TN: Cameron Hughes Lot 141

WINE TALK
1

2007 San Luis Obispo Chard.

This one has us perplexed. We cannot agree if we like it because it does not contain anything that typically annoys us in Cali chard, OR because we actually think it’s good!

My first comments on the wine were “it’s a burg”. Mineral, no oak, no malo, some lemon/lemon zest and white peach.

As the wine opens we continue to go to “chabils” as our dominant opinion.

The wine has good mouthfeel, lingering finish, low alcohol and finishes with a touch of heat/white pepper.

We lament the fact we do not have a pile of stone crab claws to pair with this.

At 10 bucks -we’re long, perhaps mutli-case long to fend off the soccer moms that only ‘drink chard’. We have emailed Cameron and asked to rename this wine “Cougar Repellent” in that it has no oak. However, much to our chagrin, we agree there is nothing wrong with cougars.

Well done, at 10 it’s a steal if you like chablis.

2

Okay,
we’re an hour into this wine and it continues to impress.

We really are happy with this wine and convinced Cameron has slipped us a mickey

Quick question for wine drinkers out there. We feel that there is ‘something’ on the finish of this wine. My first thought was RS - but we’ve come to the conclusion that is not it. What would make a chard finish in such a way that the fruit doesn’t really fade, it kind of ‘pops’ on the way out. Since this is a new finish for both of us, who have had our share of wine, we continue to contemplate if this wine is spoofilated!

3

Ok, this is pretty good stuff. I agree with everything Mr. Freeman(:)) has said except maybe there’s some partial malo and used oak barrel treatment? I dunno…it’s a very dense mouthfeel, as if there’s lots of malo & oak treatment, but none of the cloying creaminess or oakyness on the palate. It kind of throws you off guard. Also, not even the slightest hint of alcohol(13.9%), even at room temp.

The finish really is hard to pinpoint. My closest guess is it tastes like GooGone, the cleaner, but not in a bad way. Maybe like some room temp concentrated OJ & Apple Juice? Again, not in a bad way, but I think it’s Orangy & slightly chemically. Maybe like a bruised apple? It’s really hard to figure out.

At any rate, seek this out. Awesome for $10. Better slightly chilled, the mouthfeel gets too dense at room temp.

4

I have to say that is one of the oddest TNs I’ve read “but not in a bad way.” [smileyvault-ban.gif] neener

5

Not only that but going on the CH website I find I can’t even buy my very own GooGone Chardonnay. Such a tease.

6

I agree with everything Mr. Freeman(:))

flirtysmile [rofl.gif]

7

Crap. I had this wine last weekend and enjoyed it as much as Chris. I figured I had plenty of time to go back for more.

8

Coincidentally, some just arrived that I had forgotten I had ordered. Gotta love my little surprise gifts to myself :slight_smile:

9

The local costco has a pallet of this in now, so I picked up a couple of bottles. My notes from last night are pretty consistent with the ones Mr. Freeman and I originally published. The wine has settled down a bit and the odd finish we originally noted wasn’t evident. Going to pick up a case today. Having tasted a number of CH’s wines on release and then again after six months, we really do need to let these sit for a while. I know his business model is to release early, but it really would pay to let them sit for a while after you purchase.

10

I was there last week and picked up a couple of cases also. Can’t go wrong for $10