Bevan Cellars
Ontogeny Oakville Red Wine
Oakville, Napa Valley, California, USA
2013 Ontogeny Proprietary Red is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, coming from some of Russell Bevan’s favorite vineyard sources – Sugarloaf Mountain, Two Dogs, Tin Box and Tench. Quite flavorful, it is exhibiting slightly more new oak than some of the other cuvées, but is still sexy and opulent, with voluptuous texture, low acidity, and oodles of juicy, succulent black and red fruits, licorice, underbrush and a touch of vanillin. An already irresistible beauty, it can be drunk over the next 20 years.
2013 Ontogeny Proprietary Red is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, and 10% Cabernet Franc, coming from some of Russell Bevan’s favorite vineyard sources – Sugarloaf Mountain, Two Dogs, Tin Box and Tench. Quite flavorful, it is exhibiting slightly more new oak than some of the other cuvées, but is still sexy and opulent, with voluptuous texture, low acidity, and oodles of juicy, succulent black and red fruits, licorice, underbrush and a touch of vanillin. An already irresistible beauty, it can be drunk over the next 20 years.
Sep 11th, 2025
High-pitched, hugely extracted and textured cab. Not for the faint of heart. But every now and then, we love it.
High-pitched, hugely extracted and textured cab. Not for the faint of heart. But every now and then, we love it.
Sep 28th, 2024
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Deep purple in color with a short purplish rim.
Beautiful nose with lots of chocolates and light earth notes.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco, vanilla, dried figs, raisins, licorice, light earth, peppercorn, cola, spices and dark chocolates.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and crushed peppercorn.
This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Big and bold. Spicy and tangy. Showing nice complexity at this point.
This 6 year old is drinking beautifully now. Rich yet elegant. Extracted and easy drinking. Well balanced and really delicious.
A beautiful surprise. I had the 2016 a few years ago, and this is drinking much better now. I did not expect it from the 2017 vintage.
Thank you Mike for sharing this with me.
Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself as a sipping wine. Robert Parker 93 points.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$110.
It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.
Deep purple in color with a short purplish rim.
Beautiful nose with lots of chocolates and light earth notes.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco, vanilla, dried figs, raisins, licorice, light earth, peppercorn, cola, spices and dark chocolates.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and crushed peppercorn.
This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Big and bold. Spicy and tangy. Showing nice complexity at this point.
This 6 year old is drinking beautifully now. Rich yet elegant. Extracted and easy drinking. Well balanced and really delicious.
A beautiful surprise. I had the 2016 a few years ago, and this is drinking much better now. I did not expect it from the 2017 vintage.
Thank you Mike for sharing this with me.
Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself as a sipping wine. Robert Parker 93 points.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$110.
Deep purple in color with a short purplish rim.
Beautiful nose with lots of chocolates and light earth notes.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco, vanilla, dried figs, raisins, licorice, light earth, peppercorn, cola, spices and dark chocolates.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and crushed peppercorn.
This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Big and bold. Spicy and tangy. Showing nice complexity at this point.
This 6 year old is drinking beautifully now. Rich yet elegant. Extracted and easy drinking. Well balanced and really delicious.
A beautiful surprise. I had the 2016 a few years ago, and this is drinking much better now. I did not expect it from the 2017 vintage.
Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself as a sipping wine. Robert Parker 93 points.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$110.
Deep purple in color with a short purplish rim.
Beautiful nose with lots of chocolates and light earth notes.
Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity.
Dry and very fruity on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black currants, cooked plums, cedar, tobacco, vanilla, dried figs, raisins, licorice, light earth, peppercorn, cola, spices and dark chocolates.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and crushed peppercorn.
This is a gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Big and bold. Spicy and tangy. Showing nice complexity at this point.
This 6 year old is drinking beautifully now. Rich yet elegant. Extracted and easy drinking. Well balanced and really delicious.
A beautiful surprise. I had the 2016 a few years ago, and this is drinking much better now. I did not expect it from the 2017 vintage.
Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself as a sipping wine. Robert Parker 93 points.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
94 points.
$110.
This is a construction, but we don’t care. A much maligned vintage, but no signs of that here. Kudos Mr Bevan!
This is a construction, but we don’t care. A much maligned vintage, but no signs of that here. Kudos Mr Bevan!
Jan 16th, 2022Time for a good #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a great one from Napa Valley.
Inky in color with a short purple rim.
Showing black fruits with cedar, earth, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, coke, chocolates, dark coffee, leather, spices and peppercorn.
Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with nice balance and mouthfeel.
This is a delicious Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Complex and opulent, and might be too much for some.
Dark, rich and handsome. Very tasty now, although still young. Will be nice to revisit it in 10 years.
Robert Parker 95 points. Thank you Scott for sharing.
Good by itself or with food, like a big piece of steak.
A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$120.
Time for a good #FridayCabernetfix. Here is a great one from Napa Valley.
Inky in color with a short purple rim.
Showing black fruits with cedar, earth, vanilla, licorice, tobacco, coke, chocolates, dark coffee, leather, spices and peppercorn.
Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity. Dry on the palate with nice balance and mouthfeel.
This is a delicious Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Complex and opulent, and might be too much for some.
Dark, rich and handsome. Very tasty now, although still young. Will be nice to revisit it in 10 years.
Robert Parker 95 points. Thank you Scott for sharing.
Good by itself or with food, like a big piece of steak.
A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot.
15.2% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$120.
Drank 11/25/18. Tasting pour
Expressive nose of plums, ripe blackberry, and a hint of earth. Big palate of black fruit, and cherry. Seamless balance, with well integrated tannins. Long finish filled with black fruit.
4/23/8/5/4 + 50 = 94 pts
Drank 11/25/18. Tasting pour
Expressive nose of plums, ripe blackberry, and a hint of earth. Big palate of black fruit, and cherry. Seamless balance, with well integrated tannins. Long finish filled with black fruit.
4/23/8/5/4 + 50 = 94 pts
Inky purple. Strong floral notes of violets and lilacs accompanied by cassis, black cherries, and chocolate. Intense and sweet dark fruit on the palate with supple tannins. Blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Very appealing entry to the Bevan lineup of Bordeaux style wines.
Inky purple. Strong floral notes of violets and lilacs accompanied by cassis, black cherries, and chocolate. Intense and sweet dark fruit on the palate with supple tannins. Blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Very appealing entry to the Bevan lineup of Bordeaux style wines.
Sep 6th, 2018
Birdie: You opened my last 2011 Bevan Ontogeny, didn’t you.
Me: Damn right I did.
Birdie: Woof you.
Birdie: You opened my last 2011 Bevan Ontogeny, didn’t you.
Me: Damn right I did.
Birdie: Woof you.
There is no issue at all with tasting the 2015 Ontogeny, Bevan's entry-level wine, after all the big guns. If anything, the tasting order simply shows what a great wine this. Expansive aromatics lead into a core of rich, pliant fruit in this sweeping, dramatic wine. Readers who don't want to splurge on the higher-priced offerings will do just fine with the Ontogeny. This is a tremendous showing. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2018)
There is no issue at all with tasting the 2015 Ontogeny, Bevan's entry-level wine, after all the big guns. If anything, the tasting order simply shows what a great wine this. Expansive aromatics lead into a core of rich, pliant fruit in this sweeping, dramatic wine. Readers who don't want to splurge on the higher-priced offerings will do just fine with the Ontogeny. This is a tremendous showing. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2018)
Apr 13th, 2018