Chocolate covered raspberries and cherries is the first impression. Unfortunately, that initial taste is not supported and the rest of the taste experience isn't quite as pleasant -- lots of acid and rough tannins, with a medium finish that was rather bitter. Paired with a heavy sauced dish (like pasta with sausage or bbq ribs?) this might be OK, but it was way too out of balance for me with lighter flavors. Without food, it was downright unpleasant.
Addendum: Seldom do I need to modify a note, but the second night of this wine (same bottle) was so dramatically different, I feel I should. Literally all of the acid and tannins had integrated or dissipated, and the experience wad markedly different. Same flavors without the unpleasant bitterness and jarring tannic kick. Raised the rating from 78 to 85.
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- Brick color and aromas of blackberry. It's unbalanced and has flavours of blackberry with a medium/full body. Round texture with a medium finish - Can't say I agree with the other CT comments on this one. This still has a ton of life in it for a 2005 Shiraz, but the flavor profile is off for me. Super sour cherry mixed with pepper and a big hit of acidity. It's not an easy drinker so I suggest you pair it with a steak or a dark chocolate cake to make it go down smoother.
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For $16CDN, it's really hard to go wrong with this wine. Pure soft fruit, great aromatics (likely helped along by the 10% Viognier in the mix) and a satisfying finish. Again, value and Cameron Hughes are going hand in hand.
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Decanted for about 1 hour and evidently not enough. Nice flavors but got an unpleasant bitterness on the finish. Put it away and brought it out the next day, much better. Black currant, milk chocolate, and a bit of white pepper on the nose. Sweet and tangy fruit up front. Fruit subsides to oak and a bit of earth on the mid palate and ends with a salted fruit and oak finish.
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Really not as bomby as I was expecting, quite good. Blackberries and coconut, but very under control with good structure. Not complex, but tastes great. Definitely a great wine for the new red wine drinker. Probably the least scary "fruit bomb" I've had. I picked it up for 5 bucks, so it's fantastic for that price.
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Very Good and Excellent QPR. Very forward and fruit forward. very smooth. I'll pick up a few more bottles at this price. Not an ageable wine but good for a couple years in the cellar.
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nice nose smoke, cedar,blackberry. palate is fruitty,still a little young. let sit open for a few hours and it opened up quite a bit. i have my steaks marinading in it with some rosemary,onions, and garlic can't wait to start grilling it.
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Old world, not new world here. Fruit definately not dominant, leather and graphite dominating the palate, reminded me of some of the woodsier southern rhone wines, but not as good. Am I really drinking the same thing that the other reviewers are drinking, or has my bottle just been cooked a touch??
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Intense purple with concentrated sour cherries, blackberry jam, wood smoke, and a bit of soy sauce fragrance on the nose. Big on the palate but just soft enough to be drinkable right now. Long and interesting finish. Nuanced and delicious. I have to admit that at this point I'm completely sold on the Shiraz/Viognier blend. This rates with $20-$25 Aussie Shiraz that I've had. Excellent.
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Nice full bodied Aussie Shiraz. Definitely comparable to wines in this price range and even a little higher. I have come to depend on Cameron Hughes for solid value wines. This didn't disappoint.
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I've had $20+ bottles of Shiraz that weren't as good as this. A real eye opener. Given our frequent trips to Costco it's safe to say we will be placing more than 1 bottle of Cameron Hughes 'Lot' wines in the cart from now on. This will help the wine budget too.
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An excellent Barossa Valley Shiraz. 10% Viognier. Dark purple in color, nose of dark berries and cherries. Medium-full palate of black cherry and oak. Firm tannins. Smooth lingering finish. Good value. A very enjoyable introduction to Cameron Hughes.
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This bottle did more for me upon open and seemed to lose its potency over time. For the first hour anyway, I was really pleased with the balanced, berry dominant palate. The color was also very satisfying - deep plum. Will try other Hughes' wines bc this was a good start.
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Really nice fruit -- cherries, hints of cranberry and dried strawberries and blueberries. Decent structure, would benefit from decanting. A nice everyday drinker.
