🏷️ Lot Overview
Region: Carneros (Napa Valley)
Vintage: 2024
Blend: 66% Syrah, 34% Grenache
ChatGPT Original Source Guess: Kongsgaard (alt: HdV, Donum Estate, or Hyde Vineyard)
Wine Berserkers Guess: Cuvaison
Alcohol: 15.0%
Oak Aging: ~50% new French oak
Cam Price: $10.75 ($129/case)
Retail Estimate: $75–$80
Drink Window: 2025–2033
🍷 Cameron’s Release Notes
Magnificent. Gorgeous. Sensuous. Complex. World-Class.
These are just a few of the superlatives that come to mind as I enjoy Lot 42 2024 Carneros Napa Valley Syrah-Grenache (66% Syrah, 34% Grenache).
Lot 42 is a perfect combination of the essential elements of Côte Rôtie and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, at once meaty and peppery with a plentitude of black and blue fruits while beautifully spiced with crushed lilacs and a bright beam of cherry liqueur and raspberry. Crazy complex, sensuous, bold and beautiful, it is not only a hell of a fantastic wine, but it’s deliciously approachable even now.
If you can’t tell, I absolutely love it! Rhône-lovers, TRUST ME on this one, it’s time to BACK UP THE TRUCK!
Again, this is another no-expense-spared, estate production where the producer is just looking to right-size inventories. We’re bottling the wine as-is. I wasn’t about to ask the price, but I think it’s safe to assume it’ll be priced alongside the producer’s other wines at $75–$80/bottle. In fact, I’d throw this up against any $60–$100 Châteauneuf. Like I said, this is a world-class Rhône-style red—just trust me on this one.
Any way you slice it, it’s a stunning deal at $129/case DELIVERED.
Tasting Notes
Wow, Carneros knocked it out of the park in 2024. Deep purple edges but opaque core. At once meaty and boisterous, the bouquet is remarkably complex at this stage, perfectly ripe and beautifully attenuated featuring cherry liqueur, crushed lilacs, and new leather ensconced in meaty blueberry, dark chocolate, and cracked black pepper.
Warm and supple on entry with notes of ripe black cherry and raspberry wrapped around a robust core of silky tannins that unfurl a mélange of meaty black and blue fruit underpinned with dark chocolate in a long, sensuous finish.
Beautifully balanced and lush, this sexy wine really punches the umami button…I had to tear myself away from it last night!
Trust me on this one, Rhône-lovers—it’s time to BACK UP THE TRUCK!
100% Carneros Napa Valley estate grown and produced
66% Syrah, 34% Grenache
~50% new French oak
15% alc.
~200 cases available
🧠ChatGPT says
🔍 Source Guess: Likely Kongsgaard (alt: HdV, Donum Estate, or Hyde Vineyard)
🎯 Rationale
- Location & Style: There are very few Carneros estates producing Rhône-style blends at this quality level. The combination of estate-grown fruit, Syrah-Grenache co-fermentation, and $75–$80 price tier fits Kongsgaard’s Rhône work almost perfectly.
- Profile: The tasting notes mention meaty, peppery, floral, and chocolate notes—textbook Kongsgaard Syrah descriptors.
- Oak Program: ~50% new French oak and 15% alcohol align with Kongsgaard’s structure, though HdV (Hyde de Villaine) or Donum could fit stylistically if their limited Rhône plantings were used.
- Tone: Cam’s description—“Côte Rôtie meets Châteauneuf”—echoes John Kongsgaard’s own commentary on his Syrah bottlings (rich, wild, and savory yet polished).
✅ Conclusion: Based on region, structure, and Cam’s excitement level, Lot 42 almost certainly hails from Kongsgaard, or a neighboring Carneros Rhône-focused estate sharing vineyard sources with Hyde or Donum.
⏳ Drink Window
Early Enjoyment: 2025–2026 — already approachable with lush fruit and soft tannins.
Peak Drinking: 2027–2031 — ideal balance of umami depth, spice, and integration.
Hold Potential: Through 2033 — will develop savory, olive-tapenade and dried herb complexity with time.
⏳ Drink window: 2025–2033 (peak 2027–2031)