N.54 Cabernet–awful. Welch’s grape juice upon PNP. Lost some of that fruitiness over 24 hours, but still just not my taste preference. Ugh.
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You are soothing my guilty compulsiveness: this one falls under the heading of “Yes, you have way too much wine, and even though it sounds really good, you have way too much wine”. And then I bought it anyway.
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I was reading some old tasting notes today and was reminded of occasions where Day 2 tastings were, in comparison to Day 1, slightly more closed. Then Day 3, as is so often the case with structured young reds, was the best of all. That would parallel the roller coaster of changes that often occurs with bottle aging.
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Lot 315 2019 Vin de France Cabernet Sauvignon.
Opened another bottle before its time. This showed up on Saturday, so not much time to rest. Pretty intensely aromatic. Had me a bit stumped to describe, but Cam’s description was “black cherry chocolate truffle…” I can go with that. With time and swirling it gets more intense. The best I can come up with is the intense aromatics you sometimes get from over ripe cherries, or maybe cherry liquor. Pleasant, if a bit unexpected. Taste is cherries and brown sugar as Cam described, but seems to be evolving rapidly in the glass with heavier brown sugar giving way to the deep fruit. Tannins are noticeable but not overwhelming. There is something very nice in the finish, that elusive minerality perhaps?
I don’t believe I have ever had a French Cab before. This is very different from any domestic Cab I’ve had. Intense but not heavy. Really wanted to try this, with only minor regrets for drinking a bottle still in travel shock and less than five months in the bottle.
This was a “back up the truck” deal at $99. I believe it still is at $139 shipped. I’m thinking I’ll open another one in a year or so and be kicking myself for not stocking up but I am totally out of room.
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Lot 136 Definitely a crowd pleaser. Rich and fruity reflection of typical Paso Robles terrior. This keeps getting better with age.
Lot 119 Chalk Hill has slowly worked its way to being one of my favorites. Everything you want in exceptional Syrah is here. Fruit, peppery spices, umami notes, gravelly mouthfeel. Future looks bright for this wine.
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Lot 291 Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc. So I’ll bury the lede right upfront - if you like Sancerre, you’re probably going to like this wine. And personally I love Sancerre. This isn’t the racy, acidic SB most people typically associate with the varietal. Though there’s certainly a solid acidic backbone here, it’s wrapped in a lusher, richer bodied wine. Lemon curd replaces grapefruit as the principle fruit driver, and the result is delicious. (Checks dN website…) I paid $99 for a futures case, shipping included 
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The weather in the mid-Atlantic has varied over the last several days and weeks; some cold spells interspersed with unseasonable warmth and humidity. Warm and Humid is not kind to Red Wine. Lot 239, 2018 Central Coast GSM, who’s beaucoup fruitiness I usually enjoy, becomes jammy and loses much of its allure in warm weather. Even Lot 240, 2019 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, which I opened 3 days ago, seemed a bit sweet, simple, and not that enjoyable. This evening temps have taken a turn, and it has cooled off. I chilled the last glass of the 240 to less about 60 degrees and… it was pretty close to perfect. A little bit of complexity, a moderate amount of blackberry fruit and leather, a medium body with acidity in the mid palate that segues to moderate tannins. Lovely. You guys on the West Coast, you know how lucky you are… Don’t you?
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You spelled “lede” correctly. Impressed!
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Lol. I fought a vicious battle with spellcheck and won!
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No. 119 never disappoints. Love it.
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Had a 274 tonite at Campiellos in Naples shared among 4 of us. Showed very well and not to sweet as some tasters say. Nice complexity with medium full body and long on the palate.
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I agree - had a bottle of N.274 over the weekend. Has some dark fruit (blackberry?) notes on the front of the palette but I wouldn’t have described it as overly sweet. Had some nice drying tannins on the finish and a bit of an earthy note that could be the pipe tobacco that Cam mentioned in his tasting notes.
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I came to find out if 119 and 303 were good calls for 30 person dinner party Saturday and got big thumbs up, plus a nod to 136 and I learned I’d been using a word wrong my whole life (even though I don’t think I’ve ever spelled it, if I was spelling it wrong in my head when I said it that’s unacceptable)!
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Though didn’t actually bury the lede…
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He buried it upfront!
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OG N.142 2018 Horse Heaven Hills Malbec
First bottle from Mystery case #1. Malbec lovers should enjoy this well built table wine. Pours inky from the bottle. Grapey with blue Malbec fruit, fully ripe (14.5%) and powerful with a delicious balance. A nice change of pace from the numerous dN CS & PN.
2nd night, still great! With 21 months in the bottle, it Could be cellared for 2-4 more years?
Scott w/chicken tacos 
. cheers 
4 Likes
OG N.70 2019 Chehelem Mountain Pinot Noir Blends A, B, C, D Pack
Blend D. Yes, finally!
After 26 months in the bottle, This has come around to be a great drinking old world style red burgundy! Great acidity, restrained fruit & wood. Great food wine. Refreshing change from all the fruit forward CA PN’s (which I LOVE). The aging potential is very good. My second case is still tightly sealed up. This has been my favorite BOTTLE of the 10, of the various 4 blends of #70’s, that were consumed VERY prematurely. 
It actually IS really good booze !!! Enjoy.
Scott w/beef Bulgolgi.
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2018 de Négoce Cabernet Sauvignon OG N.68
Dark almost opaque ruby. Very thick and viscous legs. Medium intensity nose with blueberries, oaky vanilla, slight alcohol burn, some floral undertones and a little crushed soil. Palate is full bodied with blackberries, crushed raspberry seeds, slightly astringent oak, and alcohol. Lots of alcohol. Finishes long with more alcohol and pleasant soft tannins. The bottle says 14.5% but it drinks like 15.5%. I mention alcohol multiple times, but it’s not the unpleasant boozy kind, but the retronasal complex note with a slight burn that I actually enjoy. It also balances the slightly low acidity so it’s not flabby. Pretty good stuff.
This reads more negative than my view of it is. It’s pretty good, but it’s definitely a high alcohol bomb and requires respect. I like it because it avoids the too common traps of being jammy and sweet.
8 Likes
I got my case of #68 last week and drank one bottle, I was a bit dissapointed…it came across kid of harsh to me, I also get the alcohol burn, and just sort of blah…I drank the second half of the bottle the next evening and no real improvement. I am hoping that it comes around after some more bottle age, but at this point I would rate it around 87pts
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Yes, finally is right! I absolutely love this wine.
1 Like