A big night with a vertical tasting of 6 Caymus Napa Cabs. 1993 - Brown at rim, light in body, nice berry flavor, not much going on and a very shirt finish. Still nice 1997 - Color was good, medium body, more fruit and softer than the 1993. 2003 - A little better than the 1997, full body, round, nice mouth feel, good fruit flavors. 2009 - very enjoyable - full body, fruit and a touch of vanilla at the end. The end lingered for a while. Delicious. 2015 - This was the best, complex, round, drinking perfectly, good finish that lingered for a while. Nice balance of fruit and vanilla bean. 2020 - Good, less complex than the 2015, sweet fruit and vanilla. This could be better in a year. Soft mouth feel, round, delicious.
Great night!
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Rich and brooding, as expected from Caymus, yet nicely integrated and fully composed. Plenty of black cherries, cassis, and eucalyptus on the earthy bouquet. The palate has retained its balance and structure, and its black raspberry flavors possess ample substance and complexity. Long and spicy on the tasty finish. This has peaked but it doesn't seem to be fading anytime soon.
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Incredible red raspberry, big blueberry and sweet oak giving this wine a gorgeous rounded texture. Beautifully integrated tannins and alcohol - everything seems to be dancing in sync. A essence of crispy blackberry English muffin on the back end. Quintessential Rutherford wine - Caymus was and always has been the leader in this area. Really quite impressive, but we recommend drinking. Our last bottle from a 2000 case auction buy.
p.s. bone-in ny strip with pierogis and broccolini
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Opened about an hour and a half and then decanted for about 45 minutes. Could have used a bit more; opened up nicely in the decanter and glass over the next hour. A wonderful, classic California Cab, rich with layers of flavor.
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Considering the age - good drink! Color was slightly brown at the edge, body was medium weight and clear. Mouth feel was nice - smooth at first in the middle nice flavors of berries, smoke and bacon. The end and finish was nice but short.
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Soft but beautiful. Precisely what I expected from an excellent CA cab that may be slightly over the peak but still retains complex aroma and fruit on the palate. Utterly silky from beginning to end. Not getting better, but highly enjoyable right now.
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4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (R&D's): Double blind. Perfumed floral notes with a hint of barnyard underneath. Red fruit and earth tones. Nice balance. Gorgeous. 95+ pts.
My #4, Domino's #3 Group #2, 20 pts.
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4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (R&D's): Double blind. Gorgeous. Perfumed and elegant, with florals over currant and green tobacco with an underlying woody element. Currant, plum and spice flavors. Really nice fruit. Balanced across the palate, finishing with terrific length. 96-97 pts.
My #1, Domino's #1 Group #1, 28 pts
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Vinturied into decant, it’s headed down the slope, probably 3-4 years past perfection, still drinking thou. I have been drinking thru my 97s lately, the issue was an over ripe vintage, not much can stop mother nature’s hand. Drink 3 years ago.. I believe cellaring and cork are the keys to the drinkability.
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Tasty enough older cabernet with secondary and some tertiary flavours, this old and high priced a wine not an habitual purchase from wine merchants for me, so a roll of the dice at a restaurant. This bottle had some cassis, but predominantly woody flavours. They started out somewhat oaky, drifted through paper / cardboard, and ended up somewhere stemmy the more air it got. Fruity acids present throughout. Tannins are very soft at this stage, and feel oak driven, I don't think this was super tannic even when young, despite the cabernet. The bottle self describes as 88% Cab Sauv with 10% Merlot and 2% Cab Franc. If having with food, I wouldn't decant, it has more of a chance straight out of the bottle. Good and interesting on its own with more air. I liked it, but I would not spend market price of £100 inc tax for it.
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OUtstanding with plenty of life left in this bottle. The wine has a deep ruby color with notes of plum, fig, wood, graphite and a very slight green pepper note. All of this follows through on tastig with the plum coming forward and the pepper receeding. Incredibly balanced with a perfect blend of light acidity and tannins.
