I have found the same - not sure if it just needs a really robust decant to open up quite a bit, or whether it is a bit more monolithic than I am looking for in a malbec
Yeah i find that this is way better day 2. Day 3 is about the same as day 2, maybe a hair improved? Iāve never had it last to day 4.
3 Likes
2024 Cam X Sonoma Coast Chardonnay Lot 65
First of 12, 6 months bottled, corkage at the restaurant. ($10-only!)
OMGosh, this is a wonderful Chardonnay! Enough richness to be perfectly balanced with the smart acidity. Lemon, pineapple with a touch of ML butter. Nice Mineralization with some semi-tart tropical fruits that I love.
This is my favorite Cam Chardonnay, in memory. I prefer it to both Lot 4 2023 Cam X Sonoma Coast Chardonnay & the dN OG N.77 2018 Willamette Valley (Yamhill-Carlton) Chardonnay.
Very glad to have more, this will be improving for a number of more years. This is now destined to be my yummy new āgo-toā Lobster wine! 
with extra delicious steamed Pacific Lobster tail
When the tourists thin out after Labor Day, we enjoy going to the coast:
5 Likes
sorry to hear that, but it is likely just a phase. I donāt have a bottle here to taste unfortunatelyā¦try today?
yeah, finally opening up. IIRC this was bottled back in mid-March! Remarkable for a Chard to take this long to crack open in the bottle. Sister wine, Lot 66 '24 SC Pinot finally cracking open as wellā¦it just won Double Gold at the Sonoma Harvest Fair along with Lot 60 Sonoma Valley Sauvy Blanc.
4 Likes
Just coravined out a little to check on it and itās definitely improved from yesterday, just needed that 24hr decant. Going to pop it open with dinner.
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Lot 19 Rutherford Cabā¦with just a little Malbec.
Pop-n-pour, drank over an hour and a half with leftovers.
My palate may be that of a yak, butā¦
I enjoyed Lot 19 as much as the Tor we drank the last two evenings.
My wife did like the Tor better; āmore flavor, smootherā.
3 Likes
Which Tor was it? Iāve had the 2022 Tor lineup at Wheeler Farms and wasnāt that impressed except for the VHR.
2021 Vaca Ridge.
Yeah, Iām trying to avoid 2022 anything.
1 Like
I wouldnāt touch benchland/mountain wine for at least 10 years after vintage date. They pack hella complexities that can only be unfurled with years sleeping sideways.
Iāve tasted through tons of different 2022 Napa cabs and I really donāt understand why so many people are trying to avoid them so much. They are more ready to drink early and still fantastic wines. Are there some not so great ones, yes like there are every year, Iāve have 2023ās that somehow the winemaker screwed up. Overall though as a vintage Iāll buy those 2022ās at a discount everywhere I can find them because they are nowhere near as bad as so many people try to make them sound. We donāt farm like Bordeaux so there is far less vintage variation in California than old world wines.
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I can backfill 19s for the same enjoyment of 22s + 21 and 23 are great vintages so I would allocate my money there instead of 22. And thereās 24 and 25 to be bought and cellars 
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I have been avoiding the 2024 Lot 47 Cabs because everyone says wait until 28, but I decanted one yesterday, let it sit for a few hours and it was delicious. Full bodied, light tannin.
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This is the way.
Agreed! We in the USA arenāt burdened by those silly AOC laws!
Allowing California winemakers more flexibility and greater innovation, very nice!
Vintages do still varyā¦
Girlies came over with charcuterie and wanted something with oomph thats not Cab, so Lot 35 was opened. Some more tetiary notes, but damn man that yeast nose :// Tasted good so I didnāt really mind.
3 Likes
Weird. Iāve been drinking a bottle of 35 the last 3 days after you mentioned it and even the power of suggestion isnāt giving me that note. Wonder whatās going on. If I huff super deep I maybe get a sort of sulfur note or reduction note I canāt otherwise place but not sure. I certainly wouldnāt describe it as an overblown pinot either. Itās pretty middle of the road. I guess it has oomph relative to some AFWE wines but itās no Aubert.
1 Like
Compare to the SCM and SRH Pinots Lot 35 is definitely oomphie. Will check back after some time if that reductive yeast blows off when Iām done drinking down other Pinots.
Aub*rt is a forbidden name in my home fyi lol.
1 Like
Excuse me?
10 Likes
2023 Cam X Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 14
Inky purple, very, very viscous, legs hang out on the glass for minutes.
Nose is ripe, complex, dark fruited, chocolate, cherry jam, cassis, cedar/oak, lots of oak, high alcohol, touch of roses, tight, clearly not showing everything it got.
Palate is full bodied, young and grippy, dark/purple fruits, high alcohol, toast/chocolate, raspberries, ripe strawberries, good acidity, lots of everything. Tastes like a very high quality Napa Cab. Not for faint hearted.
Finishes, you know, like a high quality Napa Cab. Grippy tannins, long lingering finish.
If you like your wines fresh and light and ethereal, you will hate this. Still, this is one of the greatest Cameron sourced wines ever.
9 Likes