Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Bella Novello – Cabernet Sauvignon – Vintage 2023
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A tribute wine named after Teresa Novello, this Cabernet Sauvignon carries the elegance of heritage with the power of Napa terroir. Crafted in limited production (just 850 cases), Bella Novello is youthful yet already expressive, shaped by winemaking that blends Italian finesse with Napa Valley boldness.

Aromas & Flavors
Aromas of blackcurrant, ripe plum, and blackberry intertwine with cedar, graphite, and touches of dried violet. Subtle hints of mocha and spice round out its aromatic depth.

Mouthfeel
Structured and youthful, with firm tannins and a focused core of dark fruit. The mid-palate shows promise of expansion, leading to a lingering finish marked by cassis and savory spice. Designed to reward both patience and curiosity.

Food Pairings
Pair with classic dishes like bistecca alla Fiorentina, braised lamb shanks, or wild mushroom risotto. Its backbone of tannin and freshness makes it ideal for rich, protein-driven meals.

Verdict
Bella Novello is a Cabernet with poise, combining Old World inspiration and Napa’s hallmark concentration. Drinkable now with decanting, but truly a wine built to age gracefully over the next decade.

Did You Know?
The Novello family’s Italian roots are deeply honored through this label, bringing a personal story of heritage to the heart of Napa winemaking.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This Cabernet feels like a future classic, bold yet refined. While still youthful, it already hints at the elegance it will achieve with time. A bottle worth cellaring, but also one to enjoy now with the right meal and good company. Cheers! — 7 days ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Nose: elegant white flowers.

Palate: balanced mineral. Green apple. Good density. Burgundian. — 4 months ago

Sándor Jaguar

9.2

So fluffy @ gibsons — 9 months ago

with Sydne, Lynn and 22 others

Norman

9.2

Dinner at a customer event. I was pleasantly surprised with this. Quite nice. — 18 days ago

A Name

10

Boardwalk Bellvue bar.
8/22 staycation.

Plum, raspberries, juicy and fruitful but not overpowering sweet. Dryer than Coopers. Better than coopers. The nose is very strong and elegant. Goes down smooth. Has an "evaporation" effect on the end. — 3 months ago

Mark Mannebach

9.2

2017 vintage. Plum, pomegranate and chocolate notes with a smooth finish of limestone, spice and wet stone. — 3 months ago

Joshua Figg

9.0

Full bodied, but a total fruit bomb. Smooth, rich and slightly velvety. Lots of tannins, finishes bolder. — 5 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

Brock thompson jordan john s kevin b — 25 days ago

Brandon Boesch

9.9

What a wine at 11 years! So much lemon, seagrass, peaches, a bit of stone, some lemon curd. It coats the palate. Interestingly it opened up with more fruit over 2 hours. It is so freaking good. It’s really like a fresh lemon tart with a tiny bit of cream and the crust with some orchard fruit and the at the ocean. Unbelievable. I loved this wine 8 years ago and love it more now. — 2 months ago

Marco Rodriguez

9.1

Well balanced wine. Dark fruit with really nice lingering spice and tannins. — 4 months ago