Smart Bombs and Cellar Treasures: Cameron Hughes Lots 444 & 469
Wednesday, November 9th, 2016 Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Cellar Treasures, Cheap and Red, Merlot, Napa, Unknown! | 1 Comment »Twenty-some years ago we all watched astounded on CNN as a war halfway around the world displayed some shocking technology: The Smart Bomb. Our grandfathers dropped dumb bombs on each other, and it resulted in entire cities being destroyed when ...
A big, peppery kiss on the mouth: 2011 Result Of A Crush
Sunday, October 30th, 2016 Posted in Cheap and Red, Syrah, Walla Walla, Washington State | No Comments »My most recent gig had me traveling a lot over the past year. So much so that I'm one flight away from "gold status" on my airline of choice, and only half my flights were with them this year. I ...
Dumas Station 2012 Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Wednesday, October 12th, 2016 Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Cellar Treasures, Walla Walla, Washington State | No Comments »Dumas Station is one of my personal treasures in the wine world. I stumbled upon them at a local eatery in my small town. By habit I tend to scroll right past the standard reds right to the "interesting reds" ...
Go-to Tempranillo: 2001 Faustino I Gran Reserva Rioja
Thursday, September 22nd, 2016 Posted in Cellar Treasures, Cheap and Red, Spain, Tempranillo | No Comments »In 2009 I discovered this classic Rioja via a segment on the radio show/podcast "Tasting with Tom" when he had a guest from bestwinesonline.com, now known as the Wine Exchange. I bought two bottles based on the review and the ...
Likely to live, or likely to die? Cameron Hughes Lot 513 “Triage” Red Blend
Monday, September 19th, 2016 Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Cheap and Red, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Unknown! | No Comments »An anonymous red blend from a negociant, with zero data on the label of what may lie within… what could possibly go wrong? Looking at the bottle you slip into your own form of triage… Buy? Discard? Run away? Buy my ...
Roads less traveled… Cameron Hughes Lot 524, 2013 Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
Thursday, September 15th, 2016 Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Central Coast, Cheap and Red | No Comments »I like to drive. A lot. Unless I have a tight schedule to keep, I actually drive for most of my trips, both business and pleasure. It's not that I'm afraid to fly... far from it. I grew up the son ...
You win some, you lose some…
Thursday, September 15th, 2016 Posted in Argentina, Cabernet Franc, Cheap and Red | No Comments »Sometimes I'm a sucker. I fall for things that seem too good to be true. The used car that blows a head gasket 300 miles after I buy it. The promises some asshole boss makes. Or in this case, a ...
Cheap wine, cheap hotels, what could possibly go wrong? Ghost Signs 2011 Central Coast Petite Sirah
Sunday, August 28th, 2016 Posted in California, Cheap and Red, Paso Robles, Petite Sirah | No Comments »Several of you may have noticed, your humble author changed jobs and moved a few years back. That job impacted my ability to write for this blog on a regular basis. In many ways it kept me so busy that ...
Cameron Hughes Lot 458, Paso Robles Petite Sirah
Monday, August 15th, 2016 Posted in California, Cheap and Red, Paso Robles, Petite Sirah | 1 Comment »As all of you know, I LOVE Petite Sirah. I also love that American négociant Cameron Hughes. He sells high-quality stuff at VERY reasonable prices. He doesn't do Petite Sirah very often, but when he does it is usually great (not ...
Cameron Hughes Lot 460, 2013 Oakville Napa Valley Merlot
Thursday, August 4th, 2016 Posted in California, Cellar Treasures, Cheap and Red, Merlot, Napa, Uncategorized | No Comments »Merlot may have suffered a bit sales ways from a single throw-away punchline in Sideways, but as a varietal it remains one of the Crown Jewels of Bordeaux, and it's North American outpost of Napa Valley. For a bargain-hunting gourmand ...
