Lot 97 is the 2024 vintage follow-up to Lot 24 — a Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon from the same extremely well-regarded producer with year-in year-out 95+ point scores and mid-triple digit price tags. Source redacted per Cam’s request. See also: Lot 24.
Lot Overview
- Region: 100% Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley
- Vintage: 2024
- Varietal: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc (blend as received)
- Oak Aging: 100% new French oak (implied)
- Alcohol: 14.9%
- Cases Available: ~225
- Cam Price: ~$25/bottle ($299/case)
- Retail Estimate: Mid-triple digits ($500+/bottle)
- Claude’s Source Guess: Redacted per Cam’s request — same producer as Lot 24
- Wine Berserkers Guess: Redacted per Cam’s request
- Drink Window: 2027–2050+ (peak 2032–2045)
Cameron’s Release Notes
I am excited to offer our next vintage of Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.
As previously mentioned, my ability to source these beauties is in our mutual discretion so please refrain from speculating or naming a producer on any public bulletin boards, social media etc.
This wine needs no hype other than to say it is absolutely spectacular Diamond Mountain Cabernet from an extremely well-regarded producer with year-in, year-out 95+ point scores and mid-triple digit price tags.
Tasting Notes
Lot 97 2024 Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon is from the same producer as Lot 24. Not only that, it is better wine. Or, at least, it is now.
I have to say, I thought Lot 24 was pretty spectacular but, damn, Lot 97 is absolutely mind-blowing. However, I think that is largely a function of the vintage. The 2023 vintage Lot 24 is more tightly wound with incredible structure and, quite frankly, it’s infanticide to drink now.
While Lot 97 is simply fantastic already. Ripe, gorgeous, effusive, delicious. If I had to guess which wine would be drinking better over the next decade, hands down Lot 96. And that is not because it is the wine I have to sell now, it’s simply the truth. Lot 96 will go another 15-20-years for sure, but somewhere around year eight or nine, things will begin to tip in the favor of Lot 24.
In the meantime, you simply cannot beat the 2024 vintage for bold, vibrant, generous, juicy, lush Napa Cabernets. And, things get really interesting with a wee bit of elevation…
Of course, Lot 97 is an unbelievable deal at $299/case. With only 225 cases to go around, this is going to go quickly.
Opaque, squid ink core with just a kiss of magenta around the rim. However, the bouquet is gorgeously ripe and expressive, redolent with violets, blackcurrant, cherry, iron and gravel underpinned with blueberry, creme de cassis and smoked graphite all haloed with the holy trinity of very fine new French oak, cedar, leather and tobacco. The entry is more gravel fist in a velvet glove with ripe cherry, licorice, blackberry cobbler and leather in the mid-palate riding fabulous gravel and tobacco-laced, fine-grained tannins into a ripe, succulent glorious sunset of a finish. Bright, generous, focused and pure throughout, this is power, precision, muscle and grace all-in-one. Visually, aromatically, organoleptically stunning wine…sexy and perfectly proportioned, hedonistic-yet-sinewy, lush and immensely pleasurable. YUM.
⏳ Bottle Shock Status: Already drinking beautifully per Cam — 2024 vintage generosity means earlier accessibility than Lot 24.
Claude’s Source Guess: Redacted per Cam’s request
Same producer as Lot 24 — an extremely well-regarded Diamond Mountain District estate with year-in year-out 95+ point scores and mid-triple digit pricing. Cam explicitly asks members not to speculate or name the producer on public bulletin boards or social media. The 2024 vintage here is described as more immediately accessible than the tightly wound 2023 Lot 24, though Cam predicts Lot 24 will ultimately surpass it around years 8-9.
Drink Window
Early: 2027 — already drinking well per Cam, but 14.9% alc and new French oak benefit from 2+ years.
Peak: 2032–2045. Diamond Mountain Cabernet from this producer consistently peaks 8–20 years from vintage — Cam specifically notes year 8-9 as when things get interesting.
Hold: 2050+. Cam says 15-20 years and the structure supports that claim.
My Call: ⏳ Drink window: 2027–2050+ (peak 2032–2045)