Reviews
Lot 500 | 2011 Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon
Gold Medal: 2013 Cabernet Shootout; An exceptional Cabernet from one of Napa's first 100-point producers.
$29.00
(27 Reviews)
Wine Details
Dark black core with kiss of magenta at the rim. The youthful aromatics open up with dusty loam and blackberry fruit that give way to a very compelling and very pure blueberry essence. Hints of plum and rose petal shimmer in the background. The purity of expression at this stage is very exciting (the wine was bottled in late August 2013, so it’s just now emerging from bottle shock). Silky smooth, delivering highly polished textures across the palate, with bands of black currant and plum swirling about a densely packed mid-palate. Excellent length and depth, but the ultimate expression here is one of silky complexity, beautiful proportion, and balanced elegance. Classy juice.
- Vintage
- 2011
- Appellation
- Napa Valley
- Grape
- Cabernet Sauvignon 85%, Petit Verdot 8%, Merlot 4%, Cabernet Franc 3%
- Alcohol by Volume
- 13.9%
- Cases Produced
- 3000 Cases
- Drink/hold
- Now through 2026
- Release Email
Cam Confidential
Cam Confidential
In the tradition of sourcing Lots 200, 300, and 400 from some of the finest producers in Napa, Lot 500 comes from one of the best vineyards Napa has to offer. Located in the heart of Oakville, this is a tremendous estate that holds the honor of producing one the first Napa Valley wines to be awarded 100 points, and continues to make some of the best Cabernet you can find anywhere. The vineyard was replanted in the late 90s, and has been producing 94 to 98-point Cabs in the $150/bottle range since the mid 2000s. Naturally, they are very protective about their appellation, and insisted on us selling the wine with only Napa Valley as the label designation.
Gary R
11/4/2017
A great Cab
We bought 6 bottles and taste tested one right away. It was so good that we bought another case. We cellared them and have been enjoying them for quite a while. We have 3 left and they have fully blossomed. Rounded tannins, with balanced red and blue fruit. A wonderfully enjoyable wine. I will miss them!
EdR
Verified Purchase
2/5/2017
Outstanding wine ready to drink
Big beautiful concentrated nose. Concentrated taste, very powerful. Drinking now but will age well. Will drink the last bottle 2/18. Can't wait! Got to wait for these big wines to age a bit before you drink them!
DOM
Verified Purchase
11/19/2016
Nice Smooth Cab
Its been awhile since I last opened a bottle of this wine. It very nicely balanced and smooth wine and good silky mouthfeel. Fruity but not over the top.
Bryan
Verified Purchase
8/25/2016
Nicely balanced Cab
So glad that we cellared this for awhile based on other reviews, and also decanted for about an hour before tasting. At this point, it is nice, open, and accessible. Rounded tannins, with balanced red and blue fruit. A very pleasant and interesting wine at this point in its life.
Judi
12/28/2015
Fantastic!
This was the best buy of my wine buying days. We bought a couple of bottles, and enjoyed them so much, and so quickly, that we wound up going back and buying a couple of cases. I loved it so much, that I only managed to hold one on the side. The rest are gone.
Chris
12/8/2015
Got better..and better...and better!
This bottle has developed wonderfully. Smooth, rich, beautifully mellowed tannins, a gorgeous improvement from the first few bottles I sampled more than a year ago, when I wasn't quite as blown away as I'd hoped. But- with a 12 bottle purchase, I'm thrilled with what's left in the cellar. I am a lucky man!
Michael
11/11/2015
Great Flavor
One of the best CH wines you are going to find. Tasty cabernet for a special occasion. I'm saving a couple bottles to see how this one ages. Hoping it gets better in the next 5 or so years.
Chick
Verified Purchase
5/15/2015
Nice
Dry, fairly smooth, slightly oaky (I like oaky); I gave it a 92
RVBJr
Verified Purchase
5/12/2015
Big Value
I'm assuming this is from Groth or Silver Oak, and if that's the case, this is a great relative price point for the same juice. I am assuming it is from Groth, as they were one of the first 100-point wineries (maybe I'm wrong), but I've also had the 2011 Groth Cab Sauv, and the profiles were comparable, so for about the half the price, this is an exceptional value.
That said, this is a big Cab, but I didn't love it as much as I like the 2011 Heimark juice from Lot 435. That said, at $25/bottle (with a discount), the Lot 500 is an exceptional value for a big bold Cab with a nice finish, and great mid-palate mouth feel. The structure is great...surprisingly nicely balanced. Too bad it was sold out, I'd buy more.
Pierre
11/7/2014
What a Gem!!!
So I'm travelling on vacation on the Gulf Coast of Florida and we found this in a Costco there (I always check the Costco's when we travel because there is always some cool regional stuff that we never see on his site, or stuff that is already sold-out online). Anyhow, we bought 4 bottles and drank the first 3.
It was amazing. Truly a well-rounded Cabernet. It could use some more time in the bottle, but with some aeration and/or decanting it is drinking well now. I only wish I could have brought more back with me from FL!!! As it stands I only have the 1 bottle left and I will sit on it for a while and open it as a treat in a year or two.