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! — 6 days ago

Marco Rodriguez

9.1

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

Scott Arnold

9.1

Great Chianti, well balanced. — 25 days ago

Brian Hearty

8.9

2007. Held up well and had nice cherry flavors. — 2 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. — 4 months ago

Daniel Ciolek

9.1

Every year the pop and pour drinkability of this blend gets better! This year the blend is 60% Mourvedere 25% Grenache and 15% Syrah. My appreciation for the less common primary grape varietals has escalated by Monte de Oro’s wise blending and aging techniques. The nose is slightly shy. The palate is a pleasantly unique balanced combination of fruit and earthy components - with a touch of lingering spice. A near perfect balance of juicy acidity and soft tannins that makes this approachable for most. — 8 months ago

Rick Fenner

9.1

Smoky, leathery love — a month ago

Craig Matthews

9.3

Dry, light, earthy. Quite nice. — 3 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 — 3 months ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

So freaking good, the first version of the NV 4-5 years from release. The "hype" is real, just make sure you give Stella's wines time to do their thing! — 4 months ago