WTN: Blast from the Past

[Jenise]

2018 Cameron Hughes Charbono Lot 726 Calistoga
Neighbor's tasting pour over the fence: Paint-stripping blue fruit much like tannat makes the case for why 50 years ago this grape was grown in Napa but used more for blending than appreciated as a stand-alone variety. A fun curiosity, but wouldn't be a buyer.

[David M. Bueker]

Some of the old BV Charbono (e.g. 1968) has been amazing, but clearly no longer available.

[Jenise]

I once had a bottle of 30 or 40 year old Inglenook Charbono. Can't recall where I got it, but yes: amazing. Unfortunately, the actuarial tables don't favor most of us waiting on this Cam Hughes version.

Cameron Hughes used to be consistently available at Costco. Various grapes. Occasionally at TJs, too.

Now I see the juice is available by website. And thought he had a new venture. Found a link about it. Not especially interested, but did enjoy a few from Costco.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-release ... 44173.html

[Jenise]

Actually, Pat, it's always been available by website--it only leaked into Costco etc after establishing itself as, best I understand, America's first winery-by-mail. My neighbor's a big fan. Decent wine at decent prices delivered to your doorstep. Never exceptional or what I'd call exciting, but okay.

Well.... the old Inglenook Charbonos were outstanding. I recall that Charbono was a major component of the old BV Burgundies.
I think the best of the current Charbonos is the ArbeGarbe. A bit on the pricey side, though.
Tom

[Jenise]

So BV, eh? I'm sure it wasn't only them, but I do remember hearing some big names mentioned for using charbono to make more substantive pinots.

I've remembered where I got that charbono. Approximately 1999 when we lived in So Cal, a wine store with lockers had a client die and no heirs who wanted the wine, so (after wine store personnel took what they wanted) a big basket of the remainders were priced at $10 ea. Mostly 70's vintages, and mostly zinfandel with some odd ducks like this charbono. Great deals, all.