What de Négoce wine are you drinking tonight?

Duly noted.
(Lot 401 is better on Day 2, which bodes well for longevity.)

Had a 192 2019 Knight’s Valley cab a few nights ago. I mostly left red dNs alone until '24, but went through most of these early because they were inexpensive and I heard good things. I always thought good but not great, but, for my taste, it’s developed into a really delicious, elegant cab. Down to my last one or two, wish I had more/had waited - under $16 shipped.

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Yep Bill!
192 is really drinking well currently! :wine_glass::wine_glass:

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Recently enjoyed:
OG N.86 2018 Walla Walla Valley Merlot
Really nice and yummy :wine_glass: Better than ever & only $120/cs.
OG N.91 2018 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon
Same as above. Yummy plus + /:wine_glass: + ! Only $144 per!
Lot 404 | 2020 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Coming along beautifully! Rich and fully flavored! Almost a double yum? In time? :wine_glass: :wine_glass:
Lot 547 | 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet
Yes, really! With about two weeks bottled?? Because, I ALMOST ordered a second case….
Bright Red cherry acidity and flawless with nice oak. Too young in the bottle and probably shocked! :open_mouth:
This 2021 should be revisited in 4-6 months. :wine_glass: :wine_glass:
My guess? A Stalwart winery, called Whitehall Lane….?

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I’ve been sitting on half a case of n.86 after drinking the rest pretty early then realizing those 2018’s needed more time… Looking forward to opening up one soon after seeing this review. Thanks Scott_B!

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Yes Michael, #86 showed extra very well over 2 (both) nights.
Very pleasantly surprised! :yum:

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N.544 2023 Chalk Hill Malbec just arrived little less than a week ago. I popped one open last night. Needs an hour or so to open up. Definitely diminished on night two. Delicious and quaffable. One yum :wine_glass:

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Also had to try a 544 fresh off truck. Pleasantly surprised. Pours deep color, finish is long and is well balanced. Plenty of vanilla and fruit.

DN description suggests it will improve with age. Given I have to pay $3 bt/yr I only plan to rest this for 6 months and drink from Thanksgiving onwards. Maybe doing the wine a disservice but it is very enjoyable today.

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Tried a 396 Rutherford Cab based on some recent activity. Was decent on PnP, presenting just a hint of dust and some red fruits. Shutdown hard overnight and didn’t wake back up until day three. Seems like these are going to need a few more years

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So this is what is referred to as ‘bone dry’. I wasn’t expecting such from de Négoce’s light-to-medium bodied Lot 326 DOCG 2017 Barolo. The wine opened up on the second day with a soft wild cherry bouquet and unique subtle raspberry-leather full mouth flavors. Barreled for 40 months and finally bottled in September 2022. So different from fruit forward Virginia Gadino and Barboursville Nebbiolo wines. 90 pts / A and a thanks to Cameron Hughes for this varietal option.

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The first WineBeserker review of Lot 64 Calistoga Hillside 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon rolled in as a ‘good value’ by KN on 3/13/2021; followed by a 2/10/2022 ‘bad ass (cellar gem)’ anonymous comment; continued with Scott’s first 8/27/22 single shot w/steak ‘in another 2-3 years’ remark; then in rapid succession notes of 10/15//2022 mentioning ‘93 pt beast’ w/beef; 1/16/2023 an already two yum w/ribs; (in all fairness, ~ Brianschool was able to sneak in at this point a 2/12/2023 comment reflecting black cherry, lavender, chocolate, bourbon-vanilla, pencil shaving & cedar); continued with Scott’s 4/22/2023 first triple yum ‘gorgeous’ comment w/Ribeye; 7/01/2023 ‘best is yet to come’ w/bone-in choice steak; 3/29/2024 ‘elegant monster which could age another decade’ w/yet another Ribeye (thank goodness he still had 23 bottles left at this point); 9/15/2024 ‘putting on a smile’ while hiking & prime beef; 11/10/2024 commemorating 4 years in bottle birthday a ‘glorious’ selection w/smokey grilled Prime Tri-Tip and most recently 3/16/2025 celebrating Cam’s new venNture and this ‘special favorite’ selection.

