This Caymus Trio Pack contains ONE BOTTLE (1) of each of the following wines:
Three (3) total bottles, retail value of this package is $266!
Why this is a "Must Have" Cab:- The 2007 vintage Scored 96 points from Wine Spectator Magazine!
- The 2006 vintage scored 94 points from Wine Spectator.
- In a Wine Spectator article of the Napa's Top 50 Cabernets: Top 50 at a Glance, the Caymus Special Selection came in #1 (this was tabulated by combining all the scoring over the past 16 years). Issue November 15th, 2006.
- It is a tremendous powerhouse of addictive dark mocha, vanilla, blackberry, raspberry, cedar aromas and flavors.
Notes from the Winemaker:The rich, deep ruby color reflects the magnificent depth this wine has to offer. Lush aromas of ripe black currant, black cherry and cedary oak add luxurious notes to the intense core flavors of fully ripe cassis, wild red berry, mocha and light vanilla. Polished tannins, a full-bodied mouthfeel and velvety texture weave seamlessly to support these vivid fruit impressions to the end.
Ratings & Reviews for Past Vintages
(The 2008 vintage has not been rated)
Wine Spectator Magazine - 96 Points ('07 vintage):"A firm, ripe, muscular wine that’s tight, deep, structured, intense and concentrated, serving up a mix of ripe currant, cassis, plum, black cherry and blackberry fruit that’s clean, pure, complex and layered, with touches of anise, cedar and black licorice. Ends with chewy tannins. Best from 2011 through 2019. From California." -J.L. (5/5/2010)
Wine Spectator Magazine: Napa's Top 50 Cabernets - Rank #1 Caymus Special Selection:Vineyard Location: Napa Valley
Source: Blend
Average Score from 1990-2003: 94.6Price: $136
Case Production: 9,800
Anchored by its Rutherford estate and one winemaker, Chuck Wagner. Rich with plum and cherry fruit. Price has hardly changed in 10 years.
"So who makes Napa's best Cabernets year in and year out?
Caymus Vineyards, whose Special Selection topped our list, has long been one of our favorite Napa producers. In 1987, Wine Spectator featured the wine on its cover and dubbed it, "The Best Damn Cabernet in California." The winery's owner at the time, Charlie Wagner, who passed away in 2002, didn't lay claim to that title, but he said he thought his Rutherford-grown Cabernets were Napa's most consistent.
Caymus' story includes many of the qualities that go into making great Cabernet. For years, the Special Selection and the regular estate-bottled Cabernet came from the winery's 70-acre vineyard in Rutherford. Since its first vintage, the wine has been made by the Wagner family, with the current owner and winemaker, Chuck Wagner, the chief architect. Randy Dunn was also part of the winemaking team for many years before leaving in the mid-1980s to start Dunn Vineyards.
Caymus has evolved over the years and has moved away from producing only estate-bottled wines. The regular bottling was made with purchased grapes beginning in the late 1980s, and for the past few vintages, the Special Selection has also included grapes grown elsewhere in the valley. That reflects Chuck Wagner's belief that he can make complex Cabernets by blending from different vineyards and appellations, rather than relying solely on his own vineyard. But Caymus grapes go into both wines and provide an anchor of quality and consistency. Of note, both the Caymus Special Selection and the regular Caymus are on our Top 50 list. The winery produced more than 43,000 cases total in 2003."
- James Laube, November 15, 2006
Wine Spectator - 94 Points ('06 vintage):"Complex, riveting aromas of spice, cola and sassafras join wild berry, spice, black cherry and sage notes in this full-bodied, intensely flavored, tightly focused and very persistent display of fruit that's long and lingering. Drink now through 2017. 11,900 cases made." -JL, May 2009
Connoisseurs' Guide - 92 Points ('06 vintage):"Both of the Caymus Cabernets reviewed in this issue embrace unabashed ripeness as a defining trait, but, in this instance, the wine's rush to ripeness is balanced by a wealth of very sweet oak and well-extracted fruit. Plush and full-bodied and shot through with cassis and cocoa, the wine more than makes up in richness for what it may lack in finesse, and its slight edge of last-minute heat is easy enough to forgive. Fans of unabashedly expressive Cabernets will find lots to like here." -CG, December 2008
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (Napa Valley, California)
Notes from the Winemaker (for previous 2007 vintage):
I find that writing tasting notes for good wine is easy.
It seems effortless to find descriptors for a wine that displays so many
interesting and intriguing characteristics.
To me, our 2007
Napa Valley Cabernet is such a wine. During my "pre-release" assessment,
I found myself clicking off a tremendous array of aromas and flavors,
finding my pen’s speed lagged well behind the impressions.
This vintage exhibits the thrill and wonder of the new "Napa" character, and this style of wine is my very favorite bar none.
What Does It Taste Like?
The
aromas are layered with pipe tobacco, fermentation pumice, log cabin
fire, moist steel, dried Poblano peppers and fine quality oak. Sweet,
toasty fresh brown spice leads to the impression of richness and
complexity.
We created this wine to be low in tartness yet
abundant in tannins, providing impressions of friendly chock richness.
The palate enters rich with sweet, ripe tannins, expanding to a greater
breadth of refined textures. These harmonious qualities are so well
integrated that not one takes the dominant role.
I find a flavor profile of dark chocolate, sweet tobacco, mocha, leather, brown spice, cedar, vanilla and sweet licorice.
The
primary goodness of this wine is the presence of balance, with a supple
texture, approachable grip and a fruit of the earth essence.
Chuck Wagner
Winemaker
Ratings / Reviews:
93 Points & "Hot Wines" - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Open fruit, rich, lush and layered, serving up a complex mix of plum, blackberry, black licorice and spices. Full-bodied and supple-textured, ending with a long, persistent finish that keeps repeating the core flavor themes. Drink now through 2018. From California." -J.L. (9/29/2010)
Caymus Conundrum White Blend 2008 (California)
Notes from the Winemaker:
Conundrum’s success as a unique, complex blend of white grapes from
California continues with the 2008 vintage in this fresh, lively,
deeply-flavored wine.
This is the first vintage to be produced at
the new production-only Conundrum winery in the Santa Lucia Highlands
of Monterey County. Our wine’s core profile remains thoroughly
Californian, with Sauvignon Blanc grapes from the Napa Valley, Muscat
Canelli from Tulare County on the Central Coast, and Chardonnay and
Viognier from our vineyards in Monterey County. The “puzzle” of
Conundrum lies partly in guessing the range of grape varieties we use,
because we never reveal its exact composition.
About one-quarter
of the wine lots were fermented in stainless steel in order to preserve
their individual fruit characteristics. The remaining lots were
fermented in a combination of new and seasoned oak barrels for up to ten
months.
We continue to have success in the twist-top closure. As a
winemaker and someone who insists on wines without faults, I believe
this closure is the right tool to protect the aromas and flavors that
developed in the vineyards and were preserved in the bottle.
Conundrum
is an excellent food wine that can be enjoyed with a wide variety of
international cuisines and a whole range of courses, from appetizers
through dessert. To fully enjoy its aromas and flavors, the wine is best
served slightly chilled.
Tasting notes:
Gorgeous aromas of
apricot, honeysuckle, and vanilla and lime zest enhance a
deeply-flavored palate of tropical fruit, peach, pear and honeydew melon
flavors. The complexity of this wine is brought into balance with a
rich, round, soft texture; fresh, supportive acidity; and a stunning,
satisfying finish.
-Jon Bolta
Winemaker/Production Director
