Appreciate the current review on n.80!
I have about 10 of them sitting in storage and have been waiting to see how they are coming along before opening another. Sounds like they are hitting their stride!
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First bottle of DN 68 from the moving blow out arrived last week and I just opened. Thanks all for your endorsement of this wine. It’s a great wine on pop and pour. Mid alcohol, very robust on the both the front and the back of the palate. No ripe fruits. More dried fruit, more concentrated like I’d expect from a dried peach compared to a fresh peach (I’m not saying it tastes like peach but rather comparing it to the concentration of flavor and chewiness of dried fruit) . Then the rest is non fruity and non floral tones like pipe tobacco and leather.
My first purchase of dN was 50 (not ready at the time but I didn’t know that so I drank a good handful) and my second was 93 Zin (my least favorite dN wine). So I stuck with it mostly out of persistence and wanting a bigger sample size than those 2 wines. And it’s worked out great. If I had just started dN last month and 68 was my first purchase (in its current state, not if I had bought it 2.5 yrs ago) I think I’d have an unrealistic positive view of dN that they would all be “blow your socks off” wines right from the beginning. They don’t all come this ready to drink.
All that to say, 68 is a very “grown up” wine. I’ll pace myself and try to make the next 11 bottles last 2 yrs.
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I tell everyone #68 is a classic case of great QPR, evry bit a 60-80$ wine in the real world.
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N.214 tonight (~3hr decant): I know some folks here didn’t really like it, but damn, I’m loving it! Such a unique PN imo. As Cam described perfectly, fairly dark and rich Pinot, with a spice minerality in a long finish…A+
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Friday night:
“The Original” OG N.01 2018 Cabernet. Decanted just a few minutes before serving with dinner of grilled Rib Eye with sauteed mushrooms (plus a grilled mild Italian link). Dusty nose, still a bit clumsy on first glass with oak integration and fruit. But after 3 hours really settled into a good Cabernet with plum, chocolate and tannic grip to finish it all off. Wonderful deal at $120 a case, recall next offer was $180/case and I passed because what is this some “bait n switch” deal with a 50% INCREASE? Doh! Needless to say, I grabbed 2 cases of the OG N.03 at $144/case. Sadly only 3 bottles left of this N.01 as I sold or swapped some. Still has good life ahead, but numerous OG Cabs later that I have yet to try. What a problem to have huh?
Cheers, Tim
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Tim,
I agree, First-World problems are the best problems!!
Like this one. Which Napa Cab shall I have with my granddaughters Birthday Pot Roast dinner tonight???
Decisions, decisions. Whoa, is me…
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Been a minute. 126 AV Pinot is solid juice.
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John_O,
Had 126’s “little brother” 125 a few weeks ago, delightful ripe Pinot fruit with just a tad over 12% ABV. 1st 126 I had was almost 2 years ago, needed TIME- very tight. Thanks for the positive review.
Cheers, Tim
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At a conference in Austin where my daughter goes to college so I met her for dinner at a very good sushi place. After the token Asaki super dry, they had a 2019 red mountain silverback on the menu which is reported to be the sources of 240 (though it looks like the have several Red mountain vineyards so I’m not sure which it was) . I love 240 but if I was being honest I think the restaurant wine was a bit better, a bit more complex. But definitely tasted familiar. It could be that it had been open for a few hours or a day and I generally don’t decant my 240 bc it’s so reliable on pop and pour. But still really good deal at 10$ a bottle that was originally offered at compared to 80$
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N.21 Atlas Peak really nice tonite.
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Really nice every night. Not even 1 bad bottle. Drinks best with an hour or so if air, but can start drinking on opening.
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OG Lot 180 2018 Paso Robles Meritage
Delicious Bordeaux blend, drinking well NOW!
Smooth, balanced and moderately complex.
Enjoy now and over the next couple of years. It’s a one Yum!
with “Granddaughter’s birthday” Chuck POT roast 
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Welcome to the first and possibly only installment of Brianschool’s Shootout of Idiocy 
, where I will compare and contrast highly acclaimed Peter Michael 2009 ‘Les Pavots’ against a De Negoce Meritage from 2018. Let’s get your initial questions out of the way.
