Had to pop a N.553 ‘off the truck’ to compare against the recently berated (by me) N.550 that received the exact same 'pop 'em when you get ‘em’ treatment.
A bit tight/young on day one (as expected), but sipping on a ‘day two glass’ as I type this and - my oh my - this is delicious and tastes very expensive.
Just when I thought I could go write them off…dN goes and does something like this to re-gain my attention. Hands off for a few years, but this one is going to be a winner!
Lot 553 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Very Good to hear. These well chosen 2022’s could be good? I have one #553 coming very soon.
I enjoyed Lot 447 | 2022 Red Hills Cabernet Sauvignon the other day.
Thanks Michael and Scott
I have a lot of weekday / cellar defender wines now so will wait on dN 150 for a year or 2. I’m expecting this wine to improve a lot so will be patient.
As for lot 553, it’s good to find out it tastes expensive. Although I have a case, due to it’s cost, I will wait at least until '26 to try.
Do it, after all you still have 17 @ $10!
I enjoyed it very much tonight on PnP!
It was the only bottle and I was the only boozing consumer, what a fine affair.
My formerly vegetarian Granddaughter Campbell (lives in a Yurt w/ husband & 2 kids) requested a BBQ spread for her 22nd.
So, Brisket, Tritip, Chicken, Sausages and too many side dishes. Homemade Lemon Tiramisu dessert:
OG N.150 2019 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
4+ years bottled, PnP, 13/24.
Dark colored. Nice Leather & Black fruits on the nose. Tasty, Rich & complex on the palate.
Upon release, Cam said it so very well: “ Ripe and chewy on entry with black cherry and leather resounding over bristling tannins. The finish is beautiful, playing out with richness, elegance and precision. Exceptionally-deft wine making here. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Syrah, 1% Petite Verdot ~55% new French oak 14.7% alc.”
Hmmm, what’s up with the 1% Syrah??? Drinking fine now, without decanting. I paid $12/b & yummy stuff +!
with birthday BBQ
OG N.227 2019 Russian River Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Working toward the end of my two cases. Bordeaux-styled cab, restrained tannins and spiced cherry. Still good, but this is the peak, with little change in the past year or so. Drink up!
398 2021 Trubody Ranch Vineyard Oak Knoll District
I apologize my notes are not better but this is going to be a very good wine. Had my first bottle, not sure why I knew this one needed time but is surely does. The wine aroma is amazing. Tasting all the components are there, this is high quality. I just feel I drank a little too soon. Not quite integrated but very close. Left half a bottle to try tomorrow.
Bump.
Great question! I think both! More Time will help. Gotta like Cognac in your Cabernet?
Still got a full case of OG N.41 2018 St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon.
& ~11 bottles of same wine OG N.57 2018 St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon.
Powerful she’et! 
Beef & Balls with Caesar Salad
Brussel sprouts have looong been “Monkey Balls” in our family. Hmmm…
Embarrassing truth, our favorite version of a Wagyu patty, is 27% FAT, 73% lean, from Food-4-Less. 
We tried many different things and always smugly return to this delicious beef patty.
Fancy Fresh ground at our Butcher, NOPE.
Premium lean, never, too dry. Fat is delicious flavor!
So I needed a very special wine to go with this Haute Cuisine:
2 years in the bottle, #2/14. Into the decanter 2 hours in advance.
Very Dark, slightly ‘Deep Purple’ at the rim. Deeply delicious, rich, thick, viscous & full of delicious deep Black fruit & leather.
Extremely Dominant OAK! 100% French, 65% New, for 20 months. Seems like 125%+ New Oak to me? Cam said, optimum window is 2028-2038. Perhaps the massive oak will integrate? I can only guess.
This is a double Yum now, upwards in the fullness of time.
with beef & balls
Doh! User error, double post….
I drank 396 last night, and damn this probably should have been 400
2021 Rutherford Cab
Great to hear that!
So, it’s time to try one now, I assume.
What is this, amateur hour?
Thats why I generally have 4-6 bottles open at any given time. Red wine is much more resilient than people think.
N .409
Pnp. This is developing nicely. Medium color. Lovely dark spiced aroma. Subtle entry, but evolves into wonderful balanced fruit flavors with oak influence. Integrated tannins. Nice long lingering cherry flavors. Very enjoyable. 91-92pts
559 23 Napa cab franc. Reported $200 a bottle for $27. Received shipment of 559 (12) & 553 (6) yesterday so decided to give 559 a try. (352 was not drinking great so I wanted to pour it out). after 550 being such a miss imo (and in @JOwen opinion) I wanted to see if other recent posts dn offers have Hope. In brief 559 is quite nice. Lots of new oak gives it lots of vanilla on the nose that needs a bit of time to integrate. But it has good acid and complexity that I think will have a good development over time. If this lot sucked, I think I’d go exclusively with camX (even though I’ve not had any of the 1/2/4/10/12 that I’ve ordered.)
And if anyone in SA wants to come by and pick up all my remaining 340 and 352, you can have it for free. It’s just not my jam and I can use the storage place.
How nice of you to offer them.
So here is my list of dN disappointments, so far.
OG N.135 2017 Mendocino 80 to 90-Year-Old-Vine Carignan- all gone now, phew 
Lot 239 2018 Central Coast GSM-all gone now, phew
Lot 315 2019 Vin de France Cabernet Sauvignon-3 left (cooking wine, now) 
Lot 274 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon- Nice wine, except for the slight and lingering smell of fingernail polish. - all gone now.
The Yucky list is short, mostly just a distant memory.
The Yummy list is beautifully long & delicious.
Can not win them all.
Scott - Luckily on your list, I only have lot 274 and only 4 bottles. Although it’s been said that a wine cellar is not a wine hospital, I think I’ll leave my 274s until this time next year at least. Very disappointing spending $25 for supposedly $150 shiner wine.
240 
Bought a couple of cases of 141, only six bottles in and one recently. Has yet to disappoint and needs a little more time to strut its stuff. Also only a few bottles in on a case of the much maligned 17, similar thoughts.
