2008 Ovid Red

Bright, dark ruby to the rim. Exotic, liqueur-like aromas of black fruits and licorice lifted by violet and mineral high notes. Plush, sweet and fully ripe; utterly seamless but also with terrific energy and definition to its concentrated flavors of dark fruits, bitter chocolate and sexy oak spices. This very deep, unctuous yet juicy wine finishes very long and suavely tannic, displaying outstanding balance for the year. A tasty treat already but should evolve gracefully for another decade or more.

One of the highlights among the early vintages, the 2008 Ovid is the first wine in this tasting that is complete in its balance of aromatics, fruit, acidity and tannin. New oak also appears better judged here than in the first releases. Blackberry jam, spice, exotic spices, black cherry, menthol, licorice and lavender are all nicely delineated throughout, with hints of crème de cassis and crushed rocks that add freshness as the wine starts to open up in the glass. (AG)

(65% cabernet sauvignon, 23% cabernet franc, 9% merlot and 3% petit verdot; from iron-rich clay and rock soil similar to that of Dalla Valle): Red-ruby. Expressive aromas of raspberry, graphite, dried herbs and flowers. Lush, generous and rather forward, offering plenty of early sexy appeal. Finishes with broad, mouthcoating tannins and a firm spine of acidity. This may shut down in bottle but it's quite tasty today.