Winemaker Notes
In this vintage, the heart of the final blend was made up of three small co-fermentations, each unique in composition, between our two Estate properties. What we found in this vintage was that Oakville contributed much of the plushness with crystallized purple fruit, and seemingly endless layers. While Stags Leap, with its chiseled florals and complex mineral stain, lend poise and finesse. This mix of fruit and perfume will be a thrill ride either young or old.
Blend: 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Leading off with the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon OV|SL, which is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, this wine offers an incredibly pure, precise profile that carries loads of crème de cassis, crushed rocks and white flower-like aromas and flavors. It’s deep, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, has sensational purity of fruit, building tannins, and a finish that won’t quit. This cuvée comes from two sites, one in Stags Leap and one in Oakville, and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Give bottles a good 4-5 years of cellaring and it will keep for two decades.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The OV/SL is a blend of fruit from Futo's two estate properties in Stags Leap and Oakville. The first vintage of this wine was 2012. The 2016 Proprietary Red OV/SL is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with beautiful scents of candied violets, oolong tea, garrigue, black olives and cinnamon stick over a core of plum preserves, wild blueberries and black cherry compote plus a waft of potpourri. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a very impressive structure of very ripe, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness framing the densely packed black fruit and spice layers, finishing long with a minty lift.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.