HI Scott - try the '12 cabs - any of 501, 525, 535, 545. You won’t be disappointed. If you are let me know and we’ll make it right one way or another. These are only available at http://www.chwine.com
Lot 555 Napa Valley Cabernet (mostly Rutherford fruit with a bot of Oakville, Yountville, and Coombsville fruit) will go to Costco (just NorCal and SD regions as we don’t have a but a few thousand cases) later this month early next month.
Cheers!
Cameron
Cameron, will any of the other 2012s be available at Costco?
Hi Chris - a few in NorCal recently had the '12 St Helena Cab Lot 432 but nothing other than the Lot 555 will go in (maybe some Spring Mtn in Dec).
The other Lots are far too small - I’ll sell everything I have by December.
Cameron
A few of you have been asking about trying a bunch of wines before committing buying cases. I’ve created a coupon BERSERK
(just enter at checkout) that will give you 10% off and free shipping on six bottles or more anywhere in continental US. This will allow you to select and taste what we have available before committing to cases.
Cheers!
Cameron
Can I still blame your wife?
Alright, just ordered 6. We’ll see how it goes 
Scott
My quick notes on 515 posted above, tonight we opened 501, and my advice is WAIT!!! Drink 515 now, give 501 some time, as it is very, very oaky, and seems disjointed. The goods are there, while not perhaps as rich in weight and mouthfeel as 515 (could happen later, though), but it’s just not ready, in my opinion. Saving the rest for tomorrow to continue the experiment, see if it gets better.
Shoot. This was one of the ones I ordered yesterday. I’m looking for one that’s ready to drink now to get a sense of the quality vs. earlier bottlings. Which of the others should I try drinking up when I get them?
I also ordered the white meritage which looked quite interesting.
Scott
drink these (501, 515) relatively cool too. the 15+% alcohol is apparent.
Alright, these things got here at warp speed. Which should I drink tonight? It sounds like I should wait on the 501.
Lot 406 2012 Red Hen Ranch, Oak Knoll District Meritage 1
Lot 437 2012 Napa Valley White Meritage 1
Lot 501 2012 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1
Lot 525 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1
Lot 535 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1
Lot 545 2012 Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon
Thanks
Scott
Ok I’ve now tried the following cabs.
Lot 545 2012 Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon
Lot 535 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1
Lot 525 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1
Lot 501 2012 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1
I would say these are markedly better than the CH wines I had in the past, albeit at a higher price point. At 20% off they are about $23. All of them are on the ripe side, no doubt. They all spoke definitively of Cab Sauvignon (possible exception of 535), which was an issue I had with earlier wines.
The 545 might have been the ripest, but it also pulled of the ripeness most successfully. I thought it was delicious for that style. I didn’t get much in the way of structure from my bottle. Just good and I’d buy more.
The 535 was strange. I did not enjoy it. It was quite ripe but seemed overly so. It had a burnt rubber quality to it that I found in the 2007 Tenuta Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Il Bruciato. I thought it might have been syrah in the Bruciato at the time, but maybe it was overly ripe merlot? I have no idea if the 535 has merlot or syrah in it, but this one I did not like.
The 525 was quite good. Less ripe. Perhaps the least ripeness of the bunch. Good acidity and tannin. Not overbearing as it was easily drinkable now, but this one seemed like it might continue to improve for a couple years. I would buy more of this.
The 501 was similar to the 525 in terms of ripeness and structure. I cannot for the life of me remember which of the two I preferred. I would buy more of this too.
Thanks
Scott
Whoops I forgot that I liked that Meritage (406) too. Sort of bordeaux-esque in a distinctly CA style. Solid and outstanding for the price ($15 after 20% discount).
Scott
Scott - I too ordered a sampler of the above. I thought the 535 was good, but a little thin. Agreed that the 545 was fruit forward (my wife’s favorite). 501 has lots of potential…too early. My sleeper was 421 (Triage red blend). QPR was stellar.
A few recent tastes…
392 - St. Joseph Syrah - well balanced. just enough earth, good fruit and acidity.
394 - Dry Creek Meritage - mostly merlot. super clean fruit. definitely not super structured but there is just enough acidity to carry it. The nose is just terrific. A lot of fruit sweetness here rather than sugar/barrel sweetness.
432 - Cab. meh. spoofed. overly sweet. not recommended
I, too, was surprised by the quality of Triage–Lot 421. Some good juice in there . . .
Alright then I’ll try the triage. Maybe one of the 555s too unless someone has tasted it.
That’s interesting about the 535 being thin. It sounds differnt than my experience. It was sort of unctuous and cloying and rubbery to me. Ah well bottle variation
Thanks
Scott
Just saw that the Lot 555 Napa Cab was released . . . any thoughts?
Just bought a couple of mixed cases of Cam’s 2012 Cabs. I still believe, however, that the best single value/deal on his website isn’t a 2012 Cab. There is a wine for sale on site that is from a 100pt producer!!! Same vines/team, different year.
Ordered a few of the 500-Lot CS to try out. Popped the 535 first after seeing the lukewarm comments here. I’m not sure I noted any thin-ness or burnt rubber. It was a big mouthful of dark fruit and coffee with a long finish. Did it taste like Napa cab? I drink so little Napa cab, I’m honestly not sure. Reminded me most closely of some of the Columbia Crest CS I used to drink. No problems finishing the bottle.
I suspect this wine would be a real crowdpleaser, but I’m not a re-purchaser even at $25.
FWIW, I’ve liked my limited exposure to the Cameron Hughes lineup. Previous Napa Meritages and Merlot have been good bottles and fine values at $17 or so.
Hey Scott - thanks for giving these whirl. Sounds like overall successful but I would add that with three months in the bottle these wines are hardly showing - I anticipate more complexity to come and certainly better bouquet and palate complexity with a couple more months of bottle time. The fact that 545 seemed devoid of structure underscores how young and awkward these are…that wine has plenty of stuffing IMHO. Lot 535 is really lush and ripe being from warmer Calistoga plus there is 14.5% merlot and another 6% PV - I get coffee though from lots of new oak (about 70%), not burnt rubber.
Cheers!
Cameron