Tim, I’m pretty sensitive to Brett as well. However, I did consume all of Lot 176 when it was still pretty young. Also, I have detected Brett in some wines I purchased along with others from that same lot that did not exhibit any. Sometimes, its just the luck of the draw.
Cheers!
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Tony,
I’ve got too much good wine not to bother with something that tastes off.
All the best. Tim
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Alas, the day has come for the last, best of the Malbecs, to be opened for the July 4th weekend. Lot 118 Chalk Hill 2018 Malbec served with a 50+ year old family recipe oxtail soup. Quite sophisticated for a Malbec which could have been held out even longer for additional maturing in bottle (93 points / A). Hopefully, Lot 544 Chalk Hill 2023 Malbec will be similar.
I wonder if Cameron Hughes (Cam X) would still have access to this wine’s location/producer?
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For the 250th year celebrating Independence, is anyone else considering:
Lot 250 2019 Rutherford Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon?
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Tried my first 2022 Napa Cabernet with this Diamond Mountain Cab. Pretty decent Cabernet, maybe I’ll do back to back Diamond Mountain Cabs with a 2018 OG N.40? Daughter coming into town for a weekend visit. Treat her to a rocking good '18 Cabernet. Left couple glasses to compare:
- 2022 de Négoce Cabernet Sauvignon N.497 - USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain (7/2/2026)
Double decanted back into bottle served with homemade pizza.
Nose: Big whack of vanilla followed with dark cherries. Modestly aromatic and fruity for a young Diamond Mtn Cabernet.
Color: Dark Red and opaque in Bordeaux stem.
Palate: Very fruit forward for a young Cabernet, dark cherries, chocolate, leather and clay. Tannins come out near the end, does not seem to have the structure of OG N. 40 2018 Diamond Mountain Cabernet. Still, this is a pretty good Cabernet for the de Negoce price. At full retail, I'd be disappointed, likely due to being an artifact of the 2022 vintage in Napa.
Followed up next evening: tasted like a Caymus styled wine minus the RS. "Cab milkshake" as malo is pushed heavy on this wine. Dropped score couple points. (90 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
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What a great idea opening our first Lot 250 Rutherford Hillside 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon for this year’s 250th anniversary! And on next year’s annivsersay it will be back to one of our all time favorites, ~ Lot 251 Sonoma Mountain 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon. The next dN wine I have on that opening date scale would be Lot 269 Spring Mountain 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, but I would be 98 years old. I don’t think I’m going to push that wine’s envelope out that far.
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OK, so opened this wine on Friday evening with a 3 day weekend visit from youngest daughter and her son. Put down some marinated skirt steak, Filet Mignon, and Italian Sausage. The look on my daughter’s and wife’s face said it all on first sip. This Diamond Mountain Cabernet is open for business. Absolutely rocks. And then I poured 2022 497 Diamond Mtn Cab after completing the OG N.40. Ugh. But I told myself I wanted to do this. It truly tells me the value of those 2018 Napa Cabernets we were getting from de Negoce. Incredible vintage and incredible bargains.
- 2018 de Négoce Cabernet Sauvignon OG N.40 - USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain (7/3/2026)
Notes consistent with tasting Oct 2025:
Decanted 30 mins prior to serving with grilled skirt steak & Filet Mignon 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.
Glad to have over one case left. (94 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
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341 2018 Australia Cab
These Australia wines shaped up to be great deals (especially when purchased on the clearance). I think I bought this one as full price at 169 a case. It’s a really solid well integrated cab. I’m not sure it’s memorable but absolutely nothing to complain about as I drink it with 4th of July burgers.
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Had the last of my 341s last fall. Drink it up now.
Lot 250, of course.
On Pop-n-pour, a little harsh…in a good way.
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I do not command the superlatives to properly salute Lot 250 Rutherford ‘Hillside’ 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon on our nation’s 250th anniversary (bottled July 9, 2021). Others have compared this wine to dN’s best of the best; as L 17, 64, 200, and 300, but I would also include the L 251 Sonoma Mountain 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon ‘shiner’ in this group. Today, this selection scores 94 pts / A.
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OG N.81 2018 Napa Valley (Atlas Bench) Cabernet Sauvignon
Over 5.5 years bottled, 9/9-last bottle, PnP.
Over 2 years ago I stashed this final bottle. It is Almost the same, perhaps a bit more volatile and a bit more oxidized. For me, just slightly past prime with 8 years past vintage. I’ve enjoyed this beauty immensely. It’s certainly ready, and it’s gone.
with Prime NY steak
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400, more time suggested, it should really help.
304, delicious and ready for me now.
175, improved and better than ever.
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Scott, ~ i have the following marked for 2028 (each bottled Jun 2023): L 390 Coombsville 2021 Cab Sauv and L 400 Oakville 2020 Cab Sauv. Does 2028 seem reasonable for both opening start times?
On your recommendations, we finally ‘popped’ a Lot 385 St. Helena/Rutherford 2019 Cab Sauv even though I had marked it for late 2026. 91 point delicious at this time and I think the remaining bottles will not benefit markedly from being hidden away much longer. As you list it, ~ 1/6.
@B_Bauer, I disagree on lot 385. I had my first and only bottle 6 months ago and thought that it was still too big and voluptuous. I usually like em like that, but felt that this one needed more time to calm down. 2027/2028?
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Hi Boris!
I never got any 170. 
dN 400 needs more time if it’s going to be as good as advertised:
‘Ladies and Gents, I am beyond thrilled to announce the release of Lot 400! A single-vineyard Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon hailing from one of Napa Valley’s top Cabernet Sauvignon producers, this particular bottling has a 97 to 100-point rating history…”
The wine is fantastic, I promise. Normally a well-over $200/bottle single-vineyard-designate surrounded by the likes of Screaming Eagle, Bond-St Eden, Rudd Estate and Joseph Phelps “Bacchus” vineyard, Lot 400 2020 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is yours today for just $299/case! 
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Cam’s special Sage Ridge 2021 CS is tasting good tonight, plenty of FO!
Not at all hot with Fantastic balance for such a strong wine. 14.9%.
with prime sirloin Kebabs
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OG. 329 - in a great spot. I think my last bottle was about a year ago and it was off. This is in a sweet spot. Enjoy!
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OG N.15 2018 Napa Valley Merlot (Oakville/Oak Knoll)
Over 6 years in the bottle. 14/16, just two remaining. Quick Double decant and back into the bottle.
It has finally matured well, nice complexity, a big Merlot, with plenty of wood. Double yum !!
This fine Merlot is fully ready for me, 8 years post vintage.
with Lamb Chops
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