Lot 37
2006 Campo De Borja Rose

Bringing Great Wine to the Masses: A Chat With Cameron Hughes By Brad Prescott A lot has been written about climate change and its effect on the wine industry. As someone who purchases wine from myriad wineries and regions, what impact are you experiencing? We are experiencing none yet. Right now, CA vintages seem to be well supplied with very high quality. In the long term, our model is very well positioned to be innoculated from the vagaries of global warming. We source globally and sell the widest possible variety of wines all under one label. If one area becomes unsuitable for production, we just source from the next. To lessen the impact of our operations, we have partnered with CarbonFund.org to purchase carbon offsets to cover the production and movement of not only our wines, but to offset the carbon footprint of our office and employees as well. Our office is located in the heart of SF’s SOMA district and is 100 yards from where I live. We have only one person who commutes to our office and we use natural cooling and super efficient bulbs to light our office. Lastly, what does the future have in store for Cameron Hughes Wine? We are rapidly becoming a one stop for a global portfolio of super and ultra premium wine. Our next two years will be dedicated to fleshing out our sourcing capabilities. Currently, we have bought or have in various stages of production wines from Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina and Germany. I hit VinExpo in June and should have the world covered by the time I leave! The remaining wines, or blending components, that didn’t fit into their final blends are then placed on the bulk market and marketed to other wineries and negociants like myself. We will select and blend only super-premium like quality lots and we never “blend to extendâ€? as many other negociants do because we are not concerned about making a particular blend last a whole year. As well, we don’t mark up our smaller lot pricing to create artificial scarcity because we have continuous and seemingly endless supply (at least for now). Other wines we buy in “shinersâ€? or bottles with no labels on them and then have our own labels affixed. Wineries often bottle these wines up (to make their balance sheets look better for lenders – wine is far more valuable in the bottle as it is in bulk form) but never put labels on them so they have the flexibility to sell the wine under their label or sell the wines to guys like me. In Europe and Australia shiners are a far larger market than in the US. Some wines are made for us by growers, especially when the spot market for grapes is as weak as it is now. When choosing wine for your latest lot, what criteria do you use to filter out the good wine from the bad? It has to be good and it has to be stable. That said, at the end of the day the final blend has to have excellent structure and balance. I always say any wine with good structure and balance will be a good wine. The great thing about being a negociant is you have literally thousands of wine to choose from to achieve that end. From a sales perspective, if it's great wine and it's marketable (such as cabernet or chardonnay) I’ll buy whatever I can get my hands on. Lesser known wines, say Clare Valley Riesling for example, I am historically more cautious towards regarding quantities; however, we have done a good job of creating the kind of trust it takes to sell a couple thousand cases of just about anything. How do you plan your lots? Right now I cannot keep up with Costco’s demand so we are buying whatever great juice we can get our hands on. We recently completed the purchase of over 60,000 cases of various Napa appellation cabernets including Rutherford, Yountville, Diamond Mountain and Spring Mountain (the bulk of which are in the first two sub-districts). To further fulfill our needs, we are branching out into the international buying scene and buying wines from Argentina, Australia (including some 75 yr and 100yr old vine Barossa shiraz’s), New Zealand, Spain, Italy, France and Germany. As well, there is some thought to seasonality, particularly with the New Zealand SB’s and Spanish Rose’s. other than that, we are buying whatever great juice we can get our hands on from Spanish reds to German whites. Describe some lots that you would love to produce but, for whatever reason, haven't released yet? So far, we have been able to identify from every region exactly what we were looking for two times over. That is, there is so much out there to choose from its like shooting fish in a barrel. The global oversupply of wine has created a situation where never before has there been so much good wine at such reasonable prices. Of all the lots you have produced, describe the one you most wanted to keep all for yourself. My favorites have been the Lot 13 2004 Dry Creek Cabernet, Lot 