Samuel Sabori

9.1

Slow open, would love to see this in a couple years. Crunchy and clean. Red berries, hints of florals. Small whiffs of mouse towards the end, but held its structure through the end of the bottle. Opened for about 3-4 hours. Would love to check in on this year in a few years. — 15 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.7

Bevan Cellars Ontogeny
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A powerhouse Bordeaux-style blend from Russell Bevan, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, with fruit sourced from elite Napa sites such as Tench Vineyard (Oakville, next to Screaming Eagle), Sugarloaf Mountain, and Sage Ridge. This is the estate’s flagship red that over-delivers compared to other triple-digit Napa wines.

Aromas & Flavors
Opulent nose of cassis, blackberries, and graphite, with layers of tobacco leaf, cedar, and baking spices.
On the palate: dense and multi-layered, offering ripe black cherry, plum, cocoa, and licorice, evolving into earthy and savory undertones.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with velvety tannins and extraordinary structure. Rich and ripe, yet beautifully balanced, finishing with a long, polished, lingering finish.

Winemaking Notes
Russell Bevan’s hallmark style—precision, power, and elegance—delivers a wine meant to impress now but with serious aging potential (10+ years).

Food Pairing
Best with grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, lamb chops, or truffle risotto. A showpiece bottle for fine dining.

Verdict
A monster Napa blend that’s lush, powerful, and complex—yet still refined. Truly a collectible wine, and if you can get it before prices climb, it’s a steal compared to Bevan’s other labels. — 9 months ago

Charlie Tapp

9.2

Orchard fruit, butter and marzipan. — 4 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2020 | WOTN | Beautiful wine: rosemary, raspberry, cigarbox, piment. Nice complexity, refinement and elegance. — a month ago

Rob Brobst III

9.8

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. — 7 months ago

Billy L.

9.7

PNP & Singing right now! Russell Bevan makes great wines! Cheers 🍇🍷👏🏻👍🏻 — 2 years ago

Ashley Revay

10

Lovely complex Pinot while celebrating bean’s birthday! — 2 months ago

Billy L.

9.8

PNP / Exceptional @ 10 years young! 65% Cab. Sauv., 30% Cab. Franc & the rest Merlot. Classic Oakville with deep dark fruit concentration, lots of glycerin, opulent drinking experience. Kudos to Russell Bevan-Owner/Winemaker! Cheers 🍇🍷👍🏻👏🏻 — 2 months ago

ash

9.0

2021 hits all the notes — 9 months ago

Charlie Tapp

9.1

Cranberry with red plums and salinity. — 4 years ago