you inspired me Tim, I’m drinking a N. 6 as I type this, and I agree, this is outstanding.
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2021 de Négoce Cabernet Sauvignon OG N.396
Decided to give one of these a try to see if I wanted to pick up more of them if they are included in a Black Friday sale. I opened and double decanted for eight hours. I did try a small sample upon opening and was hit with a wall of tannins and oak. I did not think this had a chance of being enjoyable tonight.
It has a nice deep crimson color. The nose is somewhat muted but some darker fruits and anise are starting to show up. It was a little hot at first but has settled down and opened up in the last hour or so. It has nice medium to full body mouth feel and a very strong backbone of tannins. I had this with a nice Prime Filet and that helped tame the tannins and was a very good match. This screams to be consumed with a nice steak at this point.
This wine has a great future ahead of it but it will reward those that can wait at least another year or two before consuming. It had the backbone and fruit to age well for over a decade or more.
DaveO
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Scott, I think it is a great winter wine given it’s alcohol level and mulled spice tendencies. It is supposed to be wet in Calif. this winter so enjoy, that is my goal.
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399 love it
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I really enjoyed it.
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We opened an N.190 Napa Valley Mountain Meritage and an N.275 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon yesterday. Even with a 7-hour decant for each, neither was ready. You can taste the potential - this is great juice. But they both need another 2-3 years in the cellar. 2026++
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First try at 352 Australian cab. It is a pleasant fruit forward, cab that reminds me of the Australian Syrahs that I have recently opened. for me it was better the following day than on initial pop and pour. Not quite the QPR or P&P champion that 239 ($8), 240 ($10) , 17 & 68 ($12) are but at the right price it’s likely worth a second purchase. (Think the right price would need to be $99 shipping included)
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I finally tried 201 RRV Cab on Friday, it’s received pretty mixed to negative reviews. Should have decanted but didn’t plan, just Venturi’d into the glass. Zero nose at first, but after about an hour of swirling it started to open up nicely, lots of cherry. I think Pinot-lover’s cab is a good description, but definitely RRV-style Pinot, not Oregon/Burgundy - nice fruit/acid balance, moderate tannin. I recommend waiting another year but I’m happy to have this.
Also had 351 Margaret River Cab, which I got for ~$8 in a recent sale; not familiar with this area, still very young, but seems right for cool climate, very good QPR, very light-bodied for cab, nicely aromatic for being so young, reminded me a little of Nebbiolo. This is great weekday wine, potential for more, I’ll set some aside, but for $8…
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A lot of Australians tonight. Opened Lot 341 2018 Eden Valley of the Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon. I tried one when I first got it, and wasn’t that impressed. It has come around a lot in the months since. Very aromatic, with lots of ripe cherry. Lots of intense flavors, with finnish that lingers. Very nice.
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Thanks for your notes on #201…I bought this because the guess by the team here was that this was Dehlinger, and I have really loved Dehlinger Cabs in the past…I bought a case and tried one bottle about a year ago and was underwhelmed, so at the time I figured I just opened it way too early, and I decided to just let the other 11 bottles rest for a few years…just as an aside, the 2001 Dehlinger Reserve Cabernet remains one of the best Cabs I have ever had from California…
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@PHuff - I agree with you completely.
Of all the orders i placed there were only 2 red wines that were in my opinion underwhelming. The first was OG N.76 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon which i did not like. The second is OG dN Lot 201 2019 Russian River Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Both have not impressed me at all.
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Lot 390 | 2021 Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon
Nice wine with pronounced black fruits, very dark color, meaty, and dense. I like this juice.
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Lot 344 | 2018 Eden Valley of the Barossa Shiraz
Lot 354 | 2021 Barossa Valley Centenarian Vine Shiraz
344 is a nice pop and pour wine. Pretty good stuff for $99/case delivered.
354 needs a couple of hours decant to allow some of the strong nose to blow off. After that, it’s a really nice wine all-around.
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I nearly gave all of these away but I’m sitting here drinking the Xavier Vignon la Reserve CdP and am quite pleasantly surprised. Way better than the bottle I had this spring.
Edit: I was not pleased with the other XV wines sold in the mixed cases, this one is the better of the bunch. Don’t want 2 cases of it, but I can drink the other 3 without forcing myself 
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What coffee maker is that, @Marc_Bonfante ? Really pretty!
I just got into home espresso brewing myself. Getting the hang of dialing in.
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OG N.105 2018 Rocks District of Milton Freewater Cabernet Sauvignon
Smooth and ready to rock now on PnP.
Opened the second (final) case and realized that this is good to drink up now and over the next year.
Almost 3 years in the bottle now, and it’s GO time. Yum 
! Smooth, rich and ready, Bottled in Walla Walla, WA….
with Korean Beef Bulgolgi lettuce wraps 
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Lot 280 2019 Barossa Valley “Centenarian” Shiraz
Decent juice. However, i prefer the 344 & 354 Aussies. I might consider buying again at $99/case shipped.
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I’ll PM you since the last time i posted a response they froze my account for 2-3 days for “spamming”.
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That seems weird given there is a whole thread devoted to discussing favorite coffee/expresso machines with reviews/recommendations.
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OG N.28 2018 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
With 3.34 years in the bottle, time to try my second #28.
Day before serving, 1 hour decant. Some Brett (Brettanomyces) at first decanter sniff. Then 5 minutes later, barely detectable, 15 minutes in the decanter and it is GONE!!! Back into bottle, for tomorrow.
At serving dominant notes of Leather, Dark Cherry and Cola. Plenty of oak tannins, Easy on acid/pH?, similar in drinkable structure to #100, much more complex.
Very approachable for a 2018. I am very happy with this (60-70% new French Oak) ponderously complex and delicious Napa CS!! It’s good to go now, with a minimal decant. It will likely age well for another couple of years.
Enjoying this 1.5 to 2 yum, very fine wine.
with Lamb Chops off the Weber gas grill
Special thanks to Tim Ballard for trading me this one for some nice PN. Our cellars are in better balance now.
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