24 2005 Sonoma Syrah, and Lot 25 1998 Carneros Sparkling wine. Up coming, I cannot wait to sell our Lot 34 Rutherford Cab, our Lot 37 Rose from Campo de Borja in Spain, and finally, what I think will be our best wine to date, the Lot 38 2005 Barossa Shiraz from 100 year old vines. Absolutely stunning wine, I couldn’t believe it was available for purchase. Your business model merges a passion for great wine with a rigid understanding of the economics that drive the wine business. Describe how this plays into the value add you provide to the consumer? As I said before, wine does not cost a lot to make. As well, when you pay $30 for a cabernet, it's not that the winery is ripping you off, it’s just that the wine business is remarkably inefficient. I would go as far to say that the wine business is, effectively, a broken business model particularly insofar as it is strangled by archaic laws and distribution mechanisms. Innovation is tremendously difficult. The $30 cab would cost far less were there not so many hands that have to touch it on the way to the retailer’s store. How did your experiences at the Wine Group and as an importer of wine help prepare you for running your own label? The Wine Group is the leanest and meanest wine company out there. They sell millions of cases of wine per salesperson. They do it by providing the best wine in the box or bottle at the best price. This results in brands that pulled through by consumers versus brands that are pushed through by advertising and distribution muscle. When it comes to delivering value you have got to stay lean and mean. As an importer I learned how much is actually costs to make wine. Here in the states the wine companies put up a sort of Chinese wall between production and sales so that the salespeople don’t have an idea of what the product costs to manufacture. If they found out they would constantly be asking for more discounts to help them hit their numbers. Now, it's not that the wineries are ripping you off, it's just that the wine business is tremendously inefficient with multiple hands coming into contact with a bottle of wine before it hits the consumer. By simplifying the model and selling direct or semi-direct (through a clearing wholesaler), we are able to pass on significant savings in the area of 66% over what it would cost to buy the same wine under another label. You are 6 years into it and sales are growing hand over fist. Looking back, what would you do differently if you knew then what you know today? Nothing, you must suffer for your art. Where can consumers buy your wine? On our website or through Costco. The best way to track new releases and Costco distributions is to sign up for our email “alert listâ€? at www.chwine.com. We will not sell your email address or spam you. Is the Costco distribution nationwide or in select locales? We are currently in CA, AZ, TX, IL, FL, NC, SC, AL and will soon be in WA, OR, MI, MN, IN, VA, MA and others. What is the most disturbing trend you see in the wine industry today? Distributors paying off state legislators to act against the best interests of their constituents by banning the direct shipment of wine to consumers. Think Illinois. Conversely, what is the most encouraging trend you see? Courageous state legislators standing up to those interests and doing the right thing by allowing direct shipment to consumers. Think Florida, at least for now… A lot has been written about climate change and its effect on the wine industry. As someone who purchases wine from myriad wineries and regions, what impact are you experiencing? We are experiencing none yet. Right now, CA vintages seem to be well supplied with very high quality. In the long term, our model is very well positioned to be innoculated from the vagaries of global warming. We source globally and sell the widest possible variety of wines all under one label. If one area becomes unsuitable for production, we just source from the next. To lessen the impact of our operations, we have partnered with CarbonFund.org to purchase carbon offsets to cover the production and movement of not only our wines, but to offset the carbon footprint of our office and employees as well. Our office is located in the heart of SF’s SOMA district and is 100 yards from where I live. We have only one person who commutes to our office and we use natural cooling and super efficient bulbs to light our office. Lastly, what does the future have in store for Cameron Hughes Wine? We are rapidly becoming a one stop for a global portfolio of super and ultra premium wine. Our next two years will be dedicated to fleshing out our sourcing capabilities. Currently, we have bought or have in various stages of production wines from Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina and Germany. I hit VinExpo in June and should have the world covered by the time I leave!

