2018 HDV Vineyard Belle Cousine (Hyde Vineyard)

Tasting Notes

The 2018 HDV Belle Cousine from Hyde de Villaine is a highly regarded Napa Valley red blend, earning 93 points from James Suckling and 94 points from Wine Advocate

James Suckling: 93 points – “Tight and focused… blackcurrants, violets, cloves, pepper… savory with black tea and graphite. Medium-bodied with integrated tannins. Drink or hold.”

Wine Advocate: 94 points – “Elegant blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot. Matured in 20% new French oak for 22 months, plus 2 years in bottle before release.”

About Winery

Hyde de Villaine (HdV) is a prestigious winery in Napa Valley, born from a collaboration between two legendary winemaking families: the Hyde family of California and the de Villaine family of Burgundy, France. The partnership was solidified through the marriage of Pamela Fairbanks, cousin of Larry Hyde, to Aubert de Villaine, co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC), one of the most revered wine estates in the world.

Founded in 2000, HdV combines Old World finesse with New World vibrancy, producing wines exclusively from the Hyde Vineyard in Carneros. This vineyard, established by Larry Hyde in 1979, is renowned for its cool climate and loamy soils, ideal for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. HdV’s winemaking philosophy emphasizes minimal intervention, allowing the vineyard’s terroir to shine through. They employ organic, biodynamic, and sustainable practices, and their wines undergo full malolactic fermentation to balance the naturally high acidity of the fruit.

HdV’s wines are known for their refinement, minerality, and age-worthiness, often described as more French in style than Californian. The winery’s label features the de la Guerra family crest, honoring Larry Hyde’s ancestral lineage, which traces back to one of California’s earliest winemaking families.