I got my six-pack of 296 last week too, even it was supposedly on LTS. Apologies were made.
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328 card is such a lovely wine, crisp and understated, minimal butter or vanilla… mostly taste peaches and apples and ripe honey dew melon. Have no idea if it improves with time bc it was pop and pour and give in 45 minutes between the four of us. We will likely go through the case fast since generally I’m a red drinker and my wife does the white but I enjoy this so much I don’t mind when she suggests we open this bottle instead of a red. (So it’s sort of a cellar protector:) hope 330 is as good since that is supposed to be shipped soon.
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After all the discussion of 124 Merlot, I opened a bottle a day ahead of planned drinking, decanted for 2-3 hours & tasted. At that point the wine was impenetrable, or “bristling” as Cam might say. Back in the bottle for about 30 hours. What a difference. Deep red cherry, warm spices with forest notes, & a lift of menthol on the palate. So much going on. One of the best merlots I’ve had. Remaining bottles will sit another year.
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2017 de Négoce Cabernet Sauvignon OG N.251 - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain (4/30/2023)
Classically-styled Sonoma mountain cabernet. Reminds me of classic Napa cabernet. Red and black fruits with some spice, menthol, and a touch of blueberry. This is a very elegant wine with 14% alcohol, and is a beautiful representation of Sonoma Mountain.
Purported to be Smith Story, this is what I hope n.54 eventually becomes, with elegance, yet a rounded balance of true mountain cabernet with a touch of saline and a lasting finish. (92 points)
At $29, there are better wines from DN, but this is a quality, enjoyable offering, that is drinking great now, right out of the bottle with a very short decant.
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Spot-on, @MDMiller. Just had a check-in tasting of this last week. Day 2 it really came together for me. Excellent Merlot with a little coaxing. I think it’s interesting that the purported producer didn’t even list this particular vintage on their web site for sale until very recently. It just wasn’t ready.
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L 251 Sonoma Mountain 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon remains probably our favorite de Négoce wine to date. This wine has been relegated to ‘one-per-year’ status at our house (two down, ten to go). / Out of 17 dNé Cab Sauvs ordered [71 different lots total], we have only opened three so far (L 240, L 244, L251). I would be interested in knowing the Cabernet Sauvignons you prefer over L 251.
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I should’ve kept my bottle past day 1. Oh well. I do concur with at least another year in the bottle. Seems like it has a lot of upside.
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Your patience is certainly admirable, though I strongly urge you to pull more corks! Many of the cabs are drinking great now with some air.
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OG N.57 2018 St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon
How long will this monster age? Started with 24 hour decant/micro ox 
? Then into decanter again 3 hours before consumption.
The biggest CS I would ever want, semi-port like. Smokey wood, big alcohol 16.4%. If you want to get hit in the head with a hammer-like wine, this is your wine. Turns your tongue Black, and gets you drunk.
Day 2 still no deterioration/oxidation, age to infinity and beyond?
Nothing subtle here… Truly over the top & I love it, sometimes. Not everyday, once a month perhaps?
2 delicious cases gone, 2 more to savor! Big Food is required. 
with Grilled Beef Back Ribs
OG N.105 2018 Rocks District of Milton-Freewater (funny name?) Cabernet Sauvignon
If you like something very smooth and easy on the palate, this is for you.
I was wanting lots of American Oak to go with the Pork Chops, and this wine delivered it!
14.9%, who could have guessed?
I don’t need this to mellow out any more, so it’s a drink now.
Note to self: drink remainder within 2 years, maximum. One Yum🍷
with Pork Chops
Day 2, oxidation, deterioration, cooking wine. Drink sooner than later.
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Indeed… @B_Bauer your patience is admirable!!! I don’t think I can wait that much haha
Pls pull more corks!! We would love to hear your thoughts on other DN wines…
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Thanks. You can check my cellartracker profile as I rate all the DN wines there (about 61 or so). But, the following I liked more: 158, 173, 198, 309, 64, 227, 30, 17, 253. There were also a handful that I liked as much. When you consider I paid $29/bottle for n.251, and only $23 for n.30, I’d rather have n.30. But I appreciate 251, and I appreciate 100% neutral French oak, and I’m glad that I have a couple of bottles.
Hopefully, n.54 will turn into what n.251 is today, at some point.
One should also keep in mind that while 2017 was a pretty good vintage, in my opinion it doesn’t have the structure of 2018, or the balance of power & structure of some of the 2019’s. I personally prefer both of those vintages to 2017.