Review: OK, this may be the best bottle of rose I've had all summer--and I've had few. Deep, rich color. Floral aromas mix with whiffs of pretty raspberry and strawberry. On the palate, the first taste you get is pure strawberry essence, with a note of watermelon on the finish. Has some streaks of mineral running through it, too. Round, rich, dry. Very, very nice. Great that's it's made with 100% grenache. Makes it perfect for BBQ, though we had it with pork lo mein and it was pretty good with that, too. Outstanding for $7.99.

Cameron Hughes surprised his customers late last week, by selling his latest wines online only. The last Lot that was available exclusively at the Danville Costco (Lot 28) sold out in a few days, and left many customers abroad upset. So, to make it fare for all, Lots 33, 38, and 42 are available exclusively online, but not quite at the discounted price the Superstore offers. This distribution has it’s pros and cons, but the biggest problem for me, is that you can’t try the wine first before committing to a case or two. Following are my notes on the current release, which will hopefully help you avoid any mistakes when ordering. As always, these wines are tasted twice, once upon opening, and a second time with at least an hour or two of decanting. These wines are currently available online at CHwine.com Lot 33 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley 14.5% ABV $18 Burgundy color with cherry and blueberry notes, bell pepper and raspberry, a bit acidic and hot. Possibly a bad bottle, but cork didn’t display any signs of leakage or overheating since bottling, and no signs of TCA. Just seemed too acidic and out of balance. 500 cases Score: n/a Waiting to re-review Lot 36 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford, Napa Valley 13.8% ABV $14 Burgundy red, cloying nose with hints of green bell pepper and tar, a bit acidic, tart finish lacking much structure. Again, no sign of seepage at cork, but seemed overly acidic possibly from excessive heat somewhere in the process. 7,500 cases Score: n/a Waiting to re-review Lot 37 2006 Rosé of Garnacha Campo de Borja, Spain 14% ABV $10 Strawberry both in color and smell, minor post bottle fermentation upon opening, with a touch of glycerin that fades into a more balanced effort after 30 minutes. Decant and serve chilled about 10 minutes out of the fridge. Sealed with a Stelvin. 7,000 cases Score: 86 Pts Lot 38 2005 Shiraz Barossa Valley, Australia 100 Year Old Vines 15% ABV $20 Garnet red in color with a rich nose of blackberry, vanilla, anise, toasty oak, with gobs of fruit on the palate, a medium to full bodied mouthfeel and a rich lingering finish. Very good. (Twist cap used here as well.) 500 cases Score: 92 pts Lot 42 2005 Shiraz Barossa Valley, Australia 75 Year Old Vines 14.5% ABV $18 This beautiful red wine has a nice nose of strawberries, leather, and raspberry that lead into extracted notes of boysenberry and vanilla. A touch of glycerin, this wine is a bit off balance and hot, but that starts to dissipate with aeration. Still a fine effort. Stelvin closure used. 522 cases Score: 88 pts

If you check out the reviews on Cellar Tracker, that will give you a pretty decent idea of what the wine is like. From the first smell/sip, I was thinking THIS is what I was looking for - it just tasted "right" - I don't know how to explain it except I wouldn't change a thing in this wine.

Buy this wine! Rather than my usual dreary introduction, I thought I’d get to the point so you can head to a Costco that carries this or buy it online direct from the Cameron Hughes website. This one is a no-brainer, two-thumbs way up. Okay, here’s the particulars: the wine of this week was the 2006 Rosé of Gamacha, from the Campo de Borja region of Spain, sold as Cameron Hughes Lot 37. Gamacha is the same as Grenache. In case you aren’t familiar with Mr. Hughes’ operation, please click here and read up on it, because he’s putting some very good wines on the market at very good prices.

