2/22/2014 - Wildheart Likes this wine:

I have a few of these and the first two bottles were just too young. I gave this another try after a couple of years AND with a long decant of 3-4 hours. It was fantastic and the wine of the night. Much improved from last tasting where I only decanted for ~ 2 hours. I have a several more bottles and I am not sure if I want to open them all or keep them forever. Great wine!

12/25/2012 - Wildheart wrote:

Decided to open one for Christmas dinner. I had just read it was rated in the Top 100 so I figured great choice. However, something was definately wrong with it. It was sharp, peppery, and had a STRONG aftertaste. I double checked the cork and it looked fine. It has been kept in my wine cellar since delivery, so no issue there. Just a bad bottle I am guessing. I have a few more of these and may open another one early next year to see if the same issue occurs.

10/28/2012 - Wildheart wrote:

I really enjoyed this wine. I am glad I ordered a few bottles so I don't feel guilty opening another one soon. Great value and very approachable after a short decant. This and lot 285 have a lot in common and are excellent wines.

4/4/2012 - Wildheart wrote:

Gave this to a client as a celebration gift and they loved it. I did have a small amount the evening they opened it and this has stayed very consistent for me. In fact, I ordered more because every time I give it to a client they really enjoy it - as do I :). The nose is wonderful on pop and this time they had another couple of Cabs open (family party) and they all liked this one better! I use these as table wines or gifts and really enjoy this wine! It remains a great QPR!

3/21/2012 - Wildheart wrote:

Very good bottles to have with clients! I think this is a great value at Costco and will buy more and store.

3/15/2012 - Wildheart wrote:

Very good bottle brought to dinner with clients. They loved it! No detailed notes as it was a long evening but was the best wine of the night.

2/24/2012 - Wildheart wrote:

Didn't take detailed note but drank over two days, glass each night with my wife. It was a "good" wine that we enjoyed but certainly didn't knock me out. It was also definately waning on the 2nd night. Perhaps it would of stood out in contrast to something else but to me was good but not good QPR.

12/29/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

Remains very good. I did pop and pour with very little decanting but overall this is a solid wine. I am glad to have a couple more and will try to hold off, but I enjoy the QPR on this one.

12/27/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

Opened at a Christmas party and let it sit, decanting for 2+ hours. It had a lot of heat and clearly wasn't ready. I even used a Vinturi which helped but still wasn't knocked out. The wine was good, but I was expecting more. I have more bottles and I will put them up and forget about them for a bit. Maybe later in 2012 try again.

12/4/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

Great nose, almost overripe a bit. I was prepared for a syrupy experience yet it was very good in the mouth. I decanted about 1.5-3 hours from start to finish. I didn't notice a huge increase in quality of that span. Tannins smoothed out but were definately there. Overall, a very good wine but finishes behind CH 300 which has more complexity too it. Don't get me wrong, this wine was delicious and is a solid 90 for me but I am not sure how the ripe nose and fruit will. Young but may be an early and very enjoyable drinker.

12/4/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

Brought this and another CH Tempranillo (Flying Winemaker) over to a client tasting party. There was some local (Temecula) Tempranillos there among others. I was pleasantly surprised this got WOTN in a blind tasting! This is the first time I had this and overall it was very good. I wasn't knocked out of my seat but was very dark, solid tannins (more time would be good), medium in the mouth, shorter finish. I lost my more detailed tasting notes but 4 out of 6 picked this as #1 wine for the night. For $24 a bottle though, I might go with a nice Napa Cab as my personal preference :).

12/4/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

Wow after reviews, I was scared of this one! I brought this and another Tempranillo (CH 263) to a clients house as my two tasting bottles. It went up against several other Tempranillos and actually finished 2nd in blind tasting. It lost out to Lot 263 but not by much. Both were good table wines that everyone enjoyed and tasting them blind was a challenge. Overall this one had just a little too much goopy sweetness at the finish. But standalone, very enjoyable and at this price a good deal. I have one left and will put away for a few.

