N38 Syrah. After a bottle two weeks ago was an easy 94, tonight was a 91 at best after a 3 hour decant. Never a huge fan of bottle variation, but when the ceiling is so high, I’ll let it pass.
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Lot 532 | 2023 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
Over 1.5 years bottled, 1/12, PnP.
Nice Garnet color, fresh lively Pinot Nose. Firm acidity and moderate complexity. This will likely age well and improve the complexity over time. This first bottle is superior to many other Anderson Valley PN’s, I have enjoyed. The 14.5% ABV is nice for this cool climate beauty! 
with Frankfurters/Hot Dogs/Weiners? 
Day 2, It’s better! More complex and still very fresh! Age worthy.
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Popped this beauty open for Niners/Rams game in “Melbin” AUS. Niners played as wonderful as this “Meritage” drank.
- 2017 de Négoce OG N.11 - USA, California, Napa Valley (9/10/2026)
Consistent with tasting back to 2025-
Double decanted back into bottle 30 mins prior to serving with homemade Pizza and Niners/Rams game in "Melbin".
Nose: Cassis, black cherry, cigar box and violets, classic Napa Cabernet.
Color: Dark and nearly opaque Crimson.
Palate: Dark fruits, cassis, some mocha all wrapping around pleasant mouthfeel. 15% alcohol provides plenty of glycerin here. No heat noticeable. Long tannic finish on a nice acidic backbone.
See no reason to cellar this further. Drinking wonderful now, 1 bottle left from original case purchase, will hold for 10 years from vintage in 2027. (93 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
4 Likes
OG N.66 2018 Napa Valley (mostly Stags Leap) Cabernet
~6 years bottled, into the decanter an hour early.
First sniff, still somewhat reduced, plus leather. I have come to terms with this wine. It’s not aromatic, very little bouquet. Yet, special & nice flavors of black fruit and abundant leathery character. It’s deep, dark and tasty. Reminded me of Clos du Val from the olden days? Got one stashed away in the Library for another 2 years.
with NY Steak
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Looking at my notes from June, my take was n.66 continues to benefit from a 24 hour decant, though it falls off a bit day 3. I have a case tucked away somewhere and will probably let it sleep a bit longer.
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N. 385, 2019 St. Helena/Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, thought at the time to be William Cole Vineyard, this is drinking VERY well right now. Still quite young, but quite approachable. Buoyant deep nose of cassis, plums, and berries, fine tannins on the expressive broad palate. Solid wine, check in if you have these!
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Yes, Day 2 was better. This one can go for the long haul!
2028, 10 years past vintage? Yep…easy.
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N.96-In a really nice spot. Double decant i the morning drank at dinner. The nose has plenty-dark fruit, a hint of earthiness/meaty aroma. Dark fruit, earthy, graphite, structured and complex with a long finish.
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Friday evening dinner wine: This tannic monster…
- 2018 de Négoce Cabernet Sauvignon OG N.47 - USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak (9/11/2026)
Double decanted back into bottle 30 mins prior to serving with Grilled bottom sirloin (Tri Tip steak) and Italian sausage links.
Nose: Dark fruits and violets mixed in with a good smack of earth.
Color: Dark, opaque in Bordeaux stem. Probably call it a "black hole".
Palate: Dark fruits and earth swirl around, then an absolute tannin attack on your tongue. Long finish with red rock and earth produces a memorable experience. Fruit holds up, the tannins and acidity should carry this Cabernet well to 20+ years.
These sub 100 Lot 2018 de Negoce Napa Cabernets are really shining at 8 years from vintage. Too many to list, those who purchased and cellared them this long should be well rewarded here. (93 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
5 Likes
Lot 531 | 2023 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
First one of the case, 1.5+ years bottled, PnP.
Deep color for a PN, clean and fresh on the nose. Nice well extracted flavors, pretty deeply complex already. Of course, nice Firm cool climate acidity. Well balanced and more flavorful than the recent dN 532 from Anderson Valley, I do prefer #531, richer and tastes riper, yet only 13.5%. Nice!
Really better to give these more cellar time, but you can certainly enjoy one now!
with Spaghetti & Meatballs
UPDATE: Days 2&3, were both a bit Better!
Had fun today! At nearby Montana d’ Oro State Park, had SANDwich lunch on the beach and walked the bluffs with my Son and Grandson.
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Question for the group for my personal education: most of my wines are 2018 forward. (Both DN and the Napa wines I’ve been picking up here and there at Costco over the last 6 yrs. the non DN wines (which I figure I have about 40-50 bottles now) I’ve sat on since they are priced $50-150 and I only have 2 bottles of each…I opened a 2017 Napa cab last night and enjoyed it. (Think it’s Felt like it was equivalent to something like lot 17 or 145) Then I capped it to finish the second half 24 hours later. It’s not enjoyable. Skunky? Green peppers? that I didn’t get last night. Most of my dn purchases (which obviously are mostly 18-19s) seem to get better (or at least stay the same) with 24 hours. Is this typical for wines that are “ready to drink” (that they not as good at 24 hours?)
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2017 is not considered a good year Napa-that could have a bearing on the wine.
I’d say that all wines react differently with air. Some will get better, some won’t. The best made wines get better with air, but I’ve had plenty of $50-100 bottles that do not. I do think the 2017 vintage is meant to be drank young and PNP (no or minimal decant). 2018/2019 should be MUCH better.
Enjoy!
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Luke,
Skunky is Heineken beer, a by product of hops and sunlight, green peppers is a product of grapes. Pyrazines. Pyrazines can be from BDX grapes that did not get proper sunlight or stem inclusions. It’s possible the source winery may have picked before some of the 2017 fires and therefore susceptible to under ripeness. Usually, this is present when first opened though- at least in my experience. At this point, you own the purchases. Try them again, maybe with a group and blast through bottles in first hour? lol.
Cheers, Tim
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Thanks for the tasting notes, Tim. N.11 is one of my very early favorites of dN wines. Glad I still have some left to savor. Probably be drinking it soon. Cheers!
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In MY experience:
YES!!!
Prior to dN, most of my wines were from client wineries, mostly local Paso Robles wineries (with the ‘growers discount’ ~33% off, basically wholesale), plus BevMo, TJ’s & Costco, etc.
Back Then, almost invariably day 2 was very tired and too deteriorated! That Sucks! I either suffered through it, or, dumped it. Good incentive to finish the bottle on day 1? Sad…
Now, almost invariably the dN wines are even BETTER on day 2! Triple SWEET! Even the PN’s. To me that speaks volumes about the quality and age ability! Many Thanks to Cam!
No wonder I am truly a Cam ‘fanboy’ fer sure! 
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Drinking a Lot 385 right now. I wholeheartedly agree.
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Had my first bottle of 396 2021 Cabernet. I think this is going to be fantastic but do not think there’s any reason to drink before 2028.
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YAS!!! I’m still sitting on a few of those 396, as well! Haven’t touched it yet!
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- 2018 de Négoce Listrac-Médoc OG N.306 - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Listrac-Médoc (9/16/2026)
First two glasses on day 1 were very tight-fisted. Not much bouquet. Stoppered on the counter for two days and day 3 was a different story. Smells like Bordeaux, more left than right. The mouth is still a bit tannic and the acidity bright and firm, which leads me to conclude that another few years of patience is a good idea. Overall, this was a nice buy for <$20. 5+11+15+8= 89 (89 points)
2 Likes