Lot 385 2019 St. Helena/Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
That one is DELICIOUS! Enjoy! 
3 Likes
Steve,
Could have used balance of N.41 for a port reduction sauce for a steak dinner…!
Cheers, Tim
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Thursday evening DINNER wine: This Merlot really needs a food pairing IMO.
- 2018 de Négoce Merlot OG N.124 - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/28/2026)
Double decanted back into bottle with homemade pizza with artichoke hearts.
Nose: Finally has opened up after earlier shyness with plums and cherries in the bowl. Best bottle yet.
Color: Opaque dark red.
Palate: Plums, dark cherries, touch of barrel spice, picking up hint of cinnamon. Nice Thursday night Merlot, that really needs a food pairing. (90 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
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OKAY- this wine was poured for WCF basketball game OKC n SAS. Great game, wonderful Merlot after N.124, this Merlot was better and is gaining momentum with bottle time.
Popped and poured after consuming OG N.124 Merlot with dinner.
Wanted something for Game 6 WCF OKC vs SAS. This worked fabulously well.
Nose: Big whiff of plums, some darker fruits after those plums fade. Slight hint of some florals.
Color: Dusky red just see through in BDX stem.
Palate: Plums, some red currants, raspberry. There's some gripping tannins in this Merlot too, good mouthfeel, finish is firming up in length here from last bottle. Bottle time has been good for this Merlot. Serious mountain tannins here.
Left half bottle for follow up next evening, (91 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
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Lot 57 Napa Cab. Pop-N-Pour, Delicious.
That’s what I’m talkin’ 'bout!
Different strokes for different folks.
2 Likes
Thanks for the Merlot notes … I have one bottle of 69 left, and a little over a case of 124. I think I’ll open a 124 this wkd
4 Likes
Intetested in your feedback on N.124 Merlot. i’ve been walking by them in the cellar wondering if they would be good with some pasta and red sauce. i have not tried any yet.
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Agree Tim! We just had it last weekend. It continues to get better and has plenty of room for continued improvement. I can see this in the 92-93 range.
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I haven’t had 41/57 for a while, but last I recall they were great steak wines with very long decant
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Jonah,
Agreed 100%! Both are Big wines that like a Big decant and likes a Big steak meal! That’s where it works best. Or maybe after dinner with special Cigars? 
Lot 515 | 2022 Spring Mountain District Proprietary Red
1.5++ years bottled, 2/12, 45 minute afternoon decant. Pretty reduced going into the decanter, much less so after 45 minutes, so back into the bottle for serving.
This is a rather soft and very nice flavorful blend. I don’t recall my first bottle, this one is definitely yummy + and so very easy to guzzle. I mainly avoided the 2022’s, but this offering looked intriguing?
Per the offering: “Hand-picked, hand-sorted, and destemmed before undergoing a long maceration, the lots were settled separately into a no-expense-spared 100% French oak regimen. After just shy of two years in barrel, the winemakers went about fashioning the blend, producing a divine marriage and formidable showcase of mountain terroir.”
Spring Mountain BDX blend, 100% FO for ~2 years. That got my attention, thankfully. I believe this will be enjoyable and improve for years to come!
*with Rack of “Spring” Lamb. 
2 Likes
Cameron Hughes Lot 641, 2015 Paicines, Central Coast Merlot.
Very Good. Know where I can get some more?
Thanks Cam, for the continued support of my wine habit.
I’ll tell you what! Even better sitting on the counter overnight.
This wine needs a loooong decant! The mouth feel, the flavor, a little browning.
Yeah, I still have more CH in the basement. Lucky me!
1 Like
Over the weekend, some company for dinner, theme was California food, non California wines- started with this Oregon Chardonnay. Yummy still.
- 2018 de Négoce Chardonnay OG N.77 - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton (5/30/2026)
Had company over for dinner- poured this Willamette Chardonnay with appetizers. Note consistent with last tasting in March.
Popped and poured into Riedel Sommelier Series Chardonnay Glass
Nose: Gravenstein Apple, Pear mixed in with Lemon Curd. Very enjoyable.
Color: Pale Yellow, about same color as California Sau Blancs.
Palate: Apple pie, lemon candy, beautiful acidity on a lengthy finish. Oak integration is excellent. (92 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
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Continuing with dinner theme opened 2 bottle of this Meritage:
- 2018 de Négoce OG N.82 Meritage - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (5/30/2026)
Double decanted TWO bottles back into bottle 1 hour prior to serving. Poured with grilled Tri Tip and smashed baby red potatoes for 4.
Nose: Cassis, dark cherry, cigar box.
Color: Dark Red, nearly opaque in BDX stem.
Palate: What an attack of fruit, tannins, oak spice. Beautiful glycerin and mouthfeel on a long finish. Big burly Cab blend here.
Needs a big steak or lamb chops (92 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
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An oldie, but a goody!
I believe that was a Paul Masson (remember them?) Vineyard in San Benito County.
Basically, Bum F@(k Egypt. Remote, But a very beautiful area. Glad to hear it’s still yummy
Great minds think alike!
One of the “joys” of having a few offsite storages 1000 miles away is when you go, you find all sorts of fun stuff!
So today I thought I’ll revisit #207, which is the same producer as #77. I love #77 and I still have some, and I’ve never been a fan of #207. I thought of opening a #77 but thought you know what, I’ll give 207 a chance.
It still sucks.
2019 de Négoce Chardonnay OG N.207
Pale straw color, some viscosity in the glass.
Somewhat astringent and oaky nose with lemon curd, butter, popcorn, yeast, lime. Palate is fresh, decent acidity, lime, maybe some crushed peanuts, grassy notes, white pepper/oaky spiciness, not very complex. The oak is overpowering and just drowns everything else underneath it. Some bitterness in the medium yet one-noted finish.
This just isn’t a good wine. It wasn’t good young, and it’s not good after a few years in.
4 Likes
Mikko,
Your perks of “ITB” being airlines. Wine stashes all over. My stash is 20 feet away in the garage. N.207 was a 2nd release of N.128 and many drinkers similar to you noted it sucked. I might have one N.77 left. a few N.128s.
Cheers, Tim
1 Like
Wow! It must be nice to have a wine locker of treasures wherever you go. Good planning Mikko!
I’m guessing that you are an airline Pilot? Cheers, travel safe & have fun! 
Thursday evening dinner wine- wife and myself nearly finished this with one pizza pie. Popped opened a 2nd bottle because- why not?
- 2018 de Négoce Cabernet Sauvignon OG N.43 - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/4/2026)
Double decanted back into bottle with homemade pizza.
Nose: Black cherry, currants, cigar box mixed in with some earth. Very old school Napa Cab here.
Color: Dark Red and almost opaque in BDX stem.
Palate: Dark plums, black cherry, turned earth, blast of tannins and acidity. Finish is medium in length, pleasant and paired well with food. Said this before- this is a food wine. Pizza, burgers, steak. The tannins and acidity really match up with food. Wine throws off alot of tartaric sediment. (90 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
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Lot 429 2021 Napa Valley Proprietary Red
2.5+ years bottled, ~7/12, PnP(advised). No Reduction.
This is a very nice BDX blend, drinks great currently. It’s delightfully complex & a delicious wine. Soft and smooth (high pH?), very easy to drink down a bottle.
with Chicken
Day 2 was still fine after Winepreserver and refrigeration. Yet for my tastes, this is very ready to guzzle. So bottoms up!
with Pizza
1 Like