12/4/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

Brought over as a gift for a client and they opened right away. Tasted a lot of citrus which was intriguing on the first sips. I was really prepared to like it but is just seem to fall flat in the glass for me OR I am just not a big fan of Sauvignon Blancs. I don't drink them often and as I worked to finish a 3/4 glass I liked less and less. My client, who likes Blancs said she liked it quite a bit but was a "good Tangy". I have one more bottle of this, and I imagine it will make a great present for a client who likes Blancs!

12/4/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

I took three bottles as a wine tasting for clients 2 for tasting and 1 for a gift. Overally, this is a very silky wine that ended up finishing 2nd for the night. The nose was wonderful upon opening and we decanted one bottle for 2 hours and the other we used the Vinturi and and pretty much popped and poured. I have to say, very remarkable wine and consistent. Overall, the Vinturi poured wine that also sat in the decanter for 1.5 hours of tasting was the best and more open. Very good wine and left you wanting more - winner at this price point! Tannins are solid but not overwhelming and fruit is delicious. It definately has a little more complexity to it than the CH 303 but I will taste them again soon!

11/19/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

Honestly, I was expecting more on this one. I have a couple more bottles and will put them away for a year or two and try again. Sorry, lost my tasting notes I made but while it was not terrible, it didn't beat an $18 Napa Cab. I let it sit in the decanter for 2-3 hours.

11/7/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

Opened a couple more bottles for a get together and my notes are pretty consistent from earlier. Nice wine to share with people - it is very good. but not stellar. I have several hits with Cameron Hughes, this is a miss for me.

11/1/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

Honestly, was hoping for more after having some great experience with lot 211 and 218. This wasn't bad, but never seemed to improve even with decanting, etc. Pretty one-dimensional for me.

10/18/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

I had to take my last two bottles of this to a friends get together. I wish I had saved one for a couple of years from now. This is a solid, enjoyable wine. I made sure I used a vinturi to pour into a decanter and was able to let it sit for an hour. Once poured, the first sip got several great comments that you love to hear - "Wow, this is REALLY good". I pretty much try different Cameron Hughes as my table wines and as a great comparision against other wines when tasting. They seem to offer great value and rarely am I disappointed. At anywhere between $14-$19, the wines tend to be great bargains. I only have one bottle of lot 218 left (very good) which I WILL put away for a couple of years!

10/10/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

It was a special day, so I finally decided to open this one up! My wife and I had for our 12th anniversary and it was delicious. I gave it about 2.5 hours in the decanter. The wine had a great full body, no heat, and wonderful structure through the finish. I only have one bottle left so I am very glad I have more coming this November!

9/9/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

90+ I really like this Cameron Hughes and 211 as well. Opened this the other night, let it decant for about 1.5 hours and was wonderful. It only got better over the next couple of hours with the last glass being the best. So suggest a nice 2+ hour decant to enjoy it the most.

7/21/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

Very nice wine and I think a great value at $17. My wife and I had it with some casual dinner and I am taking my last glass now into the jacuzzi. Very closed upon popping, so used Vinturi for half glass and decanted the rest for about 2 hours. Wine has opened up and is excellent!

7/16/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

Nose was delicious with fruit. I didn't have the chance to decant as we shared this wonderful nectar with family over a dinner. It was a special occasion and this was a special bottle of wine. Everyone said it was the wine of the night! Deep color and fantastic balance. I bet a 94 was possible with a little hour of decanting.

7/5/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

88 - Very good wine. Solid performer and my company really enjoyed it.

6/4/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

This was the first blend I have had for a while and we liked it quite a bit. It was enjoyable and great bottle to share with friends. I would buy again.

6/4/2011 - Wildheart wrote:

I enjoyed the nose on this one but it quickly became a bit too much strong fruit after resting open a bit. Overall, not a bad wine but wife and I both agreed it was a bit like drinking syrup. I probably won't buy this one again for this vintage.