The Three Thieves, a.k.a. Charles Bieler, Joel Gott, and Roger Scommenga (a.k.a. Scommes), the guys who brought us those clever 1-Liter jugs, made a 50/50 deal with Trinchero Family Estates about two years ago forming the Rebel Wine Company. The goal of these odd bedfellows was to "liberate premium eclectic wine". Trinchero, parent of Sutter Home, needed some rebellious outsider thinking and the Thieves gained access to Trinchero's reach and bank. The venture came honky tonkin' to Nashville's Hatch Show Print for inspiration and "The Show" was born.
This California Cabernet is good, really. In fact, it could be the favorite house pour down at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge or any down home joint, like my house. But the genius of the offering is the genuineness communicated by the use of Hatch Show Print's archival letterpress graphics.
Hatch Show Print, founded in 1879 by brothers Charles and William Hatch, is now part of The Country Music Hall of Fame. Hatch has filled venues for many decades with their straightforward posters, each turned out by hand on crank presses, each inked with an artistic touch, each unique and expressive. In its first heyday, Hatch promoted circuses and traveling shows, country products like sausage and bread, jazz greats Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong, the one-and-only B. B. King, and the stars of the Grand Ole Opry. Today, Hatch is busier than ever thanks to energetic fearless leader Jim Sherraden who breathed new life into the enterprise starting in the 1980's.
Countless companies and individuals now line up for a piece of the genuine character that’s cranked out down on lower Broadway. From Willie Nelson's upcoming new album cover
Pictured above: Jim Sherraden and Brad Vetter
The Three Thieves tapped Hatch's young letterpress print artist Brad Vetter to design the three labels for The Show Cabernet Sauvignon 2005. Vetter has been with Hatch about 2 years and previously designed a Three Thieves Jug poster, so he was enlisted once again. The Thieves' Charles Bieler had an idea of what he wanted and designer Vetter provided four outstanding alternatives. Three went forward, including his and my favorite, the one with the green parallax stripes behind the bucking bronco. Vetter, already a master of the medium, drew all the graphics from the existing archives of woodblocks and type at Hatch.
Technically speaking, The Show 2005 Cab is 80% Cabernet, the vast majority from Monterey and Paso Robles with a smidgen from Napa, plus 8% Merlot from Monterey, 6% Cab Franc from Napa, 3% Petite Sirah from Dry Creek and 3% Petite Verdot from Napa. The 10,000 cases produced saw French and American oak prior to bottling.
Excellent value ($15). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 13.9%.
Style: Lush, fruit forward, with some oak spice.
Tasting Notes: Appearance: Deep ruby with a purple tint, translucent. Aromas: Black cherry, blackcurrant, vanilla, sweet tobacco and hints of sage flowers. Spicy, moderately tart and medium-bodied, the mouth filling dried red to black fruit and spicy oak flavors lead to a bucking good finish.
Comment: The only watch out is the classy heavyweight bottle. You might think there is still some wine left in it and find yourself empty handed.
Be sure and stop in at Hatch Show Print on your next trip to Nashville, or pop the cork on a bottle of The Show and drop in to the Hatch website for a one-of-a-kind show poster or a monoprint signed by Jim Sherraden himself.
The Show even has a "MySpace" page.
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I'm in Arizona and wpuld like to purchase some of your (The Show) wine, how can I order some?
Don
Posted by: Don Rea | April 06, 2007 at 08:54 AM
I am in Houston, Texas, and would like to buy The Show Cab. Who is your distributor in Houston?
Thanks. Really interesting wine, which we all enjoyed recently.
Bob
Posted by: Robert Wheless | May 13, 2007 at 08:28 AM
It's too bad that they masked such nice fruit with such gaudy oak. Really, it tastes Yellowtailish, or as though the wine was infused with oak chips--more like a berry-vanilla sundae than a California cabernet, which, as I say, is a real shame considering the considerable fruit that went into this neat-o blend. I hate it when winemakers pander to what they consider the mainstream taste by over-oaking.
Posted by: Tim | June 07, 2007 at 09:09 PM
Received a bottle of The Show for a hostess gift during a Christmas party. Didn't open it till June 2007. What a great wine. It's heavy and flavorful enough to with stand a small chill and be really great with a meal and chocolate after! I'd definetly hunt for a bottle to enjoy again!!
Posted by: Beth Dubois | June 26, 2007 at 09:58 PM
We dined out June 30, 2007 at a local restaurant in Rochester, NY. I asked our server for a cab...she poured The Show 2005.
