LL is one of my favorites but I just don’t see it as a match here. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of theirs go north of 15.3% and they are mainly RRV sourced.
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I appreciate the humor and innuendo, regarding 69:
“I am sure this thought has been top of mind for all of you recently: who will get the coveted Lot 69 assignment?
I have been using this sensuous descriptor a lot lately but it seems to me the defining characteristic of the vintage, these are juicy, sexy, potent, ripe, succulent and delicious wines.
…and I believe you are going to have a hard time keeping your hands off of this one”
Cheers 
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Does anyone know if Lot 61 Howell Mountain CS, has started shipping??? 
Customer service just told me that it might be available later this month.
They will let us know and ask whether to send or hold it.
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Thanks a lot Brett! I don’t want to miss that one (two, actually)….
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By Popular Request: Three-Pack Attack! (6’ers, too!)
Over the years, my FOMO has worked out very well. Repeatedly, it has kept me from Missing Out! 
In the end, any regrets are not what I did, it’s what I did Not Do…..
Consequently, in for a six pack each of X75 (additional to my one case) & X71 (my very first X Syrah).
No regrets whatsoever! Cheers 
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Can you add more referrals after your initial referral for discount request? Presently the webpage only shows my previous referral and discount available, but not a place to refer others to Cam X.
Happy Mother’s Day everyone! 
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Lot 78 sounds great.
Could source winery initials be DV?
Gemini seems to think Materra
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Materra fits pretty well if it’s Chelsea Barrett that is the daughter being referred to. If she can make wine as well as her parents do then this could be a pretty good one to get.
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ChatGPT
Araujo Estate Wines / Accendo Cellars lineage via Jaime Araujo
Because the “child of Napa pioneers” clue points very strongly toward:
Jaime Araujo
Son of:
- Bart Araujo
- Daphne Araujo
Legendary Napa figures from the original Araujo Estate / Eisele Vineyard era.
Why this fits unusually well
“Child of two legendary Napa winemakers”
That is far too specific to ignore.
There are only a handful of Napa second-generation winemakers where:
- both parents are legendary
- and the child now oversees a high-end program
Jaime Araujo is one of the clearest fits.
Cabernet Franc as a flagship “hommage”
Araujo/Accendo-style projects:
- absolutely make sense doing a serious Cab Franc homage bottling
- with:
- elite cooperage
- restrained luxury
- precision winemaking
The tone of the offer reads exactly like:
“serious Napa insider wine, not mass-market luxury.”
Oak Knoll west-side alluvials near Mt. Veeder
That’s an excellent Cab Franc zone:
- gravelly bench/alluvial soils
- cooler Oak Knoll influence
- enough warmth for ripeness
This is the kind of terroir site a precision-minded Napa family would specifically seek out for Franc.
55% new French oak / no-expense-spared
That level of oak investment is:
- too expensive for most boutique labels
- but totally normal for:
- Araujo lineage
- Accendo-tier philosophy
- homage bottlings
Style clues
Your note:
- raspberry puree
- meaty/chocolate notes
- bay leaf
- pencil lead
- umami
This sounds like:
- polished modern Napa Franc
- but not overripe or green
Very much in the vein of high-end Oak Knoll / benchland Franc.
Why not the obvious alternatives?
Detert Family Vineyards
- famous for Cab Franc
- Oakville, not Oak Knoll
- not “child of two legendary winemakers”
Lang & Reed
- Franc specialists, but stylistically different
- not luxury $100+ homage positioning
Ashes & Diamonds
- second-generation Napa lineage vibes, but not this clue set
My final call
Most likely:
A Jaime Araujo-led / Araujo lineage Cabernet Franc project
Potentially under:
- Accendo
- a side label
- or a bespoke estate program
If I had to put one exact name on it:
Accendo Cellars – Cabernet Franc homage bottling
That’s where I’d put my money.
No updates over on camxcellar but we had some new releases. I also added guesses to the original list:
Lot 58 2024 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir — Lots of guesses, no clear consensus
Lot 60 2025 Sonoma Valley Sauvignon Blanc — Lasseter
Lot 61 2024 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon — No guesses (same as #67)
Lot 62 2025 St. Helena Malvasia Bianca — Ballentine
Lot 63 2024 Moon Mountain District Chardonnay — Lasseter
Lot 64 2024 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon — Lasseter
Lot 65 2024 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay — Marnet Mill Station
Lot 67 Knight’s Valley Cabernet Sauvignon — Same producer as #61. Cam: “good luck and God’s speed”
Lot 68 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon — Caldwell (same as #38)
Lot 69 2024 Dry Creek Old Vine Zinfandel — no good guesses (small boutique that Cam had “never heard of”)
Lot 71 2024 Napa Valley Syrah — Krupp Brothers
Lot 75 2024 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon — Krupp Brothers
Lot 78 2024 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc — Materra
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FWIW, ChatGPT was very quick to change it’s mind when I asked about Materra, lol.
The key clue I missed initially
“child of two legendary Napa winemakers”
That clue is honestly more famous in the Barrett context than the Araujo context.
Because:
- Heidi Barrett is such an iconic figure,
- and Chelsea Barrett has become very respected in her own right.
Once you suggested Materra, it clicked immediately.
Revised final answer
Materra Cunat Family Vineyards – Cabernet Franc (Oak Knoll estate)
with winemaking ties to Chelsea Barrett.
That is now my clear favorite for this offer.
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Hommage is a clue that also links to materra I believe
While standard Materra Cabernet Franc retails around $110, the “Field of Dreams” designation is a reserve-tier “hommage” bottling that commands a premium, typically reserved for winery club members or exclusive lots like Premiere Napa Valley. [1, 2, 3]
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Cam also refers to her as a daughter so “she” seems appropriate…
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Bart Araujo isn’t a winemaker. He’s a proprietor
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Are we thinking lot 78 is the 2024 vintage of this wine? “Dogura” could be an Hommage to the owners family. I don’t know this winery at all, but why would their normal estate Franc be an hommage? And I don’t see the Field of Dreams bottling anywhere on their website.
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This is a perfect example of why people need to learn to do their own research and not rely on AI to try to do everything for them. Call me old school but I came to the conclusion of Materra within a quick minute of a google search and never once considered Araujo since it doesn’t fit at all.
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