A great Grenache rose for $10 Friends and acquaintances give me bottles once in a while, and last night I opened up a 2006 Grenache Rose Campo De Borja. It's one of those Cameron Hughes Lot series wines (the rose is Lot 37). My editor's husband gave it to me several months ago and I thought it'd be just right for the turkey meatballs and garlic fries I was chowing down on. Boy was it: the spirit of watermelon Jolly Rancher without the sweetness. The wine even had a kick of white pepper and monstrous acidity that stood up to those fries without a hitch. Cameron Hugh Wines is constantly producing $10-bottles that taste like $20 or $30 bottles. They scour the globe for premium wines that are in oversupply but they never blackblend or alter the juice to make profit. What's more, they ship directly to their retailer (Costco) with no middle man. This allows them to cut about 66 percent off the retail price. Read about the process and where to find the wines at the Cameron Hughes Web site.

2006 Cameron Hughes Grenache Campo de Borja Lot 37 - Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja (3/6/2008) I cracked the screw top and poured. It gave off a compelling light ruby color, very clear and bright. On the nose, a floral bouquet with watermelon Jolly Rancher candies all day long, and a bowl of whole strawberries. The taste is of organic watermelons with the faintest pepper and rose petals... lots of rose petals. The wine is nearly dry, lightly tannic, and just the right, crisp side of tart. I've come to expect great things (at great prices) from Cameron Hughes, and this does not disappoint. It is a fine accompaniment to my roasted chicken legs tonight. A pleasing way to relax after a long day of work. This rosé has me looking forward to summer again. (90 pts.)

Cameron Hughes takes home five medals in the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits competition! BEST OF CLASS, GOLD MEDAL Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 35 Yountville District 2005 GOLD MEDAL Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 61 McLaren Vale 2006 SILVER MEDAL Chardonnay Lot 68 Margaret River 2007 SILVER MEDAL Malbec Lot 52 Valle de Uco, Mendoza 2006 SILVER MEDAL Rose Rose of Garnacha, Lot 37 Campo de Borja DO 2006

What rosés are you drinking? I had seen the Cameron Hughes Lot 37 wine mentioned in another rosé thread and I'll mention it here. I had one bottle from Costco for $8.99 and didn't think to open it before they sold out so when I tasted it I was deeply sad I didn't get a few more. I'm not so good with tasting notes but it went wonderfully with roast chicken. They've just recently got another pallet back at my store though! Lixer Jun 27, 2008 10:54AM

From Neighborhood Shop to National Chain They started out the old fashioned way. Working out of their home, they began traveling around Northern California and selling wine to small stores. People liked the wines, and the company began to grow. Cameron and Jess made a great team. Cameron knew wine. Jess had worked in marketing in fashion and with dot-coms. The real breakthrough came when the young couple worked a deal with Costco. The giant chain would buy entire lots and sell them to consumers at amazing prices – generally between $8 and $14 per bottle. When the wine was ready, Cameron and Jess shipped it to select Costco stores throughout the country (as there’s never really enough wine for all of the stores), where it generally sold out the week it arrived. Once Costco’s customers got to know the Cameron Hughes brand and understood that each new lot was going to be gone in a couple of days, the wines sold even faster. There’s one peculiar thing about the system. Consumers generally don’t know when a new wine will be arriving. (It is possible to get a heads-up from the company’s website, and wine fans can request to be added to the company’s email list). Most customers visit Costco every week and buy the wine when they see it. They don’t have a chance to taste the wine before they buy it, but they trust the Cameron Hughes brand, and they know the wine will be good. The company continues to grow and has begun to make wines available through new retailers in some markets. Rob Eddlemon, who heads the company’s Midwest and East Coast sales team and is based in Austin reports, “In Austin we are sold primarily through Costco, though Cost Plus World Market occasionally receives CHW Lot designations produced exclusively for them.” So be sure to look for Cameron Hughes Wines when you shop at Costco or World Market. Try a few bottles for yourself. And then put yourself on the Cameron Hughes email list.

August Cookie Dough Indulge in late summer with this array of warm-weather goodies and whimsical gifts. Bed of Roses Lot 37 2006 Grenache Rosé from Cameron Hughes Wine