Lot 31
2005 Sonoma Mountain Syrah

How do you find the perfect wine for your wedding? Cameron chats with the host about great wines from Arizona and some 101 tips on how to find the right wine for your event. A quick review of blends and the Bordeaux inspired Meritage and discussion of how Cameron Hughes Wine sources wine. Best wine for an event is sparkling, always a safe choice. Finally a quick discussion on new packaging trends and why screwcaps are ok!

Get an inside view of how Cameron Hughes Wine does business. This television segment takes you from where the company bottles and produces wine to following Cameron as he tastes samples of wine sent to him from vineyards around the world. It is a revealing, insider view of the company.

I second the Cameron Hughes syrahs. The 12 and 24 were excellent but the Lot 31 is my FAVORITE and may still be around--although I believe sold out online. WOW, a massive syrah. Approach this tannic beast with care. My first bottle showed best on the fourth day. Without doubt the Lot 31 is one of the best cool climate Syrahs I've tasted and could stand toe to toe with many of the PAX bottles I've consumed at five times the price. I am so glad I bagged the last case of this stuff at our local Costco.

Nice drinking wine now but it's young and will benefit from some time in the bottle. Starts with a bright cross between cherry and cranberry and then moves onto a very nice dirty blackberry flavor.

This wine was just released in May. The grapes are from Sonoma County and the final blend is 89% Syrah and 11% Mourvedre with 14.2% alcohol. TASTING NOTES: Dark red color with fresh blackberry, white pepper and hint of chemicals on the nose. Plum flavors dominate the rough mid-palate before transitioning to a black pepper finish that still has a bit of heat. SCORE & RECOMMENDATION: 86 PTS I left this bottle open for 24 hours and tasted it again on the second day. It showed some solid improvement. The wine is a little rough but has some nice ripe fruit and reminds me of a Cotes du Rhone. The finish is very tart and off-balance and there's still some alcohol burn even after considerable breathing. Overall a decent wine that retails for an inexpensive $12 making it a questionable buy since their are lots of Cotes du Rhone alternatives in the same price range.

Following are my notes on Cameron Hughes latest releases, available online from chwine.com or your local Costco. 1998 Lot 25 Sparkling White Wine, Carneros, California 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 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: 90 pts 2005 Lot 31 Syrah Sonoma Mountain, California 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: 94 pts 2005 Lot 34 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford District - Napa, California 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 too 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