Wonderful! It smelled wonderful!!! I am a new fan of The Show.
Posted by: Kathleen Enserro | July 01, 2007 at 06:16 PM
Met Charles Bieler at the Durham Costco...what a great wine at a great cost. Bought 2 bottles went back for more. Loved the lable! I have added the bottle to my mystical bottle tree.
Posted by: Mary | September 01, 2007 at 09:01 PM
A friend and I went to Veritas in NYC for the first time. The phenomenal wine list includes many expensive gems. This is really a wine lover's paradise, especially if you're on an expense account or being impressed by a wealthy date.
Our middling budgets could only afford one of the least expensive offerings. The Show was available for $40. What a wonderful surprise! There was depth, aroma, a lovely layering of flavors. The food was divine, and lucky for us, the wine was a wonderful complement. Now we'll search out The Show at our local liquor store.
Posted by: Diane Letulle | October 14, 2007 at 02:40 PM
ROCK n ROLL. My wife bought a case just to use different bottles as art around the house. What a great tasting wine. Going to be passing them out for Christmas gifts.
Thanks,
Greg
Posted by: Greg Duzian | December 13, 2007 at 05:57 PM
Enjoyed Your Cabernet.... It was very smoky with a distictive taste... Was this a special type....Can it be purchased in Greenville SC?
Posted by: john miner | December 24, 2007 at 12:28 PM
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is hands down and far superior than any of the wines featured at a tasting in North Myrtle Beach, SC (May 2007). Shelly/Winston Salem, NC
Posted by: Shelly Andrews | December 29, 2007 at 08:11 AM
i was forwarded this by a fellow ensemble member of rivendell theatre ensemble in chicago. our annual fundraiser is the BLUE JEAN BALL and your wine looks like a perfect fit for our event. i would love to get some contact information and talk to someone about possibly donating some wine to our very worthy organization (or perhaps getting a discount on some cases.) we serve the wine at our gala and whatever is left over we serve at all our other openings and functions. of course, we would represent the company in our publicity material. thanks for your consideration and i am eagerly looking forward to hearing back from you!
deb
Posted by: deb doetzer | March 15, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Went to a popular local spot in San Diego, The Tractor Room. The waitress suggested The Show with my Filet. Boy was I happy! For the price, this is as good a Cab as you will find. Now to find it locally ...
Posted by: tommy gunn | March 31, 2008 at 04:33 PM
Great wine, great price. I liked the labels so much, I steamed them off the bottles, laminated them, and turned them into stickers!
Posted by: mike | April 27, 2008 at 12:53 PM
How can i purchase your Show 95 Cabernet?(Hatch Show Print)
Posted by: Ken Hicks | April 30, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Love this wine! Got it at Target for $8.32 a bottle.. am now going from target to target trying to find more as it is on clearance and really is a true bargin!
Posted by: gillian | May 21, 2008 at 09:53 AM
I purchased your wine at AJ's in Arizona.
This is a really great wine. I will try Target too.
Posted by: Barb | June 04, 2008 at 02:33 PM
We have a retail wine outlet in Watkins Glen, NY and have had some requests for your product. Do you distribute in the Southern Tier of New York? The store is:
Wright's Beverages
438 S Franklin St
Watkins Glen, NY
14891
607-535-3535
607-259-1459
Thanks!!
Todd Mertens, owner and President
Posted by: Todd Mertens | July 04, 2008 at 07:22 AM
how can i get this GREAT wine in pa or nj
Posted by: ejsanta | July 12, 2008 at 07:35 PM
the now how it in pa wine stores got it in bala cynward yesterday....its was enjoyablt toasty but acitic but if your into that enjoy kept doing it theives
Posted by: jay | July 13, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Where can I find newman's own cab sav in Texas? Can I buy it on-line?
Posted by: Tawana Blair | July 28, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Just bought a double magnum - mostly for the fabulous bottle. Glad to see most of the reviews are positive.
Posted by: Sha | August 18, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Where can I buy The Show wine in Fort Worth?
Posted by: Lanea Duncan | September 15, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Had a taste of this wine at The Olde Harbor Inn in Akron OH.
Great wine- Great eatery.
How can you find this in Indiana?
Posted by: john glass | October 19, 2008 at 06:30 AM
Need to find The Show in Orlando, FL!! HELP....
Posted by: Dana Miiller | November 15, 2008 at 12:22 PM
I really enjoy this wine. I have ordered it the last two times I have been to Wildcatter Ranch and Steakhouse in Graham, TX.
Posted by: Shannon Isbell | December 16, 2008 at 04:49 PM