Not to belabor any further comment(s) on our first Lot 64 CS, I’ll just give out a Thank You shoutout and ~ 94 pts / A+

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Had some of wife’s family (Dad 91, uncle 90, aunt 87) over for the past few days (uncle and aunt live in Sonoma, and have grown chardonnay grapes in the past). Last night we had some excellent sous vide filets finished on the grill, with a 2015 Spring Mountain Vineyard cab I had in inventory, and my last bottle of N.241 2019 Coombsville cab (Meteor Perseid?) which has been one of my dN favorites. Enthusiastic comments on both - aunt preferred the 241, uncle the Spring Mountain - let’s call it a tie. Decanted 2 hrs prior and rebottled - 241 threw off a little sediment. Lip-smacking good all around.

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I love you, Boris!!
You seem to have forgiven me for over reviewing certain favorite wines.
I’m glad you enjoyed #64 OG N.64 2018 Calistoga “Hillside” Cabernet.
Oh, did I mention that it’s yummy??? :joy:

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Exploring the aging of Alexander Valley CS:
OG N.33 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
12/12. Pulled my last bottle from the Library.
Kinda studying the almost 5 years of bottle aging on an Alexander Valley Cab.
Soft, smooth & nicely mellowed.
I never did love this $120/case wine, but it was a totally fine deal. 1 yum, no more. Drinking well now.
with salty smoky grilled split whole Mexican Market Chicken

OG N.49 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
4+ years in the bottle, PnP. Bottle 17 of 18.
This is very pleasant, definitely worth the $120/case price. Weekday drinker, B/88/kinda yummy. Enjoy now w/o decanting. :wine_glass:
9/19/24
with chicken fried steak

OG Lot 158 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
I’m curious, how well does an Alexander Valley CS age?
Over 4 years in the bottle, #2 of 6. Into the decanter 1.5 hours beforehand.
Oh My Goodness!!! Delicious Black fruits (plum) on the nose, heavenly structure and firm acidity. I like this as it’s complexity opens up wonderfully. This is a great candidate for additional aging! It’s become a triple yum, :wine_glass: :wine_glass: :wine_glass: .
Versus 33, 49 & 212; #158 is My favorite dN Alexander Valley CS!
Per Cam: “Sourced from same legendary consulting winemaker/producer as Lot 156 and Lot 157. This wine retails for around $200/bottle.”
Decant & drink, or, age it longer?
with NY Steak

*Conclusion? You win some, you lose some.
:crossed_fingers:

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Drinking a bottle of lot 231 Columbia Valley GSM and it is really nice. Very smooth, you can honestly taste each component, and some slight rocks district funk! Snagged a few bottles during the moving sale and wish that I had more!

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It is a higher quality GSM than 239 is. 239 is fun for what it was (good with bbq and burgers) but the couple of bottles of 231 that I’ve had were more appropriate for a good meal.

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N.124 - it’s in a really lovely place on night 2 - svelte and lithe with nice round fruit. More velvet glove than powerhouse Merlot - which usually isn’t my style but this is quite charming.

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#239 was always a QPR play. It’s hot, big, alcoholic, burly, flabby, delicious, and at $8/bottle, the QPR was bonkers.

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Memorial Day :us: weekend line up:
194,141,249 as shown from the “Lookout”, above and overlooking Lake Isabella.
:us::mountain::+1::fishing_pole_and_fish::cut_of_meat::partying_face::wine_glass::us:
:us:

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N.536, 2023 Dry Creek Valley zinfandel. I live in zin country, and so glad I got this. First bottle of the case, which was $169, great QPR. It’s a right-down-the-middle zin winner, great porch sipper and perfect for Memorial Day weekend barbecues. No need to wait on this one. Enjoy!

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