OG N.80 2018 2018 Napa Valley “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon
~17/24. Nearly 5 years bottled. Sheesh, Age it LONGER still! Or, a 1,234 hour decant?
Did a 1 hour afternoon decant, at drinking hour 3 there was leather, an hint of black fruits and plenty of tannins, and still a mostly closed nose. Improves slightly with airtime. Nice wine, no flaws, just too closed up still.
One 
yum for Now. I hope it will open up eventually??? Not as yummy as advertised……
with Pork back ribs
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Thursday evening: Had purchased these to share with late friend Chris. He would have enjoyed this gem as much as the wife and I did.
- 2019 de Négoce Syrah OG N.235 - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (10/23/2025)
Popped and poured with dinner and TNF game.
Nose: Lavender, earth and cherry. Really aromatic adding to complexity on the palate.
Color: dark garnet and slightly see through. Not inky dark at all.
Palate: This is hands down, one of the best Russian River (even California) Syrahs I've experienced. There's earth, spice, some groovy combination of red and dark fruits, with a long full bodied finish. Great mouthfeel by the glycerin in this Syrah. Easy to see why it rated well with critics over past vintages according to write up. A bargain at $15/bottle. Just starting to open up for future pleasure. (93 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
7 Likes
Friday evening- what a treat:
- 2018 de Négoce Cabernet Sauvignon OG N.40 - USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain (10/24/2025)
Decanted 30 mins prior to serving with grilled steak dinner.
Nose: This Cabernet smells like my neighborhood in early June with all the Acacia trees in bloom. Add in some cocoa dusted blackberries here too. Aromatics very enjoyable on this Diamond Mountain Cabernet.
Color: Inky dark purple and opaque.
Palate: Just gripping tannins, mixed with graphite, red and purple fruits, minerality. Wave after wave. Nice length of almost a minute. Tannins paired well with grilled steak and grilled Italian sausage. What a wonderful Napa Cabernet experience. (94 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
6 Likes
Lot 501 2023 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
1 year and 2 months in the bottle, 3/24, PnP.
Moderately light color, nice firm acidity, red fruits, plenty of oak, NOT overripe.
You can certainly drink this one now, I did, 3 times!!! It will develop very nicely with additional age, 21 left, I’m giving them more time.
with Fish and chips
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Lot 409 | 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2 years & 3 months in the bottle, 2/12. PnP.
This is a medium bodied, pleasant CS that is drinking fine currently. (Named after a household cleanser??) I expect this 2021 to add complexity with future aging.
Per dN: “The wine reminds me a bit of Lot 17” Not sure about that?? Nice wine
with Ribeye
1 Like
OG N.57 2018 St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon
Over 5 years bottled, into the decanter 1.5 hours before hand.
Always fearful of this monster it’s BIG INDEED!! It stained my teeth and decanter.
This big CS is finally maturing into a great place. The Port (16.2%) structure & character has finally subsided, melded and integrated into an excellent or memorable drink. Still smells like a Cognac.
Depending on your preferences this can be anywhere from a mild Yuck to a triple Yum? You decide.
Today I’m giving it a .
with a spicy Pizza (Mount McKinley)
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It’s Denali in my book 
Spiritually Denali.
Scott, I’m not sure which I am most looking forward to in your reviews…your excellent analysis of the wine, or what you are having for dinner each night!
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Thanks! I like food, it’s so yummy!
I love cooking often, (Sonja, too) tonight its Pot Roast.
My butcher had Prime grade Harris Ranch whole giant chuck, he cut it perfectly at 2 pounds.
Lotsa culinary mushrooms and 2/3 bottle Red dN mix that made the cooking wine bottle.
Hardest decision is often the wine. Red, CS but which one??? 
158,64,120??? 1st 
stuff.
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Flight seeing over Denali National Park & Preserve with my son (CAM), 7/14/22.
Triple extra super duper beautiful. I love the mountains!
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I adore Alaska so much, have a trek within Gates of the Arctic in the pipeline but I need to find 2 weeks off and 8 grands for that. Oh well drinking CamX to save sum bucks 
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I plan to go back to Denali with my son & grandson.
Hopefully 7/26, stay tuned. 
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Any chance to visit Kobuk and Gates of the Arctic?
Wait, you named your son CAM?!?!?!
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Of course he did
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Scott Campbell Boyd, Jr., (ego) my wife insisted on calling him Cam.
It stuck. He goes by Cam Boyd. Professionally and semi-legally. Banking, etc.
Ultra-successful, unlike his loser father.
Born on a vineyard in 1984, good book by Orwell. 
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Not with a four year old wild boy. 
And provide bitching pictures of those great views with wine and company too Scott.
1 Like