62 chardonnay soft and easy (perhaps too warm?) fleeting lemon notes. Was ok not memorable
400 high toned fruity candy grape and dark Cherry with some cassis- not especially deep or full or rich per se - but distinctive and enjoyable imo nonetheless
1 Like
340 2017 Austrian cab. - I’d like to officially put to death this lot. It’s an absolute mess of sweetness and spicy red hots candy. I have tried it four times over the last year in hopes that it would integrate, but this one I feel comfortable saying will never match with my pallet. It is now 7 Years old and about two years in the bottle and I can’t see it getting any better. I feel some short ribs finding their way into our dinner mix More frequently
3 Likes
Luke,
Use that Lot 340 in the braising broth for those short ribs?
2 Likes
# OG N.24 2019 Napa Carneros Pinot Noir
Popped and poured, paired with half a double patty smash burger and fries from lunch leftovers in Carmel. Delicious as ever, bright raspberry fruit, earthiness and fine grained tannins leading into that STILL long, smooth finish. 20 bottles of pure Pinot yumminess left. One of my favorite Pinots ever due to yum factor vs price.
6 Likes
Yep. Brazing is the only way I think I’ll enjoy 340
3 Likes
OG N.66 2018 Napa Valley (mostly Stags Leap) Cabernet
Extra long 24 hour decant. Smooth, supple with dusty tannins(Stags Leap DUST?) I like this ponderous and powerful CS. Still muted CS varietal flavor. Reminds me of the old Clos du Val’s.
DAY 2 amazingly fresh, and, after all that decanting!! Could age another 10 years?
with Brontosaurus Ribs
4 Likes
- 2019 de Négoce Cabernet Sauvignon OG N.399 - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley (5/27/2024)
I really missed the mark on this bottle in my last review. I had tried it at a party, after sampling several other wines, and scratched a quick review based on that. I really liked it. Opening a second bottle now, I realize that this is a cocktail wine, a bomb. It's good. quality, not supermarket stuff, but a bit of residual sugar and lacks any sort of complexity. One can drink this without food and enjoy it in place of a cocktail, but you're not getting much complexity.
Replete with purple fruit, honey, some Tonka Bean on the nose. But other than that, it's very closed up. At the very least, this wine could also use more time in bottle, and I think there will be an improvement.
It's enjoyable, but it's not the showstopper that I originally thought that it was. But again, with 28-months in some new French oak, this could also use more time in bottle as it was basically bottled about a year ago. (89 points)
5 Likes
I have had three bottles of N.399 and had similar experiences, but in reverse order. The last one I had was 4/17/24 and was by far my best experience. It was very enjoyable PnP. While fruit forward it was also balanced. And agree not complex, didn’t feel it would get better than where it is now. But it was an enjoyable 91pts.
The first two bottles I had in Oct/Nov '23. And my notes from day 1 were cloyingly sweet. For both bottles they were better on day 2 which had me wait to try again.
Since I enjoyed the 3rd bottle so much, I thought the wine had come around with the extra bottle time, but maybe it is was bottle variance instead.
4 Likes
Yeah, 399 is frustrating imo. From Cam’s write-up: “Trust me folks, THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC CABERNET SAUVIGNON. Chocolatey, chewy, rich, ripe and perfectly-balanced - not to mention just plain delicious - IT WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF. Cab-fans, don’t let this one pass you by!”
I wonder if Cam was actually involved in sourcing this wine or if it was already someone from the new administration. 
399 is a total sugar bomb. Definitely the sweetest dN wine I’ve tried. Is this something that can potentially improve with more bottle time?
1 Like
OK, time to taste some of my much ignored dN wines. I last did this in February of 2021, I realize it would make sense to just do those 12 again, but I don’t have them all on hand (some were brought by a friend also) so I think I’ll just sort by ready(ish) to drink and bought at least a case. The planned lineup is as follows, would love to have suggestions for other wines to drink now to impress folks who’ve never tried dN (all my guests) or have bought a metric shit-ton, but haven’t drank many (that’s me). Please let me know if I should omit any of these because 12 is probably too many for 8 guys on a tuesday. I just pulled 241 because I already know I love it. Best plan to air with only about 7 hours? I am planning to splash decant and pour back in bottle, some I might just open.
