Lot 168
2006 Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon

14 California Red Values Lake County Cabernet and Napa Pinot lead this list of widely available California reds priced at $20 or less by James Laube This week’s Tasting Highlights features very good California reds that represent excellent value from the Golden State. The quality of these wines, highlighted by the rather amazing 2006 Cameron Hughes Lake County Red Hills Cabernet Lot 168, reflects both some producers’ sustained emphasis on value and others downshifting a bit to sync with the market. The Cameron Hughes Cabernet is also a reminder of how the quality of Lake County reds are on the rise. You see the Lake County appellation on more wines these days (it’s due north of Napa Valley, with lots of affordable land and increasingly good vineyards), but also disguised within the broader North Coast appellation (which takes in Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino Counties). Hughes’ 2007 Pinot Noir is also an excellent value, ditto for B.R. Cohn’s North Coast Cabernet. Also here is a rare California Dolcetto, this one a 2007 from Enotria in Mendocino, and an $8 Petite Sirah from Oak Grove, perfect for everyday drinking. CAMERON HUGHES Cabernet Sauvignon Red Hills Lake County Lot 168 2006 Score: 89 | $12 Combines ripe, rich flavors with finesse and grace. Full-bodied, with spicy red currant, black licorice, creamy oak and spice, ending with a long, full, persistent finish. Drink now through 2015. 1,700 cases made. —J.L. CAMERON HUGHES Pinot Noir Napa Valley Carneros Lot 125 2007 Score: 89 | $18 Distinctive for its soft, creamy texture, with detailed plum, spice, tobacco and pleasant earth flavors. Firms up on the finish, with more mineral and mushroom notes. Drink now through 2016. 2,100 cases made. —M.W.

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.

Here's a tale of two approaches to customer service, shipping, short-sightedness, and why it matters when it comes to wine. There's an interesting study in contrasts here - and some great business lessons, too... I had already placed an order for a bunch of wine with Cameron Hughes. At the time I was hoping to get some of the awesome Lot 168. The guy taking my order says, "Sorry. Sold out." A few days later I get an email from the company promoting the same wine - Lot 168. Come on! So I call and the conversation goes something like this: Thanks for calling Cameron Hughes Wine, this is Jessica. Me: Hi Jessica, this is Steve McIntosh calling. Jessica: Hi Steve, how are you? (I've never spoken to this person before, but she sounds like she knows who I am) Good, thanks. Listen, I'm calling about Lot 168. Now you see it, now you don't. What's the story? Oh, can you see it as available online? Yes, I can now, but I couldn't when I ordered all that wine last week and Jake told me that it was out. Like OUT OUT. Hmmm...let me take a look at what's going on. Can you hold on for a sec? Sure. (30 seconds later she's back.) Okay, so here's what happened: Looks like we pulled a distributor's allocation, so now we have about 1308 bottles. Wow. Wish I had known that last week. Well, let me take a look and see if your order shipped already...Yeah, it did. But I'll tell you what...How much of this did you want? A case. Okay. Well, I'm really sorry about the mixup. How about we get this case out to you and we'll pick up the shipping? Deal. How hard would it be to hold the shipment until Monday? No probelm at all, I'll just make a note of it here for the warehouse. Anything else you need? Nope. That's it. Have a good one. Forgetting about the dollar delta (which definitely counts), the whole approach was night and day. I loved this experience. And you know what? It's going to keep me coming back for more, dammit.