Ovid
Experiment No. N7.2
Napa Valley, 2022
At OVID, winemaking has always existed on the edge of science and poetry. The 2022 Experiment No. N7.2 embodies that balance, translating raw mountain intensity into fluid grace. Crafted from fruit grown on Pritchard Hill, this wine channels volcanic soils, unrelenting sun, and meticulous viticultural precision into a Cabernet blend that feels both sculpted and spontaneous, bringing a rare equilibrium of intellect and instinct.
Winemaker Austin Peterson, drawing on mentorship from Andy Erickson and Michel Rolland, explores how subtle variations in elevation and canopy height can reshape a wine’s voice. The wine spent 20 months in French oak, allowing the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon to merge gracefully with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The blend reveals OVID’s signature balance between extraction and elegance, where intensity never overshadows finesse.
Inspired by the Roman poet Ovid, celebrated for his transformative “Metamorphoses,” the winery embraces a philosophy of innovative exploration. Every vintage from OVID is a conversation with nature, and N7.2 feels like its most eloquent reply yet. This is OVID at its most articulate: bold, cerebral, and effortlessly beautiful.
Ovid
Experiment No. N7.2
Napa Valley, 2022
Retails at: $225
Your Price: $190
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“The 2022 Ovid Experiment No. N7.2 is a compelling Napa Valley red, blending Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and lower percentages of Merlot and Petit Verdot, sourced from high-elevation Pritchard Hill vineyards. On the nose, it blooms with precise layers of red currants and spiced black plum, supported by cedar, warm baking spices, wet-stone minerality, cocoa powder, and a dusting of white pepper, revealing an intricate aromatic profile. The palate delivers sweet blackberries with bright, intensely flavored fruit that maintains a very linear, focused foundation. Firm yet satiny tannins provide structure without aggression, leading to a long, elegant finish that echoes the nose’s complexity. This wine possesses genuine depth and balance, promising evolution over the next 15+ years, gaining further complexity.”
95 points
