What de Négoce wine are you drinking tonight?

HA Mikko! :face_blowing_a_kiss: Thanks, a very funny and a Good joke, very possibly true? Nonetheless, we do have abundant sunshine and degree days in sunny California, land of fruits & nuts…. :wink:

Stephen, I agree with you #120, is far from my top 3 2018’s. Without much thought I prefer #17, #25, #64, #81:man_shrugging:

It’s (120) decent, fine for book club and/or Tuesday nights.

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Thanks for the suggestion.
Coravined a couple of half glasses, and it’s very tasty. #1 of 12. I think I got tranche 1 pricing as well.

I’ve gotta add: It’s pretty special that we have “acquired” and can enjoy such limited and delicious wines.
Thanks Cam.

“acquire” what a pretentious term!

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Had a great bottle of #400. It still could use a little more time.

I had a bottle of 68 that was the best so far of that lot that I have had, and I’m likely 18 bottles in. Def can start drinking these if you have them. Delicious

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I do agree Randy! Now for, My unpretentious translation: “It’s pretty special that we have stolen and can guzzle such limited and yummy booze. Thanks to the dealer/pusher/curator of these vinous delights. :innocent:

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Stephen,
120 for me was not a favorite either- felt that oak influence too heavy on the fruit, making the balance of the wine off. As far as Sonoma based Cabernets from de Negoce, 173 and 189 were superior and 68 I practically consider it Napa.
Cheers, Tim

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Agree that 120 was disappointing. I have been donating it to charity wine pulls.

My biggest disappointments were 82, 274, 100 and 50. Hope 50 eventually turns into something good.

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Just pulled out a 274 to drink soon. Didn’t like my first bottle, for all the reasons already laid out here. Will report back.

And I’ve said this before, but I like 50. Will check in on that one again soon.

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John.
Lot 274 for me, had a VA, now I’m sensitive to VA, having been a amateur winemaker, and later worked ITB pouring thousands of bottles of wine.

Here’s Scott’s notes off negociants “This is smooth, sweet and rich. Unfortunately the persistent VA, still haunts the nose, detracting from the experience”

Cheers, Tim

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Tim is right! 274 was a big disappointment for me. Volatile! :face_with_raised_eyebrow: Glad they are all consumed already….

Ok, drinking lot 274 right now. It is definitely on the sweeter side and I can see how it could be described as having a nail polish remover like quality to it, but it’s not bad! :rofl: Ok, I am not terribly offended by it, put it that way. I am drinking it. On the plus side, it has a beautiful dark purple color to it and I smell sweet cinnamon and blueberries, which is my jam!

Not the best, not the worst? Maybe I’ll wait another 2 years for the rest that I have and :fire:.

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Brought lots 11, 38, and 52 to friends house to drink with tacos. Host made great margaritas, so didn’t get much action. That said, they were all drinking great. I’d rank them in numerical order, but clearly very different wines. They all benefitted from a couple of hours of air and held up great throughout the night. Didn’t love any of them three years ago and now they’re all rock solid.

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Jonah,
Nice to hear these wines did not suffer through premature evaluation and lived a good life.

Still have some 11 and 38 around myself.

Cheers, Tim

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according to my very sloppy record keeping I have 806 bottles left out of 1680 bottles purchased. 300-400 were given away or sold, so I have most of what I bought for myself in inventory. It’s time to drink up.

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Cheers to you :wine_glass: :innocent:

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Wow! 140 cases… that’s some commendable purchasing Jonah. Hope you have a huge basement for storage!

Wonder if you have the highest total of dN purchased. Anyone else top Jonah’s number?

That wasn’t meant to be a flex. As for most purchased, I’m not even top ten. I have a good amount of storage, but my basement is annoyingly warm. I do have 30 cases of offsite storage.

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Lot 70 has really come around for me in last few months.. really enjoyed several bottles after early ones were just okay at best.. no major difference between blends

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Totally agree. I have most of them away and now they’re really good. I just opened my first 235 and ran it through the aerator with no decant. Not as interesting as 38, but really tasty.

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I appreciate you relating your finds/tastes of earlier dN wines. I have Lot 52 Chalk Hill 2018 Cabernet Franc marked for opening 2026++ during the upcoming winter holidays (bottled 8-26-2020). Come autumn, I’m sure you may have tempted me for opening this 2021 Best Sommelier Challenge Cabernet Franc . Thank you.

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