Tom Garland

9.2

Decant and pour. On the nose: dark fruit, smoked meat, worn leather, cigar box, and a little bandaid(brett?)..luv the funk! Taste: elegant and fresh for its age with dark plum, earth, leather, and a sour cherry/chocolate espresso/tar long finish. YUM! — 24 days ago

with Brenda

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! — 5 months ago

Tim O’Brien

9.5

very yummy Classico from ms Harrington for my bday — a month ago

Christian Fischer

9.2

Well that was a weird bottle. Smelled amazing and tasted very off, no TCA or anything like it, difficult to describe. It had a layer of very tart tannin-like overlaying flavor that was not good. Left it open for 24 hours and it was much improved. After 48 hours it was a nice bottle of CA cab. Clearly something off with this bottle and the 9.2 rating is a 9.1 from day 3 and some add for ‘not typical’. I had high hopes for this wine and don’t think I have had a fair sampling of it — 2 months ago

Craig Matthews

9.3

Dry, light, earthy. Quite nice. — 7 months ago

Pooneet K

8.9

I generally like canary island reds ie listan negro quite a bit. This one veered a bit too austere for me. Some nice refined dark fruit and a lot of peppery herbs. Mouthfeel and finish are slightly thin, but the acid is certainly there and this still feels complete and well made. Just not quite giving enough. — 8 months ago

Frank Soldano

9.2

Drinking the 2018 in 2026. Dark thick long lasting legs. Nose has dark fruit and cherry notes, slightly sweet. Light flavor for a cab. Very smooth with a fruity finish. Nice wine. — a month ago

Sándor Jaguar

9.0

Possibly a potential go to medium $ Pinot noir. Can't think of what is better except for stuff we have equity in — 3 months ago

with Sydne, Ryan and 22 others

Brian Hearty

8.9

2007. Held up well and had nice cherry flavors. — 7 months ago

George Booth

8.9

Really good wine with seafood has a light mineral taste with plenty of citrus notes. Had this at Capo Boi in Roma — 8 months ago