dates moved up. Peterson eliminated cold soaks and extended macerations, along with reducing new oak. The result of all that work is felt in the 2018s, but even more so in the 2019s. Peterson describes 2018 as warmer than 2019. In tasting, I found the 2019s to have more body as well as greater vibrancy than the 2018s. Of course, the wines are at different stages of their evolution, so we will see in another years' time. What is clear is that these wines are positively stellar across the board."
Region
Red
Country
Score
"The 2018 Ovid is a very delicate, elegant wine, certainly relative to the wines that have been made here in the past. Silky and perfumed, with tons of grace, the 2018 is super-expressive today. Bright floral notes, red cherry, plum and spice are all beautifully delineated. The 2018 is a wine of energy and tension. It will be interesting to see how it develops in bottle and if it gains more body. Today, it is very much lithe in build. The 2018 has also just been bottled, and these wines often blossom over time. I am super-impressed by the precision here. The 2018s and 2019s from Ovid are absolutely exquisite. That said, the wines require a major palate re-set, as Winemaker Austin Peterson has implemented a number of changes here in recent years that are just starting to truly make themselves felt in the wines. In the early days, the Ovid wines were typical of a style popular at the time that prized opulence and richness. A few years ago, Peterson began picking the vineyard when sections were ripe, rather than strictly block by block. Harvest dates moved up. Peterson eliminated cold soaks and extended macerations, along with reducing new oak. The result of all that work is felt in the 2018s, but even more so in the 2019s. Peterson describes 2018 as warmer than 2019. In tasting, I found the 2019s to have more body as well as greater vibrancy than the 2018s. Of course, the wines are at different stages of their evolution, so we will see in another years' time. What is clear is that these wines are positively stellar across the board."
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The fourth-largest wine producer in the world, led by California. American fine wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit and a spirit of innovation, with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among the most sought-after wines globally.
California's most prestigious wine region, celebrated worldwide for opulent, structured Cabernet Sauvignon. Diverse soils and mountain-to-valley-floor sites yield wines of remarkable ripeness, power and longevity.
California's flagship appellation for opulent, structured Cabernet Sauvignon of ripe fruit, plush tannins and cellar-worthy depth.
2018 in Napa Valley enjoyed a long, cool, even season and a late harvest with a generous crop; the Cabernets are balanced, structured and classically styled, with vibrant fruit, firm tannins and excellent aging potential.
Cabernet Franc is an aromatic red grape prized for its perfume, freshness and savory character. Raspberry and violet are familiar notes, often joined by red fruit, herbs and a leafy edge. Its wines can be supple and fragrant or more firmly structured, with the balance of fruit, tannin and herbal complexity shaped by ripeness, vineyard site and winemaking. In France's Loire Valley, Cabernet Franc often takes center stage in wines from Chinon, Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny. These expressions highlight the grape's ability to reflect differences between vineyards while retaining a distinctive sense of freshness. In Bordeaux, particularly Saint-Ămilion, it is an important partner to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, contributing aromatic lift, finesse and structure. Cabernet Franc generally ripens before Cabernet Sauvignon and produces wines ranging from lively, fruit-focused bottlings to concentrated examples capable of developing additional complexity with age. Its appeal lies in the interplay of fruit, floral perfume and savory detail, whether bottled on its own or used to bring nuance to a blend.
Cabernet Sauvignon is a red grape known for deep color, firm tannins and a clearly defined structure. Blackcurrant, often described as cassis, is a signature flavor, accompanied by blackberry and, depending on the wine, cedar, graphite, mint or herbal notes. Oak aging can add spice and toast, while bottle age may bring tobacco, leather and other savory layers. The grape is a cornerstone of Bordeaux's Left Bank, especially the MĂ©doc and Graves, where it is commonly blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and smaller amounts of other varieties. Beyond Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon has established distinctive regional identities, including Australia's Coonawarra and Margaret River. Vineyard climate and ripeness influence whether the emphasis falls on fresh fruit and herbs or richer, fuller expressions. Its tannins, acidity and concentration can support long development in well-balanced examples. Many accessible styles are made for earlier enjoyment, while more structured wines reward time as their tannins soften and their aromas evolve. Cabernet Sauvignon brings depth and backbone to blends and can also express a vineyard's character as a varietal wine.
Merlot is a red grape valued for generous fruit, a rounded palate and a supple, often velvety texture. Plum and cherry are characteristic flavors, sometimes accompanied by violet or fig, with chocolate, coffee and savory notes developing in some wines as they mature. Its styles range from bright, approachable reds to deeply concentrated wines with substantial structure. Bordeaux is Merlot's historic home, and the grape is particularly important on the Right Bank in Saint-Ămilion, Pomerol and Fronsac. There it can lead a blend, frequently partnered with Cabernet Franc. Across Bordeaux, Merlot also complements Cabernet Sauvignon, contributing fruit and roundness alongside the latter's firmer tannic framework. Merlot generally ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, helping growers achieve ripe fruit in a range of conditions. Vineyard site, harvest timing and cellar choices determine the final balance of richness, freshness and tannin. Many bottlings offer pleasure in their youth, while fine, well-balanced examples can develop layered aromas and greater complexity through extended aging.
Petit Verdot is a red grape associated with deeply colored wines, firm tannins and pronounced aromatic intensity. Violet, spice and licorice are characteristic notes, with cocoa or coffee appearing in some expressions. Even a small addition can give a blend greater depth, texture and structure. In Bordeaux, Petit Verdot traditionally plays a supporting role alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, especially on the Left Bank in the MĂ©doc and Graves. Its late-ripening cycle makes the growing season important: sufficient warmth and time are needed to bring its fruit and tannins to maturity. The proportion used in a blend therefore varies with the vineyard, vintage and producer's style. Petit Verdot is also bottled on its own, particularly in warm growing regions where it can ripen reliably. These wines give a fuller view of its floral, spicy character and concentrated structure. Careful vineyard work and tannin management are central to balancing its intensity, whether it serves as a small but influential blending component or the principal grape in the bottle.