Lot 01 kicks off the CAM X catalog with an Alexander Valley Cabernet blended from $75-100/bottle programs, upgraded with luxury Petite Verdot, Malbec and Merlot components from Oakville. Claude’s source guess is Hawkes Winery, Stone Vineyard.
Lot Overview
- Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
- Vintage: 2023
- Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon dominant; blended with Petit Verdot, Malbec, Merlot (luxury lots from Alexander Valley + Oakville)
- Oak Aging: ~50% new French oak
- Alcohol: 14.0%
- Cases Available: Not stated
- Cam Price: $8.25 ($99/case)
- Retail Estimate: $75–100/bottle equivalent
- Claude’s Source Guess: Hawkes Winery — Stone Vineyard, Alexander Valley
- Wine Berserkers Guess: Eco Tereno / Lyon Vineyard
- Drink Window: 2024–2033 (peak 2026–2031)
Cameron’s Release Notes
Are you ready??? LFG!!!!
Our first Lot comes to you courtesy of the online retailer WineVIP, who I’ve been wholesaling wine to for over two decades. These folks are logistics maestro’s, sourcing, importing, selling and fulfilling wine from around the globe so, trust me, you are in good hands here.
Even better news, WineVIP offers you the convenience of ordering online and having the wine shipped to you, executing weather holds, picking ship dates, etc. Everything you need for seamless delivery (including summer holds!).
So, here’s the scoop… Lot 1 is a wine that takes the concept of “insane value” to the next level. I am prohibited by the state of CA from showing you a wine retailer’s pricing but I can tell you this, it’s time to BACK-UP-THE-TRUCK!
Tasting Notes
Cam X Lot 1 2023 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet lots from $75 to $100 per bottle Cabernet Sauvignon programs and features ~50% new French oak. The vineyard was originally planted in the 70’s and a portion of this wine is sourced from the ~50-year old vines (vines, I might add, which are responsible for putting Alexander Valley on the map in the 1990’s, albeit under labels other than the producer’s). Organically and regeneratively farmed, this amazing property produces wines with complexity and soul at very reasonable alcohol levels. We further upgraded the wine with some killer Petite Verdot, Malbec and Merlot lots from two different luxury programs, one in Alexander Valley and one in Oakville (seriously, wines that go into $200+/bottle programs) and the result is an absolutely gorgeous 2023 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon chock full power, elegance, vinous soul and it’s all here at a lovely 14.0% alcohol.
Featuring ripe yet perfectly attenuated blueberry and black raspberry fruit, dark chocolate, seasoned oak notes, and pretty purple florals. As the wine opens, more red-inflected fruit raspberry frambois and bright red cherry and currant notes complex the bouquet turning the florals sweet and spicy (like a little cinnamon red hot or pink peppercorn). Lithe and sinewy on entry with fleshy, juicy blue fruit, baker’s chocolate and fresh tobacco notes ride mineral-laced tannins in a long, blue-fruited finish. Weighing in at exactly 14% alcohol, this Cabernet features great structure, exceptional balance, and tremendous complexity. The 50% new French oak is harmoniously integrated as well. It will be drinking great this Fall while also aging beautifully over the next decade or longer.
It’s back up the truck time folks!
✅ Bottle Shock Status
2023 vintage, released 2024. Drinking well now.
Claude’s Source Guess: Hawkes Winery — Stone Vineyard, Alexander Valley
The Hawkes family planted their Stone Vineyard in the Alexander Valley in 1971–1972, well before the AVA was formally established in 1984. For their first three decades, the family sold their estate fruit to other producers rather than bottling under their own name — Cam’s “putting Alexander Valley on the map in the 1990’s under labels other than the producer’s” is a near-verbatim description of that history. Their first own-label vintage didn’t arrive until the early 2000s. The Stone Vineyard is organically farmed on thin chalky hillside soils with low yields, producing intensely flavored, moderate-alcohol Cabernet — exactly matching Cam’s 14% alc and regenerative farming notes.
Their single-vineyard Stone Vineyard Cabernet retails in the $70–75 range, fitting the lower end of Cam’s stated $75–100 tier. The WB community has also suggested Eco Tereno / Lyon Vineyard as an alternate, which is worth noting as a community guess.
✅ Confidence: Medium — the historical narrative of a 1970s AV planting that built other producers’ reputations fits Hawkes precisely, and the organic/regenerative farming is on-brand. The $75 price point is slightly below Cam’s range. Community intel would help confirm.
Drink Window
Early: Now — 14% alc and 50% new oak make this accessible from release.
Peak: 2026–2031. The old vine concentration and structure give this a solid 5–8 year arc.
Hold: 2033. Not a blockbuster ager, but well-built for medium-term cellaring.
My Call: ✅ Drink window: 2024–2033 (peak 2026–2031)