Cameron Hughes Lot 44 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Posted by Xhayni at 3/5/2008 2:09 PM and is filed under Wine Review - Cabernet Sauvignon
Cameron Hughes does not own a vineyard. They specialize in what is known as the "spot" market. If any of you have ever invested or worked in commodities then you pretty much get the gist. For the rest of us (yes, I was once a stockbroker, but I did not specialize in the spot market -- that's my cousin's gig), simply put, high-end winemakers always make more than what they need so they have enough to assemble their final blends thus they sell off and declassify wines that don't fit the quality parameters for a $50 bottle, but make an excellent $15 - $9 bottle of wine. That is essentially what Cameron Hughes has done. He gives us the $50 rejects for $15 - $9 bucks. Not bad! Even better when you taste. I was pleasantly surprised on a recent visit to Costco. This just may become one of my "house" favorites. Oh, and I really like the business model as well. I'll let Cameron Hughes speak for itself:
"Beautiful nose of toasty French oak, warm fruit, mocha and black olive. Medium-full bodied (hallmark of the 2005 vintage), this wine shows outstanding overall structure and balance and great depth of varietal character. Chocolate, blackberry, tobacco and expresso flesh out the midpalate and the wine finishes smooth with notes of cocoa powder and that classic Rutherford “
Cameron Confidential: This is the bottle blend (meaning that it’s one finished wine from one producer and the exact same wine as they will bottle that year) from a high-end, conscientious Rutherford producer truly focused on quality. Their bottling frontlines at $45 on their website and has received 90-92 point scores for the past 3 vintages from the Wine Spectator.
A steal at $15 (or $13 at Costco)? You be the judge, go out sample and let me know.