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Opened and poured into a decanter for about 15 minutes, the color of this Shiraz is deep dark purple in the glass, on the nose dark cherry, blackberry and spice. In the mouth this is a very big wine with blackberry and tart cherry the tannins are in the right balance; this wine ended with a nice 20-second+ finish. This is a Shiraz that can be enjoyed alone or would stand up well to a steak. I am really looking forward to this wines Big Brother Lot 38. Drinking fine now I don't think age will make this any better.
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11/19/2011 - ruffem wrote: 85 Points
Chocolate covered raspberries and cherries is the first impression. Unfortunately, that initial taste is not supported and the rest of the taste experience isn't quite as pleasant -- lots of acid and rough tannins, with a medium finish that was rather bitter. Paired with a heavy sauced dish (like pasta with sausage or bbq ribs?) this might be OK, but it was way too out of balance for me with lighter flavors. Without food, it was downright unpleasant.
Addendum: Seldom do I need to modify a note, but the second night of this wine (same bottle) was so dramatically different, I feel I should. Literally all of the acid and tannins had integrated or dissipated, and the experience wad markedly different. Same flavors without the unpleasant bitterness and jarring tannic kick. Raised the rating from 78 to 85.
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6/26/2011 - wpiers wrote: 87 Points
Nice expression of Barossa Shiraz. Lots of berry, fruit, smooth mouthfeel. Good pricepoint.
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4/20/2011 - redwinefan wrote: 82 Points
- Brick color and aromas of blackberry. It's unbalanced and has flavours of blackberry with a medium/full body. Round texture with a medium finish - Can't say I agree with the other CT comments on this one. This still has a ton of life in it for a 2005 Shiraz, but the flavor profile is off for me. Super sour cherry mixed with pepper and a big hit of acidity. It's not an easy drinker so I suggest you pair it with a steak or a dark chocolate cake to make it go down smoother.
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2/26/2011 - absolutvodka wrote: 85 Points
For the money its a decebt bottle of wine.
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12/18/2010 - pvetsch wrote: 87 Points
For $16CDN, it's really hard to go wrong with this wine. Pure soft fruit, great aromatics (likely helped along by the 10% Viognier in the mix) and a satisfying finish. Again, value and Cameron Hughes are going hand in hand.
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10/30/2010 - DCSteve wrote: 89 Points
One of the best $12 bottles of wine. Too bad it's all gone!
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6/28/2010 - gard0g wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for about 1 hour and evidently not enough. Nice flavors but got an unpleasant bitterness on the finish. Put it away and brought it out the next day, much better. Black currant, milk chocolate, and a bit of white pepper on the nose. Sweet and tangy fruit up front. Fruit subsides to oak and a bit of earth on the mid palate and ends with a salted fruit and oak finish.
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6/18/2010 - mocamro Likes this wine: 84 Points
84 - Good
offers strong value at $5...some big, black fruits, but there is some restraint, and a rusticity that offers some character
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4/4/2010 - Johannes.knops@xjtlu.edu.cn wrote: 90 Points
spicy, pipery, drinking great
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3/27/2010 - Acohen wrote: 88 Points
Not overpowering with nice red fruit but didn't last for second day
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3/9/2010 - ironmics wrote: 89 Points
Really not as bomby as I was expecting, quite good. Blackberries and coconut, but very under control with good structure. Not complex, but tastes great. Definitely a great wine for the new red wine drinker. Probably the least scary "fruit bomb" I've had. I picked it up for 5 bucks, so it's fantastic for that price.
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2/25/2010 - Johannes.knops@xjtlu.edu.cn wrote:
party no notes
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1/18/2009 - Rynoh wrote: 91 Points
Even better than I remembered. Great, smooth fruit bomb.
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10/18/2008 - bobohansen wrote: 91 Points
Very Good and Excellent QPR. Very forward and fruit forward. very smooth. I'll pick up a few more bottles at this price. Not an ageable wine but good for a couple years in the cellar.