30
54 - really curious about this after all the chatter
78
179 - I usually wait a decade on PS, but folks seem to think this is ready
222
229
234 - need a pinot
255
273 - need a white
275
279 - Is this the right aussie
300
385
401
1 Like
Opened ten bottles, keeping 229, 234, and 273 on hold for now. I think 275 is out, if not I guess i opened 11.
1 Like
Since you have already made this decision, my comment may not be helpful but I really love #234 and think it is special. Maybe helpful the next time you need a nice pinot?
2 Likes
Thanks Margo, 234 isn’t out, I just thought I’d wait a bit to see how many show up on a Tuesday and if there’s any interest in a PN. I’m assuming that an hour in a decanter is plenty. Does it need more air?
1 Like
It’s been more than a few months since I had it, but from memory it did not need much air. I would probably take a small taste on opening before decanting to see just in case it needs even less than an hour. I wouldn’t think more is needed.
Be interested how 78 is. Cam always called that one “sexy as hell” I have 10 more bottles I think. Last time was drinking pretty well but not sure if needs more time…
1 Like
OG dN Lot 188 2019 Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon
For me, this is Ready Now! Medium bodied, a Pinot lovers structure. For those that prefer more age, it’s probably good for another year or two?
One solid Yum 
Day 2, the same, good for 2+ more years.
*good with Carne Asada Tacos 
OG Lot 189 2019 Sonoma Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
PnP, now! Fantastic Complexity of dusty terroir, musty Bordeaux layers & nice toasty barrels! Drinking great right now! The previous bottle of 189 was decanted and I deemed that counter productive. Triple Yummy
with delicious Rack of Lamb
Day 2, less good, for me drink within the next year or two…
3 Likes
How does 189 compare to 173?
I missed #173 the 2018 version, so, no idea except 2018’s seem to benefit from more cellaring than the 2019’s.
Ha, I thought you purchased all of the red offerings.
3 Likes
OK, quick notes before i totally forget. Couldn’t get anyone excited about actual written notes. I’ll try to go in lot order.
30 - This definitely lines up with 123 and 239 as one of the few lots I’ve bought after release based on user comments and total head scratcher. This is a slightly above average $20 wine. I’d be excited to get this at a gallery opening or wedding, but would never drink it on purpose. This was the only wine of the night that ended up in the spit bucket.
54 - We started with this and almost everyone liked it. I think it has upside and just rock solid. It’s my first bottle, so if people didn’t like it two years ago, that might make sense, but nothing polarizing here, just really good.
78 - No formal tally, but pretty clearly WOTN. Fruit, structure, aging potential. It’s all here. Drink it with a decant, lay it down, just be glad you got it.
179 - Not a big sample size, most guys stuck to cabs. I don’t drink young PS, but good now and seems to have a bright future.
222 - Again, most people stuck to cabs so this is mostly me, but this is a great wine. Not the most complex, but totally delicious. Can’t wait to follow this for a few more years.
255 - I think folks got excited by the price paid for this during the buy a case get a case free, so they may have been overly kind, but this was a definite crowd top three for enthusiasm. If there is a QPR ranking, this wins. This is exactly what I was hoping 123 and 239 would be. Crowd pleaser that is really enjoyable for the average wine snob. If you bought two cases of this you won’t be sorry.
273 - was thoroughly enjoyed by the one white drinker in the bunch. A bit too oaky for my taste, but good.
279 - Only a couple of us tried this one, but it was solid. I don’t usually drink real shiraz less than ten years old. Hopefully this will improve.
300 - Not my favorite, but another top three for the group as a whole. I’m excited to watch this develop.
385 - Again, too young, but clearly well made and going to be a winner.
401 - not a crowd favorite, I think people didn’t like the “proprietary blend” on the label and thought that made it less “serious”. I thought it was delicious and while very young and primary was flat out delicious.
Overall a stunning performance by these wines. One dud (that is still good for the price paid), mostly solid wines that feel like good deals if you paid $40-50, and a coupld of stars. Most guys in attendance wanted to know how to buy these wines.
I realize most folks reading are already bought in (or total haters who think we’ve all drank the Kool-aid, but for those like me who do well with a bit of reassurance, This is really solid stuff.
16 Likes