Q: First of all, why do this? Why these two wines? And, are you insane?
A: Because.
I had them laying around and wanted to pair a Cabernet Bordeaux blend against a DN Cabernet Meritage from the same region.
Yes.
And finally, I figured it might infuriate the WB cognoscenti.
Q: So you at least know that this is idiotic? You’re comparing a $195 (lowest wine-searcher price) bottle of wine to a wine that at some point was $14/bottle? Also, of all the fantastic DN lots, why n.151?
A: Yes, and I just felt like doing it. And n.151 was sitting here, and so was Peter Michael’s Les Pavots, so let’s rock.
Q: No one would ever do this.
A: I know, and I wish there were somewhere where one might read more about shootouts of idiocy , so why not try it here. Two pairings of wines that no one would ever try together or compare/contrast.
Q: Is this some kind of sick April Fool’s joke?
A: No.
These are obviously very different wines. They’re obviously not likely to be in the same class. Though they both could be considered Napa, one is high elevation (Les Pavots) and sits at the Napa/Sonoma Border, sort of a Knights Valley appellation, whereas the other wine, we really don’t know, other than “Napa Valley”. In fact, we didn’t get much information on it, though I’m guessing it’s more valley floor than high elevation. We’re also comparing wines that are nearly 9 years apart here. And, we’re comparing wines that don’t even have the same sort of blend, although both are Cabernet Sauvignon heavy. Finally, Les Pavots is unfined and unfiltered.
I have never tried either wine, this is my first crack at both, so why not share the experience here with you, frens.
And off we go.
2009 Peter Michael ‘Les Pavots’
66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot
This wine scored 96points from Robert Parker and 95-points from wine spectator.
Tasted after a 2-hour decant and tasted over two days, the second day after overnight vinovac and refrigeration.
The Nose has gobs of depth, a harmonic essence, if you will. There is lots going on here. I get a lot of dark cherry, deep, rich, with lilacs, etc.
On the palate, a rich, but adroit wine made in the Bordeaux style, that has a bit of mountain floral, but the highlight here is the beautiful blackberry liqueur, mint, chocolate liqueur, and vanilla, melding together, ebbing and flowing, a symphony of flavor. Each sip can present something else, something new. This is an excellent wine. There is just enough acidity at the back end but starting to wane. Tannins are present, but extremely smooth, and could use a touch more at this stage in the wine’s life.
On the finish, you get layers upon layers, a beginning, middle, and end, almost in perpetuity.
This is drinking very well right now, but to my palate and coming from someone who prefers their cabernet sauvignon around the 6-year to 7-year mark, this wine would have been better enjoyed by me, probably about 3 years ago. Though many hold these wines for 20-25 years, and I bet this one will go 20 at least, it’s my preference to have a little more energy in the wine and less smooth liqueur, and more tannin/acidity. That said, this is a fantastically made wine in not an exceptional 2009 vintage.
Score: 93-points
De Negoce n.151 Napa Valley Reserve Meritage
47% Cabernet, 39% Merlot, and 14% Malbec
Tasted on PnP, then after a 2-hour decant and finally on day 2, the second day after overnight vinovac and refrigeration.
On open there is not much on the nose, so decanted for two hours, then got some tart cherry, cedar and mint, but the nose has not developed, even by day 2.
On the palate, on PnP, this is classic Napa, with cherry cinnamon candy, but then an angular middle with acidity peeking through, and finally mint and morello, then another tinge of acidity and a medium + finish. The wine improved over several hours. On PnP it was in a fine, but slightly weird place, though the acidity did very well with food.
However, on day-2 this wine really started to crack open and began to shine: We now get a combination of morello and dark cherry, leaning more dark, but a touch of that morello tart/sour note. An angular middle with anise, then a burst of acidity and a medium plush finish. While this was slightly out of balance, leaning acidic on day 1, day 2 is a different story and we have something that balances acid and tannin well while presenting a unique push-pull of morello and black cherry. One the finish we also find cocoa powder, and bitter coffee.
