Cork'd, Lot 160
Cameron Hughes Wines: A Revolutionary Wine Business Model
By: Tim Hilcove
Those of you that read my blog know that Cameron Hughes wines are nothing new to me. For those of you unfamiliar with the Cameron Hughes label, do yourself a favor and read the recent Wall Street Journal article titled Taking advantage of the wine glut.
Cameron Hughes has undertaken an innovative business model, buying up the excess supply of high-end winery’s wine at a bargain basement price. The Cameron Hughes label is then slapped on the bottle and sold for a fraction of the price to retailers across the states. Hughes has taken advantage of the current over supply in California to build a reputation for quality, affordability, and entrepreneurial prowess.
The 2008 Cameron Hughes Lot 160 Old Vine Zinfandel is a testament to this reputation. Lodi California is located 36 miles south of Sacramento. The self proclaimed Zinfandel capital of the world, Lodi produces upwards of 40 percent of the premium Zinfandel in California. Earlier this year I picked up 6 bottles of the Lot 160 for about $10 per bottle from my local Costco. Last night I opened my last bottle to pair with my baked sweet piquante pepper pork tenderloin. Say that fast 10 times! This wine was an absolute perfect match for the mildly spicy and salty dish.
On the nose there is a subtle smokiness, as well as dried fruit, which is coincidentally some of the same language used in the company literature. The palate is where this wine really soars. Silky smooth, ripe and juicy, it evokes thoughts of chocolate covered raisins, vanilla ice cream and Peppadew peppers. These flavors are followed by a subtle earth and mineral component on the back end. This is an incredible Zin, and not just because of the price. It drinks like a $30+ bottle. In fact, at one time it probably was a $30+ bottle of Zinfandel. It’s smooth, rich and complex, over delivering for its price point. I really like the balance in this wine, as not one component dominates or overcrowds the others.
The verdict: Excellent. 92 points
Alcohol: 14.9%
Production: 6,572 cases
Price: $11 retail
The Cameron Hughes production model has been able to thrive in a time when California wines have suffered, becoming less fashionable during the shaky economic climate of the past couple years. California 2009 retail wine sales were down $17.9 billion, or about 3%.