91
Points
Lot 525 | 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml

Lot 525
2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

750ml

Over $125/bottle under the original label

Lot 525 is a brilliantly built 91-point James Suckling scored (under our label) New World love letter to Bordeaux’s Left Bank – sourced from a historic estate located in the heart of Napa Valley. It showcases a robust core of 90%+ Cabernet Sauvignon, bolstered by other Bordelaise varietals that we agreed to keep undisclosed as part of the deal. A powerful, focused red, it was crafted by a 100-point winemaker and packs immense complexity and obvious cellar potential. Many of the established old guard have called 2023 the best vintage they've seen in their lifetime, drawing comparisons to legendary years like 1961 Bordeaux.

A beautiful dark color fills the glass. The nose is focused, delineated with dark cherries, blackberries, and crushed violets, underscored by dark chocolate and hints of blue fruits and eucalyptus. The entry is plush, revealing a spectrum of red-to-black fruit interwoven with soft leather and framed by a firm, yet graceful structure. Medium+ acidity meets fresh, grippy tannins that lead to a wonderfully dry and uplifted spice note approaching the finish. The exit is umami-rich, with vanilla, baking spice, dark fruit, and a touch of iris florals. Sublime.


14.4% alc

Overall rating: 4.4 / 5 from 30 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

This 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Lot 525 is highly regarded by winemakers and offers a robust core of Cabernet Sauvignon with complex flavors. It is praised for its dark color, rich nose, and plush entry with a firm structure. Valued at over $125 per bottle at the source, it is offered at an attractive price of $31 per bottle.

Summary topics

  • Wine Quality: 35%
  • Cabernet Characteristics: 45%

Review topics: ["color","wine","cab","drinking","nose","tannins","steak","decant","fruit","qpr"].

Review highlights

  • "I believe this will become an easy-to-drink, crowd pleasing wine in a few years." — Cory A.
  • "I really enjoyed this wine with a nice Delmonico steak , flavors of black fruit and leather ." — Ron R.
  • "This is a great everyday wine." — Jonathan B.

Reviews

Great Napa Cabernet

"When it’s so good you drink too much of it. Super delicious wine, so surprised how smooth it was. Easy drinking."

— Heidi K. (5/5)

A balanced rich wine with muscle

"The 525 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon provides rich fruit with muscular tanins and a weighty mouthfeel. This wine might mellow out in a couple of years but is a good food wine. My "parker" score would probably be a 93. A good QPR."

— Darian P. (5/5)

Solid QPR

"Wasn't my favorite, but still worth the price. Probably needs to sit a bit more or let it open up for a few hours."

— Lorenzo A. (4/5)

A Wonderful Napa Cab

"My friend recommended this lot so I bought a couple. We opened one to try it, skeptical it may not be ready to drink as a 2023. We were wrong and opened the other bottle after finishing the first. Enjoy it now or wait if you want, I am sure it will be even better."

— steve m. (5/5)

Winner!

"2023 is a very good year for Cabs in Napa and this bottle doesn't disappoint. We decanted the wine for approximately 60 minutes and is was so smooth and silky. Highly recommend!"

— Steve (5/5)

2023 is Buy buy buy

"One of my first 2023s purchased from DN and it lit the fuse. Now I buy a case of every 2023 cab when released. This one is a fantastic every night wine with an exceptionally smooth feeling on the tongue. The mouth hold opens it up with intense fruit and spice. I served this at Thanksgiving to rave reviews."

— Ron C. (4/5)

Great buy for the money

"This is a terrific wine to round out your collection. This is a great everyday wine."

— Jonathan B. (4/5)

A Wine adventure

"Aromas of dark fruit"

— Don B. (5/5)

Killer NAPA Red Blend : Bordeaux

"Delicious blend again from NAPA. Dark cherries & blackberries up front with more flavors following. Smooth with black fruit lingering. Pleasant acidity, tannins and structure. Final notes of vanilla from the barrels. . . . . . . . . . delicious."

— CRB (4/5)

Needs more time - hard to judge now; good value.

"This proved to be a reasonably attractive cab, well balanced, with a bit more power and depth than the few of the other cabs I've had so far from de Negoce, but perhaps slightly less inviting, at least at this stage. This is definitely one that needs more time, but feels promising, especially for the price."

— John M. (3/5)

Q&A