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4/13/2008 - LVwino wrote: 88 Points
nice nose smoke, cedar,blackberry. palate is fruitty,still a little young. let sit open for a few hours and it opened up quite a bit. i have my steaks marinading in it with some rosemary,onions, and garlic can't wait to start grilling it.
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4/11/2008 - noofie2 wrote: 90 Points
Intense, dark colored, tannic wine with cedary, eucalyptus fruit flavors. Almost late harvest like in its intensity.
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3/30/2008 - dom418 wrote: 90 Points
Thick, jammy nose.. good solid fruit. Full-bodied shiraz, very smooth & pleasnt mouthfeel. Great QPR.
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3/28/2008 - Johannes.knops@xjtlu.edu.cn wrote: 90 Points
Very nice, dark cherry, tannic, a hint of coffeee. A bit hot when I first opened it, but improved in the next hour. Might age nicely for a while.
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3/15/2008 - R-T wrote: 84 Points
Old world, not new world here. Fruit definately not dominant, leather and graphite dominating the palate, reminded me of some of the woodsier southern rhone wines, but not as good. Am I really drinking the same thing that the other reviewers are drinking, or has my bottle just been cooked a touch??
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2/10/2008 - Salvatore wrote: 95 Points
Excellent Wine, need to buy some more.
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1/23/2008 - jfp wrote: 89 Points
Intense purple with concentrated sour cherries, blackberry jam, wood smoke, and a bit of soy sauce fragrance on the nose. Big on the palate but just soft enough to be drinkable right now. Long and interesting finish. Nuanced and delicious. I have to admit that at this point I'm completely sold on the Shiraz/Viognier blend. This rates with $20-$25 Aussie Shiraz that I've had. Excellent.
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11/28/2007 - rloomis wrote: 82 Points
lots of burned coffee and blk cherry -- then more coffee. kind of a cherry + kahlua alc finish
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11/4/2007 - EhrlichDY wrote: 86 Points
Nice full bodied Aussie Shiraz. Definitely comparable to wines in this price range and even a little higher. I have come to depend on Cameron Hughes for solid value wines. This didn't disappoint.
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11/3/2007 - MBrown wrote: 89 Points
I've had $20+ bottles of Shiraz that weren't as good as this. A real eye opener. Given our frequent trips to Costco it's safe to say we will be placing more than 1 bottle of Cameron Hughes 'Lot' wines in the cart from now on. This will help the wine budget too.
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10/31/2007 - Acohen wrote: 89 Points
Very nice aroma with the touch of floral nose from the Viognier. Not overpowering for a shiraz with good red fruit and a medium finish.
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10/20/2007 - BrandrB wrote: 87 Points
An excellent Barossa Valley Shiraz. 10% Viognier. Dark purple in color, nose of dark berries and cherries. Medium-full palate of black cherry and oak. Firm tannins. Smooth lingering finish. Good value. A very enjoyable introduction to Cameron Hughes.
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10/5/2007 - pgb67 wrote: 89 Points
This bottle did more for me upon open and seemed to lose its potency over time. For the first hour anyway, I was really pleased with the balanced, berry dominant palate. The color was also very satisfying - deep plum. Will try other Hughes' wines bc this was a good start.
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10/4/2007 - Loweeel wrote: 89 Points
Really nice fruit -- cherries, hints of cranberry and dried strawberries and blueberries. Decent structure, would benefit from decanting. A nice everyday drinker.
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9/21/2007 - neurovino wrote: 87 Points
I thought this was a bit thin. I let it open for two hours. The flavor was okay, but the finish was brief. I preferred Lots 40-42.
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7/28/2007 - Seanr7 wrote: 89 Points
Opened and poured into a decanter for about 15 minutes, the color of this Shiraz is deep dark purple in the glass, on the nose dark cherry, blackberry and spice. In the mouth this is a very big wine with blackberry and tart cherry the tannins are in the right balance; this wine ended with a nice 20-second+ finish. This is a Shiraz that can be enjoyed alone or would stand up well to a steak. I am really looking forward to this wines Big Brother Lot 38. Drinking fine now I don't think age will make this any better.
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