Cameron Hughes wine for RadCru.

Cameron Hughes wine for RadCru. – Episode #176

February 5, 2007

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Today Gary tastes a wine for radcru.com, yeah thats right, Gary reviews a wine from a competitor. Sit back and enjoy this review(I hope he pans it ) of a Stellenbosch Merlot.

97 Responses

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February 6, 2007

LPapi
For gnarlyoak… Welcome Lurker No More! I’ve noticed that people don’t really welcome people when they said they have “lurked” for x amount of weeks. Well, I know how Gary (although not recently) usually cries out for Lurkers to come out and I encourage the same. The interaction on these posts make this whole experience that much more interesting and fun.
Question: Gary, is it true that for every hour you decant a wine, it equals the same number in years of aging… while it opens?
February 6, 2007

Henry
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! WINE!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! WINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST GETS ME SO PUMPPPPPED!!!!!!! OOOOOOOHHHHHH YAHHHHHH!!!!!! I’VE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT WINE FOR 7 MONTHS AND IT MAKES ME SO EXCITED!!!! WOOOOO!!!!!!! WINE IS ART AND CULTURE AND LANGUAGE AND CHEMISTRY AND LOVE AND HORTICULTURE AND AMAZING MAZING MAZZZZING! WHO ELSE IS PUMMMMMPPED ABOUT SUCH A WONDERFUL CREATION OF HUMANKIND!!!! WOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! WINE! WINE! WINE ! WINE! W! I! N! E! I CAN FEEL MY NOSE AND PALATTE EVOLVING, BABY! ITS GAMETIME BABY! HELL YEAH! WOOOOOOOOOO!
February 6, 2007

Trish da' Dish
Bond. James Bond. I love Ian Fleming’s novel, “From Russia, With Love.”

I also love the term, “glasnost.”

And who can forget Rachmaninoff’s beautiful and, apparently, maddening 2nd Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 (a.k.a Rock II) and Alexander Pushkin’s wonderful writing (and his scandalous love life)….and, in more recent history, Ms Hot Thang’ tennis star Maria Sharapova (just throwing a bone to all of you adoring guys on this forum). And the language is so beautiful to hear spoken, as well.

Russia does it with style–One day when I can afford it, I hope to finally visit the place that has produced so much wonderful literature and music and (most importantly passion!!!
February 6, 2007

tarheel17
Kudos to you, Gary, for tasting a ‘competitor’s’ wine.
Also, since I’m going to S Africa, I appreciate the advanced knowledge on what to expect when I get there. Thanks for doing my dirty work.
QOTD: the saying, ‘I have to pee like a Russian racehorse.” What the hell does that mean, anyway? Can you enlighten me? Do Russian racehorses drink more wine than American racehorses?
February 5, 2007

dealbhadair
…correction on #66…(just listened to the song) “…place worth living in.”
February 5, 2007

dealbhadair
Well, that was worthwhile, Shotgun. Quite an intellect you have there.
February 5, 2007

dealbhadair
QOTD: Got a couple of great 80’s music references… (1) Sting – Dream of the Blue Turtles – Russians, “I hope the Russians love their children, too.” (2) Genesis – Invisible Touch – Land of Confusion, “…make it a world worth living in.” (esp. the video).
February 5, 2007

Shotgun
This episode sucked. Either keep it up or give it up.
February 5, 2007

SteviefreakinD
The Macho Man Randy Savage rules!!!!!! OHHHHH Yeah!!!!!
February 5, 2007

Vinacull
Top 62! I’m never in this early. Interesting little episode Gary. Loved the 3-count on Hulk.
February 5, 2007

ChrisR
That was a very odd episode. I got the feeling that you didn’t like this wine very much but politically felt conflicted about giving it 86 or 87 points. Lots of heat, bitter tannins, maybe it will get better by 2010? In a normal episode you would have given this a PAZZZZZ pass. You looked nervous and were scrambling for something nice to say about it. Hmmmmm.
February 5, 2007

ChuckW
Tom Cruise’s 1 finger salute to the Russians in TOP GUN. Upside down at Mach 1. Goodness, Gracious Great Balls of Fire!
February 5, 2007

leatherpalate
QOD= The movie “Reds” Great great flick.
February 5, 2007

Darlene O.
Hey, Gary, nice episode!! QOD: ‘The Saint’, with Val Kilmer, some of it filmed in Russia. LOVE that movie…
February 5, 2007

Dale Cruse
QOTD: “Do you believe in miracles?!” I’m going with “The Miracle on Ice.”
February 5, 2007

E
Things you learn on the road:

1) I’ve run across Cameron Hughes in Texas as well … thought he was just working with California grapes though, didn’t know he was worldwide.

2) Yakov Smirnoff has a place in Branson. In fact, I think he lives there.

QOD: since all of the good ones appear to be taken, give me either Fischer-Spassky (the first one, before Bobby went completely insane) or that Frankie Goes to Hollywood video with Reagan and Chernenko knocking each other around.
February 5, 2007

R/Eason
I dream of Jeannie… just promise that you’ll think about it!
R/Eason
February 5, 2007

Dmjperc
QOTD:

The Space Race!!! Movie–”The Right Stuff”
February 5, 2007

PattyO
The Cameron Hughes folks didn’t waste any time tagging onto the GV “thumbs-up” (from the CH web site)
Latest CHWine News
02.07 Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library TV gives big thumbs up to Lot 19! Click to watch
February 5, 2007

PattyO
Gary-the deal with you dad’s cell phone was BEYOND bizarre?! Of all the things that could have bumped into your leg in the ocean…
(your dad must have a cell-phone-angel)
February 5, 2007

PattyO
The Cameron Hughes story is very intriguing – and unique. So far, his wines are only offered by the Costco stores on west coast and just recently in Chicago. There’s a FANTASTIC interview with Cameron, podcast, from late last summer by Hungry Magazine (out of Chicago). http://www.hungrymag.com/2006/08/18/cheap-wine-oh-so-fine/
Here’s a little bit from the interviewer:
“This week I sit down with Cameron Hughes, the man some folks are dubbing the robin hood of wine. Hughes owns no vineyards, makes no wine, but he has an inside connection to some of the best wineries that do. The way the model works is many top wineries produce wine that either doesnâ€™t fit in to their profile or they make too much of a wine. Thatâ€™s where Hughes steps in. He buys up the excess lots and then markets them under his own label and sells them direct on his website or through Costco. Because Hughes bypasses traditional middle men and marketing fees, heâ€™s able to offer incredible wines for about $10 bucks.
February 5, 2007

Rich S
I am actually on the RadCru mailing list but I have yet to order anything from them. I also have actually had a wine from Stellenbosch but it was a merlot/cab blend. I thought it was pretty good for the money.

I Fight for ME, FOR ME!!!!!!! – Ivan Drago
February 5, 2007

waibeans
Tangaroa..

YES!!!!! good call, considering all of us here are very interested in “preserving our fluids”
February 5, 2007

John Blue Label
Still not a Merlot fan, so I won’t seek that one out.
QOTD: So many good references above: Pres. Reagan to Gorbachev #1. Al Michaels “Miracles” #2. the other ones listed above are good, but pale in comparison.
February 5, 2007

JimB
Paul McCartney live in Red Square. Great music plus history.