Your post inspired me to open the other half of the bottle of n.251 Cabernet from last night and I’m tasting it now. On day two, it is better, so perhaps I underrated this by a half-point or so. It is not doubt a quality wine, and I love Sonoma Mountain cabernets. In drinking a non-DN 2018 Spring Mountain Cabernet next to n.251 at the moment, the Spring Mountain cab offers more red fruit, and more power, with some sweetness (from the new French oak) on a medium finish. While n.251 offers more purple fruit, more elegance, and a longer, more nuanced finish. I prefer n.251, and the longer finish on offer today.
I also liked n.251 better than n.275 from Howell Mountain (which was also $29/bottle).
All-in-all different strokes for different folks, but I really appreciate the 100% neutral French oak and hope there are more offerings from DN like that. And admittedly, given the second tasting here today, perhaps n.251 is a bit better than I gave it credit for at 92-points, at least a half point better, and perhaps this is a 93. Either way, I look at 92 and 93 point scores as “outstanding: a wine of superior character and style”.
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One more thing @B_Bauer, it is my opinion that n.251 is more ready to drink than many other DN cabernets. So it does have that advantage of the extra year or two in bottle, which is nice. It did not need a 6-hour decant like other DN’s. Thanks.
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Boris, I’m also impressed by your patience. And to me it begs the question: what are you drinking in the meantime? Older stuff that you had cellaring years ago for consumption now? (which i presume was more expensive per bottle unless you have been cellaring original CH wine for this purpose, or cellaring solid $20 costco wines with anticipation that they will improve with a few yrs) or 2018-19 stuff that not expensive but this is helping you protect the dN stock?
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Tried my first bottle from the recent mixed case of Sicilian reds and really enjoyed it!
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2016 de Négoce Shiraz OG N.279 Skillogalee - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (4/30/2023)
Just upfront--this is fantastic. This is why we buy DN wines. Per Cam's release notes, this is Skillogalee winery Trevarrick Shiraz.
Decanted for 45min, back to bottle for 3h. Still needed to open up in the glass.
Aromas of cloves, baking spices, and rich chocolate leap out of the glass. There is some deep, dark, extracted fruit way underneath. Palate is layered, complex, tight and interesting. Despite being full-bodied, it comes off rather lightweight. It has excellent acidity that makes the fruit feel lighter red, but the darker flavors still persist. Finish has a strong tinge of acid that leads into an array of very dark fruits and some dark toasted oak flavors. Hint of lavender/menthol too. Emerging after all of this--gum drying tannins. Plenty of structure and depth.
This is outstanding. No way around it. I had some serious doubts about the DN-AUS program, especially after my run-in with N.280, but this wine has evaporated those concerns. Phenomenal quality and the value is unbeatable. This will cellar beautifully for years to come. So much to unfurl here.
Drinks beautifully now with a proper 2h decant, but don't hesitate to cellar this for 7-10 years. 92-93 (92 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
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Rohit, thanks for the excellent notes, as always. I have been very impressed with 279 & bought a case based on Cam’s notes & sales pitch. However, I avoided the 280, also based on said notes, and despite all the WB excitement at the time. I also bought 353 Barossa Shiraz (again, based higher elevation in a hot region & on Cam’s three “ethereal” description) & I’m hoping it’s closer to 279 overall.
I’m not a Shiraz expert by any standard, but 279 represents the side of the Aussie Shiraz spectrum that I enjoy: power & elegance vs high-alcohol, over-extracted fruit bombs.
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Yes, thank you, nice notes as usual.
I didn’t think that 280 was a fruit bomb from the write-up or the notes above and don’t find that in old vine zins, which I love. 279 is listed as 14.5%, 280 and 353 at 15%; I doubt I could pick out the difference especially given the leeway in labelling.
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Yes, I’m speaking without direct knowledge of 280 (or 353), but more from comments of others here who haven’t been overly enthusiastic about 280, so please disregard my generalizations.
Following up on Day 2. The palate is wide open and ready to go. Lovely ripe raspberry, darker cherry, very very subtle oak. Acid a bit calmer and tannins more prominent today. Really a fantastic wine.
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This morning was #68!
No, I didn’t have Sonoma Mountain Cabernet for breakfast.
Instead, the 68th consecutive month to climb my favorite Mountain!
Cerro Alto is Never ever an easy walk, it keeps me fit. Fit to drink my nightly bottle. Ba-Ba?
The rewards are continuing mental & physical health, plus, dN#17 with Ribeye tonight. 
BTW, my 2 remaining cases of dN #68 are marked “do not open until 9/24”. Best is still to come.
Cheers 
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