Score: 92 points today, but I think that in 6-12 months this will continue to improve, and if one can hold this for another two years they’ll be blessed with an even better wine. I believe this is a 93 likely in a year. Great effort here.
In closing, we tasted Cabernet blends from somewhat similar regions, but different blends, different elevations, and on paper, vastly different evidence of winemaking prowess and consistency with one winemaker’s Les Pavots scoring 99 points in some years, and another bottle where we do not know the provenance.
So which one? I think whomever likes Peter Michael and whomever likes De Negoce won tonight. These are diverse and contrasting wines, given all of the reasons above, with a highlight on the stark difference in age. Personally, I prefer a younger cabernet, but I can also appreciate the distinguished terroir and winemaking at Peter Michael as well as the quality and attention to detail that went into that bottle. The DN n.151 had classic Napa qualities that I love, along with great energy and aging potential for the future. I should add that WineEnthusiast rates the Napa 2018 vintage a 94, while the 2009 vintage received an 89. WineEnthusiast also says of the 2009’s that they’re a “Can Drink” though “May be past peak”. I don’t put a whole lot of stock into this as it’s a broad generalization. Peter Michael wines are made to age and some may have scored the wine higher. As I mentioned earlier, I wish I could have tried this 2009 PM in 2020.
Ok, that was fun. Thanks for reading, and let me know if you’ve ever compared De Negoce wines to well known wines, and what that outcome was. What did you learn? Cheers.
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Had a bottle of the 38 tonight. It had a nice spicy framboise thing going on with it. It did not seem to have a ton of tannin. Drink up !!
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Brian,
Thanks for posting this. I have been wanting to do something similar since I got on the DN bandwagon. I have been into wine for nearly 30 years now and I have pretty much gone through all of the phases of a wine enthusiast. At this point I am more likely to judge a wine on how much I enjoy it versus all of the technical details. I still marvel at how well you and others on this board describe a wine with detailed tasting notes. I really enjoy reading them. These days I get more of a kick out of finding those insane deals on great wines than chasing down the newest 100 pointer.
If there are any Texans (North of Houston) out there that want to compare some higher end wines to some of the DN wines I would be a willing participant.
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Thanks for the compliment. What are some of your favorite De Negoce lots?
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Brian,
I placed my first order with DN at the end of January so I do not have a great deal of experience with them. I am up to 20 cases purchased now. I bought either a six pack or a case of most wines. The case and six pack pricing is crazy good and free shipping on a case is amazing. Of the wines I have bought I have really enjoyed all of the Washington state wines.
I think the N.142 Malbec is fantastic for the price. For the cabs I have really enjoyed the N.230, N.139, N.141 and N.150. They are very approachable for their age.
The CA cabs I have tried have all been good values. I think the N.300 will be a great wine with a few more years and some serious air/decant. Pride has been one of my favorite wineries going back to 1995, I bought cases of the 1995 and 1996 for about $23/bottle. When I saw the N.68 during the sale I bought a couple of cases. I just got it last week and tried a bottle. It was still very tight and probably not over travel shock. I just had to try it! The last sip was the best so I know it has a very nice future.
Looking forward to trying the ones that have not been shipped yet.
DaveO
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Wow. Great cab choices for someone who just started last month. Sure you have missed out on some sold out lots but you have also avoided a few “less enjoyed lots” and infanticide of the good ones. Have fun.
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Great! Thanks for feeding my confirmation bias. I’m going to pop my last 151 and close my eyes and pretend I’m sipping at $200 bottle of wine.
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N.148: low expectations. Very few comments about this wine…
Day 1 (yesterday): ~2hr decant. A bit difficult to understand this blend as others have pointed out before. It was a decent wine but something felt out of balance…we decided to leave half a bottle for the next day…
Day 2 (today): wow! This wine changed completely compared to day 1!! Fantastic nose and palate! Perfectly balanced, complex finish. Loved it! I now regret that I only purchased a few bottles…
Also today. N.90: it didn’t really open up for us even after 4 hours…very muted nose and palate…I will wait at least another year to drink the remaining bottles…
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