SKU: 05892

Ovid Hexameter Proprietary Red 2016

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wa98
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750ml

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Category	Wine
Varietals	Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc
Origin	California, Napa Valley
Brand	Ovid

Hexameter is the Cabernet Franc-focused wine from Ovid Napa Valley. The first of Ovid's wines to graduate from the experiment stage to a flagship wine, Hexameter began with the simple inquiry: how compelling can a Cabernet Franc-focused wine from this Napa site be? That early experiment from 2005 produced an intriguing Franc-centric wine, and the next four years were used to refine the wine, particularly honing in on the best blocks within the vineyard.

Hexameter is the poetic meter used by Ovid in his Metamorphoses and, for that matter, in much Greek and Roman epic poetry. The concept of meter was intriguing, as meter contains, animates and organizes the information contained by a poem’s words. Transposed to wine, the vineyard is the impulse behind a poem, and the wine its meter and language. As such, the wine Hexameter reveals a certain rhythm and structure in the Ovid vineyard that articulates its clear and profound affinity for Cabernet Franc.

Opulent notes of Rainier cherry, violets, fresh blackberry, and plum mingle serenely with aromas of dark chocolate, molasses and pencil shavings. Round and resonant, this wine captures the undeniable deliciousness of this spectacular vintage.

Jeb Dunnuck

jd99

In the same ballpark as the 2015, the 2016 Hexameter (55% Cabernet Franc, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a splash of Merlot) is similarly inky colored and has heavenly notes of black raspberries, cassis, violets, and forest floor. This full-bodied, absolutely riveting 2016 has ultra-fine tannins, is perfectly balanced, no hard edges, and a purity of fruit that's hard to describe. It's another legendary wine from this team. Give bottles another 2-3 years and it will knock your socks off over the following 10-15 years.

January 31, 2019

Wine Advocate

wa98

Blended of 55% Cabernet Franc, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Hexameter leaps from the glass with bold Black Forest cake, cassis and redcurrant jelly scents with suggestions of candied violets, pencil lead, oolong tea and cumin seed with a touch of cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals loads of red and black fruit layers beautifully laced with exotic spices and floral fragrances, framed by super ripe, super fine-grained tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing long.

December 13, 2018

Vinous

The 2016 Hexameter, Ovid's Cabernet Franc-based wine, is superb. Bright, focused and beautifully sculpted, the 2016 has a lot going on. Bright red cherry, raspberry, mocha, mint and wild flowers and espresso soar out of the glass. Medium in body and gracious, the 2016 screams with varietal Franc and Pritchard Hill character.

December 2018

Wine Spectator

ws94

This features a strong tobacco leaf note amid a hefty core of steeped currant, blackberry and plum fruit flavors. Shows solid depth, with a long tug of warm loam and espresso cream through the finish, while the fruit keeps pace. A big wine, exhibiting serious buried minerality. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2038. 570 cases made.

August 31, 2020