2018 OVID Hexameter Napa Valley 750 ml

Ovid’s high-elevation outpost on Pritchard Hill features some of the most stunning views in all of Napa Valley—but its aesthetic charms are not all that make it special. Ovid is home to some of the most precious terroir in Napa Valley, and it comes across in every sip of their one-of-a-kind wines. 

Ovid’s aromatic Cab Franc-dominant Hexameter is a distinctive expression of one of Napa Valley’s great estates. Jeb Dunnuck, who once said Ovid was on his list of “desert island wines,” gave it 99 points. Vinous added 98, saying it “dazzles from start to finish” and “shows just how stunning Franc is in these rocky red soils.”

Last year, we were thrilled to visit with Ovid winemaker Austin Peterson, who shared what makes Ovid’s place on Pritchard Hill so special. Sitting in the rain shadow of Mount Veeder, the property is extremely dry, so the grapes achieve tremendous concentration as they struggle in the red, rocky soils. Consisting of just twelve planted acres on one of the most exposed spots on Pritchard Hill, Ovid is bathed in the cool sunlight that grapes love, and that forms thick skins that yield the most beautifully refined tannins imaginable.

Originally planted by David Abreu, Ovid’s organically farmed vineyard is divided into 15 blocks. This allows Peterson to decide how to manage the canopy, how to employ shade cloth, and when to pick, all based on the specific needs of minute parcels of grapes. After harvest, the grapes are fermented using only native yeasts (largely in exquisite built-in-place concrete fermenters) and bottled without fining or filtration.