Lot 149
2007 Napa Valley (Mount George) Cabernet Sauvignon

Cameron Hughes '07 Cabs I had these over the last couple of weeks. They were all excellent to outstanding, and IMO, easily worth 2 - 3 times the price. They all have great, powerful fruit, without being at all overly ripe, and great structure to back it up. For me, the Lot 116 and Lot 149 were the more accessible now, I think Lot 143 and Lot 164 would benefit from some more time. 2007 Cameron Hughes Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 149 - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/22/2010) Dark, dark ruby red. The nose has sweet raspberry, cassis, leather, and a little chalk. This is another big '07 Cameron Hughes, and a little riper than the other '07 Cameron Hughes Cabs that I've had, but still very well balanced, not overly ripe by any means. The tannins are firm, but not too drying. Nice acidity. Great overall structure holding everything up. Very athletic build, powerful but sleek. Drinking nicely now, may develop over the next few years. (91 pts.) 2007 Cameron Hughes Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 143 - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (2/20/2010) Medium-dark purple color. The nose has charcoal, cassis, and leather. If I tasted this blind, I'd peg it for a left bank Bordeaux. The fruit has a big presence, but it's not overly ripe at all. The tannins are very drying at this point. The oak is present, but it's nicely integrated. Very masculine and assertive. Great balance. Very nice now, although a little rough around the edges, I think this will develop into an outstanding wine. (92 pts.) 2007 Cameron Hughes Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 116 - USA, California, Napa Valley (2/3/2010) Dark ruby color. The nose has plum, cassis, leather, smoke, and a hint of loam. Nice, clean fruit. Gorgeous, smooth texture. The tannins are present, but smooth. There's some oak underneath, but it's nicely integrated. Perfect balance. Not an in-your-face wine at all, it has a nice character that's very likable. Moderate length, enjoyable finish. May improve with age, but it's drinking beautifully now. (91 pts.) 2007 Cameron Hughes Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 164 Rutherford - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford (1/28/2010) Dark, purple-red in the glass. The nose has dusty plum, tobacco, as well as a little brighter raspberry and a bit of pencil eraser. The palate is medium-full, with clean, juicy fruit. The tannins are moderate and still very grippy. There's a nice acidic brightness as well. Not a big, bold wine, but very attractive and well proportioned. The finish is long and enjoyable. Very good now, and I think if the tannins settle down a little more, it'll be outstanding. (89 pts.) Posted from CellarTracker

San Diego International Wine Competition Cameron Hughes Medal Winners Platinum 2008 Chardonnay, Lot 159 Santa Barbara Gold 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lot 116 Napa Valley Gold 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lot 164 Rutherford Silver 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lot 136 Napa Valley Silver 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lot 138 Santa Barbara Silver 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lot 149 Napa Valley Silver 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lot 157 Yountville Silver 2007 Zinfandel, Lot 114 Sonoma County Silver 2008 Zinfandel, Lot 163 Lodi Silver 2007 Chardonnay, Lot 130 Russian River Valley Silver 2008 Chardonnay, Lot 145 Santa Barbara

Cameron Hughes Lot 149 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (Mount George) 2007 The wine is nearly black in the glass with a crimson rim. On the nose is an explosion of dark fruit. There's a touch of spice with a chocolatey coco element. This is a big wine. Black raspberries dominate the concentrated bold fruit on the palate. Dark chocolate mingles with the black currants. There's a very coco-esque taste to the chocolate flavors. It displays nice, chewy tannins with a long finish. This wine is just a baby, but quite accessible now. Certainly decant for an hour or two in the near future. This bottle surely has 5 to 10 years of cellar potential. I score this wine 90 points. Another great value for those looking for a high-quality, big Cabernet, and not wanting to break the bank.

Recent Cameron Hughes Wine ratings from Wine Enthusiast Magazine - 92 Points, Editors Choice: Lot 146 Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon - 91 Points: Lot 149 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - Best Buy: Lot 168 Red Hills Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon Plus, great scores for many more Cameron Hughes wines featured in the Wine Enthusiast Buying Guide.