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Color: Deep ox blood, bricking, watery edge Nose: Initial notes of iodine, blood (iron) and minerals, complemented by plum, leather and grilled peppers; after an hour decant the primary notes are ripe plum and red raspberries with the green pepper giving way to mint. Palate: Beautifully ripe cherries and plum, licorice on the mid-palate, mouth-watering acidity (very fresh) and a very long finish with citrus rind. Tannins are fully resolved. Very polished mouth feel. Gained weight with air, more ripe plum but still great acidity. After 2 hours a rich ripe berry mix - sweetened considerably with beautifully concentrated fruit. Overall, outstanding! I had been partial to '94 Cali Cabs over '97 and true of Caymus, in particular. This is my last '97 Caymus. I was stunned by how much better this is with the extra age. I bought on release and have stored in climate controlled cellar since.
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This bottle aged very well and is a much better wine than recent vintages. Dark, dark wine with lots of personality and freshness. Not overblown like recent vintages. Nice tannic backbone. Long finish and fragrant nose. Wish I had more...
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Opened with good friends at a local restaurant. Decanted for about thirty minutes before pour. Opened with prong style cork remover; cork intact. I was pleasantly surprised especially given professional reviews in 2003 that suggested "not ageworthy". The meniscus was pure garnet without a hint of gold or amber. Tasted of pure fruit with light tannins. Soft and no harsh edges. I did not get oak or minerals. Great with a medium steak. I have two more bottles and look forward to them. Will probably drink within next two years.
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Pop and pour and tasted with food (fettuccine with a meat sauce, in case you were wondering). Then tasted on its own and followed for about 4 hours. Cork broke in half during extraction. Dark purple color, not showing any real sign of bricking and here it is over 20 years of age. (This was purchased on release and stored in 55 degree temperature controlled conditions). Wonderful nose of cassis, cherries and some mint and touch of vanilla. Wonderful flavors of cassis, black cherries, hint of tobacco and some basil/mint note as well. Sufficient acidity to keep things nicely balanced. The light herbal/mint element along with some dusty tannins helps give character to the wine. Delicious.
I re-tasted the remaining few ounces that had been stored in the bottle but kept in the refrigerator. This maintained its good fruit profile and did not show much in the way of oxidation.
Note: I was a bit apprehensive opening this up as more recent vintages of Caymus show a more candied profile, overly sweet and tasting a bit forced, as if it was manufactured. I no longer buy Caymus. This was a good, strong Napa cab with wonderful nuances and layers of flavor, without tasting 'manufactured.'
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- Garnet color - Wow.. still in excellent condition. Was worried my last bottle had sat too long, but still had lush fruit, medium/full body, very smooth. Didnt disappoint after 20 yrs in the cellar. But if you still have one, drink it sooner than later.
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I was sure this would be gone - however this may have been the best Caymus I have cellared since 1998. Fruit still there, alcohol nearly gone, nice dry finish with a lingering finish at the end. This was supposed to be opened sooner but I am not sure why - -this was an amazing reward for patience. Beautiful nose, clear, immediate fruit - which only mellowed further with some decanting in the glass.
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This bottle is in a funky place. The fruit is a little astringent right now. I drank a bottle of the 90 not long ago and I will hold hope that this 97 turns in the right direction soon. It got better wth air and food to become more balanced, but never really impressed.
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Wine was properly stored from purchase upon release until consumed. Good color, no brown edges. Initial bouquet has lots of fruit, peaches and cream, berries. Well balanced. Lovely.
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Given how fruit forward this wine is upon release, I was very surprised at how well this bottle has held up. Drinking very beautifully with a nice backbone of fruit but the oak has softened a little at this point. Not at all over the hill as other posts suggest- and the difference is not decanting the wine. Anyone who decants a wine like this for hours shouldn't be surprised when it falls apart in the glass. