TN: 2014 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny (USA, California, Napa Valley)

WINE TALK
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  • 2014 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/21/2023)
    It’s been an incredibly stressful week, so a little (or a lot) of hedonism was just what the wellness doctor ordered. Nine years after the vintage this still showed boisterous black fruit, vanilla and rich cedar. I kept it cool (65ish), and it remained quite balanced despite the richness. Certainly on the bigger side of the Cabernet scale, but it hit the right spot tonight.
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This wine was a steal back then at $65 or $70. Pretty good still at $95.

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Yep. It’s definitely on the lush end of the scale, but a fantastic value for what it is.

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I have enjoyed this vintage in the past, as well as the 2012. however, the newer vintages seem to be getting bigger and more out of balance. I tasted the 2021 a few weeks ago, and found it nearly undrinkable. Hoping it settles down, along with the 2019 and 2018s I have.

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For inventory reasons I dropped Bevan after 2018, but I always thought the wines needed a few years to calm down/knit together, even back in 2014/2015.