Good on pop and pour. I expected it to improve on day 2 but it really didn’t. Solid 91 young wine. Not my preference over 68 or (some other Sonoma cabs that I can’t really name off the top of my head). But if anything affirms the for my palate dn is worth it as long as I’m willing to take a few L’s.
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Lot 25 is very ripe. Some would say “BOOM BOOM”
It’s my favorite lot just ahead of 24 & 27, but it’s always good to hear others experiences. Best of all for $20. Cheers.
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It’s the later. I have nothing against these wines. If I saw a bottle at Costco, I might try one. I would drink it and I would like it if I liked it not because I I thought I was getting $20 Opus. I wouldn’t buy three cases of wine blindly because I thought I was getting $20 Opus. If I liked it, I may buy a couple more knowing that I would never truly know what it is, but that was OK because I liked it. I would also know that because I didn’t know what it was, it was a one time thing.
Personally, I prefer knowing what I’m drinking and drinking what I know I like. I don’t need 1000 bottles of mystery wine that I bought because I thought it was something it isn’t.
The great irony is I’m not drinking labels. I’m drinking what I know and like. Many here are chasing the illusion of labels.
Anyway, I only responded because I got paged. I’m heading out to meet a friend for a nice steakhouse dinner with 17 Aubert Lauren Chardonnay and 15 Mayacamas Cab with a 12 hour decant. Both wines I know and love
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Was just coming back to say, with a bit longer in decanter it’s showing much more dark fruit, and even richness, lushness.
I’m always wondering if I’m changing or the wine :-).
I could see this being the best of all. And I haven’t had 24 enough to truly call it a favorite. (Really liked it at Xmas)
Will enjoy revisiting. I think I have 18.
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Thanks Luke, I’ll pick one up.
I picked up “The Calling” Moon mountain bottle from Costco at $30 discount that was pretty tasty. Very fruity with less structure. I’ve enjoyed my CamX bottles
Funny, my girl got a bottle of Daou cab gifted to her. We opened it and after a couple sips she asked to open up a CamX bottle 
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And I’m glad you like what you like
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How was it? Worth the wait?
Not gonna lie I was expecting this to be straight dead on arrival. But it’s incredible.
There is a CT comment from like a decade ago about being able to smell this for across the room. That still stands true.
Ripe red fruits. Crunchy dusty tannins, nice acid. Tertiary mushrooms, graphite, and forest floor.
Still evolving in glass a couple hours later.
Pleasantly surprised.
My detective works points towards 2012 BV or Provenance (14.2% alc). Either way this is delicious.
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Thanks for sharing. I’m glad you posted it here.
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Hey Charlie, so when I saw your request for Lot 13 comments I grabbed one from my off site storage. I decanted through a bottle top aerator into decanter and then Vinturi (Amazon faux) from decanter back into bottle, to try to get plenty of air.
Poured about a 3oz sample into a universal glass for a taste and looksie. Not quite as opaque per Cam’s description, but plenty of dark ruby bordering on purple color. Oak dominated with a leather and somewhat of a cigar box hint. What wasn’t present was any sign of fruit, completely muted. I wanted to smell that dark fruit jam, or any fruit, but no go. On the palate a nice mix of blue/black fruit as well as some raspberry/cherry. Medium acid and fairly smooth tannins. Even hours later fruit on the nose just wasn’t showing itself. Just to make sure it wasn’t something going on with my olfactory I poured some Lot 20 and there was plenty of aromatics there.
Poured it over the last several days, finishing up tonight. My best experience was day 3 pouring in more of a rounder bowl cab glass, finally got some nice blueberry/blackberry notes. I will say with a full pour in that glass that it was near opaque, so no knock on Cam’s note there.
I so wanted to like this wine to get more at the bottle price, as I had only grabbed a sixer initially. There are no faults and/or flaws, funky side notes, or otherwise off-putting qualities. I think it is structurally sound, and like so many of these wines, may be in an evolving place and need more time. At least for me, I don’t get the same “drink up now” notes that originally drew me to this Lot. But who know what another month, three, six, or year will bring. For now I am happy I have a couple cases of Lot 5 and Lot 27.
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Lot 26 Calistoga Petite Sirah - so dark fruit, blackberry, cassis, some light tannin—pleasant, some light acid, but lots of oak on the mid-late palate.
I haven’t had enough Petite Sirahs to form an opinion. I once considered myself a Petite Sirah lover for the dark, rich fruit, but I just don’t think I have the experience to guess how this could evolve.
If you like oak but not tannins, could be your jam.
For me, in the pantheon, not buying more, not extolling others to buy.
(Previously Coravin poured, pulled from wine fridge, notes with ~1 hr decant)
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Funny, you feel about Lot 26 as I summed up my repurchase of Lot 13.
My intention was to mix Lot 13 in with Lot 29 and some other one offs. I found your your note from November on Lot 21 vs Lot 29, and I have to wonder is Lot 29 the sleeper QPR at $12?
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Interesting. Our first x9 bottles of Lot 26 made for very enjoyable drinking experiences however, the most recent x2 bottles we had (over the Holiday) were quite different to the rest. Entering a new phase? Not so good on day 1 or 2.
Marked down in my records to not open any of the remaining bottles until 2028.
Very keen to try Lot 34 PS upon receipt.
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Lot 27 was excellent. gave it 93 on day2. May have been better on day3 but none left.
“No formal notes but great on day 1 (4 hr decant) and even better on day 2. Gained body on day 2. Went well with both pork chops and lasagna. Should hold long term but great now with a decant. Won’t find better for the $$.”
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We need your tasting notes for 13. No one has tried it.
They are posted above, I replied yesterday to your initial query.
Oh, thank you, somehow I missed that post.
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not relevant, but every time I scroll past your name I read “Jancis Robinson” and have a mini hear attack lol
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To be fair, I don’t know you but your reaction is somewhat understandable. She is overly tight with scores and I am told perhaps a wee bit Trannie-esque these days 
Didn’t mean it in a fan boy way just a double take ‘wtf is she doing here’ thing hahah