Need some help/idea for a gift for my wife. Looking for a 2014 vintage of a Napa Cab. The 2014 and Napa part are requirements as the year holds a certain significance for the occasion, and she mostly drinks Cabs (and will be sharing!)

Initial glance is 2014 Screaming Eagle or Scarecrow. Any other suggestions/thoughts or connections for obtaining something? To double down, I'd like to be able to obtain a 2020 of the same when the time comes. Not saying no budget, but close to no budget.

752bro4 said:

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Need some help/idea for a gift for my wife. Looking for a 2014 vintage of a Napa Cab. The 2014 and Napa part are requirements as the year holds a certain significance for the occasion, and she mostly drinks Cabs (and will be sharing!)

Initial glance is 2014 Screaming Eagle or Scarecrow. Any other suggestions/thoughts or connections for obtaining something? To double down, I'd like to be able to obtain a 2020 of the same when the time comes. Not saying no budget, but close to no budget.

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Those are some big boys. Other name that springs to mind along those lines is MACDONALD.

2014 Joseph Phelps Insignia - 87% Cabernet Sauvignon

Or

2014 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard.

Two of our favorites.

With targets like that, it's really the "connection" you'd be looking for, I think. The super luxury ultra premium list isn't all that long! When should we all expect the invites to sample!

cecil77 said:

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With targets like that, it's really the "connection" you'd be looking for, I think. The super luxury ultra premium list isn't all that long! When should we all expect the invites to sample!

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I knocked her up, so it'll have to wait until July to open. The occasion for the bottle is unrelated to the baby though.

I'll look into the Phelps and MacDonald.

I've located 12 bottles of Scarecrow online. If that ends up being the answer, I'll probably grab 2-3. Despite "no budget" - I'm going to have a tough time forking over the price of a used Corolla for Screaming Eagle.

752bro4 said:

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cecil77 said:

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With targets like that, it's really the "connection" you'd be looking for, I think. The super luxury ultra premium list isn't all that long! When should we all expect the invites to sample!

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I knocked her up, so it'll have to wait until July to open. The occasion for the bottle is unrelated to the baby though.

I'll look into the Phelps and MacDonald.

I've located 12 bottles of Scarecrow online. If that ends up being the answer, I'll probably grab 2-3. Despite "no budget" - I'm going to have a tough time forking over the price of a used Corolla for Screaming Eagle.

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In SE's defense, I hear it's bouquet is much nicer than a used Corolla. Unfortunately, I cannot confirm this though. I've only smelled one of them (spoiler alert-it's not the SE).

The only SE to drink is to taste someone else's. Don't buy it unless you really want to.

Scarecrow and Macdonald are excellent but different wines. You can add Hundred Acre, Tusk, etc to the Scarecrow price point, each a little different. Some on this board like Realm, I do, it's at a lower price point than the others but maybe not in secondary markets. Diamond Creek if you want older world style.

Harlan, Bond, and the like are a middle ground between SE and Scarecrow.

Macdonald is different in that it's lower volume and much harder to source unless you get on the internet boards during release to grab someone's allocation. It's one wine that I don't think makes it to retail/restaurants in TX (someone correct me if I'm wrong).

You will enjoy any of these wines and half the fun is sourcing them and the occasion for opening them.

i can look into getting you a bottle custom engraved... i've got some mags of our reserve cab that look pretty awesome. you also know the managing partner of the winery... so another custom mag shouldnt be an issue in 2020...

GBMont3 said:

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I signed up today and the Stagecoach deal was in my confirmation email. Not open yet but we'll see!

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Stagecoach offer came out today. Supposedly a $90 bottle. I pulled the trigger on a case. Damn FOMO.

wtmartinaggie said:

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i can look into getting you a bottle custom engraved... i've got some mags of our reserve cab that look pretty awesome. you also know the managing partner of the winery... so another custom mag shouldnt be an issue in 2020...

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That kind of thing can be truly special. A personal connection...

Just got my email offer for de Negoce. Did anyone pull the trigger? $180 for a case of stagecoach cab seems like a great deal but not sure I want to buy a full case. Anyone in DFW want to split one?

Let me think about that one...could be an awesome option. I'll definitely hit you up for a 2020 (son born).

I'm in for 6.

752bro4 said:

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I'm in for 6.

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Awesome...I have your phone number in a PM in 2014 (I bought your old golf clubs). Does that number still work for you? If so I will text you and we can arrange it.

Speculation is its Miner Stagecoach cab. The price point, tasting notes, new French oak, etc. line up.

Split a De Ngoce case with a couple of buddies. Think we're going to do all of the offerings. At this price, what's there to lose!

Ping Zing 2! Same number

Had his tonight. For a $30 CdP, it was pretty good. This wine isn't meant to age for the long haul, and it isn't very complex, but it went really well with a grilled ribeye. I need to remember to stock up on 2016-2018 Rhone.

Awesome, how did that drink?

2011s are drinking really well right now!

Should have responded sooner!

Very good, definitely a drink now.

The latest de Negoce offering is a 2017 Stagecoach cabernet franc. Any idea where this was sourced from?

mek94 said:

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The latest de Negoce offering is a 2017 Stagecoach cabernet franc. Any idea where this was sourced from?

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I think the last two offers were both from Miner.

We get together with several friends on a regular basis and "practice" our wine tasting. Since COVID began, we have been creative with virtual meetings. Last week, we received a wine shipment and we were fortunate to have a virtual tasting of some Texas wines with the folks from C.L. Butaud (www.clbutaud.com).

Randy Hester and his wife Brooke (she's an Aggie) walked us through their Grenache Rose (Frenchy) and a Tempranillo/Syrah blend (Cease and Desist). All west Texas grapes and both wines were outstanding. Give them a try if you ever get a chance.

Definitely will. We have branched out and tried a lot of different wines during this "down time". There are some really good deals out there.

Mind sharing any of the deals to be had? I need to re-stock the wine fridge.

Deal? I saw a box with a mag of 2008 Salon and 2 each of '04, '06, and '07 on sale for only $6k. Now that's a deal!

I get e-mail updates from Vivino, Wine Spies, Last Bottle, and now de Negoce. I'm not a daily drinker of the high dollar stuff like some people on here, but like to try some of the stuff that comes in on sale in the $20-$30 range. Last couple of nights we opened a 2010 Sullivan cabernet and a 2014 Rocca Vespera which were both around $25 and were both really good. Most all of them have free shipping when you spend around $100, but it may be getting too warm for shipping.

As far as "deals" buy some of the de Negoce offerings, case purchases required but decent juice for $10-$15 a bottle. Should be much better wine than anything in that price range at retail.

Got in on the Stagecoach cab franc offer that came out last night. For $12 a bottle I'm looking forward to trying it. Regret that I didn't get in soon enough for the Stagecoach cab offer.

Finally got my half case of 2016 Guigal Cotes du Rhone. Holy cow this is a great wine for $13. Heck, it's a great wine for $30.

Where did you find that one and is it still out there?

The Wine Cellar in Lakeway. They ordered it for me after we did a Guigal tasting.

I didn't realize it was so scarce. I'm staring at a 2016 Guigal Cdr I picked up at Heights HEB this week. I don't think there's a weekly grocery sixer that hasn't had at least one lately.