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! — 9 days ago

Todd Scurci

9.2

#vallata #dolcetto — 3 months ago

with Annie

John Bratincevic

8.9

Simple but good — acidity makes it better than the $15 reserve TJ’s Barbera I tried recently … but this was only $6? Like it better than last time for sure. Will definitely try again! — 5 months ago

Jan de Weerd

9.3

Fantastic Chianti. When you have to fight over the last drop, that’s always a good sign. Hard to pin down, though what stood out, it was certainly balanced, dark fruit vibrancy, but not really complex. Fine polished tannins and uplifting g minerality probably drove us to the next sip. Yeah, great Chianti. Even more intriguing is the story behind this winery. Ever heard of ‘Spaghetti Westerns?’ Well the famous movie director of these films was also at ground level of reinventing and reinvigorating Tuscany as we know it today. here is their story on our blog site https://spokenwines.com/our-blog/from-film-to-vineyard-the-legacy-of-rocca-delle-mac%C3%ACe — 15 days ago

with Tammy

Matt Perlman

9.2

Very good. High toned red berries and soil. A bit softer than the Sassella but you really have to squint to tell the difference — 2 months ago

Pooneet K

9.2

First 2024 wine!! This is really excellent - haven’t had this grape (albana) before. Orange but in the way that I like - no overly “natural” funk and instead just excellent stony fruit and some great grip. Very juicy and almost savory with a long finish. Great value at $22. — 4 months ago

John Van Trijp

9.7

Double Magnum number 24/24 — a month ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.2

Trader Joe’s Classic!!!! This usually stinks. But not in this stellar 2021 vintage. Not super complex but more on the elegant side. I would think this will age for 10 years or so. After 24 hours even better and more convincing. Quite tannic! Grab it by the case while it is there the 2022 will be awful (my prediction). And at 20 bucks…….. — 2 months ago

Marco Rodriguez

9.1

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

Geoff Buswick

9.2

Balanced with fruit and a bit of an acid finish. — 5 months ago