Cameron Hughes Current Releases Tasting Notes
Following are my notes on Cameron Hughes latest releases, available online from Chwine.com or your local Costco. For my notes on the previous Cameron Hughes line up, click here, here, or here.
1998 Lot 25 Sparkling White Wine, Carneros, California
Price: $21
Notes: If you are a fan of sparkling wines, you are sure to find this 8 year old bottle to be a great bargain. Lots of stone fruit flavors greet your nose and intertwine with touches of yeast and vanilla. A nice finish with good balance, this 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is sure to impress. Grab a few bottles of this before it sells out. This is an excellent effort and a great value that could probably fetch 3 times the price.
Score: 94 pts
2006 Lot 26 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, NZ
Price: $11
Notes: This is a fantastic effort, with a ton of tropical fruit notes, great acidity, and a clean crisp finish. It possesses Passion Fruit, Mango, and Citrus aromas, as well as floral notes and spice on the palate. A refreshing wine, this effort can stand up to similar bottles from the region selling for twice the price. Sealed with a Stelvin Screwcap, bravo!
Score: 90pts
2005 Lot 31 Syrah Sonoma Mountain, California
Price: $9
Notes: This blend of 89% Syrah and 11% Mourvedre is the finest Syrah I’ve had from Cameron to date. Grown in the cooler climate Sonoma Mountain region, this wine maintains subtle nuances while possessing good concentration. Dark purple in color, the aroma reveals earth, mushroom, currant, and blackberry. This wine has a nice mouth feel, with soft tannins and a great finish.
Score: 94pts
2005 Lot 34 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford District - Napa, California
Price: $11
Notes: This somewhat cloying bottle opens up after a bit of decanting, but still remains a bit tight. Hints of Vanilla, Toast, Leather, and Blackberry greet the nose, and translate onto the palate. Not to Tannic, but with good structure, this offering be a bit more drinkable after 6 months to a year, and for 2-3 years after that.
Score: 90 pts
Disclosure: Lot 25, 26 and 31 were press samples
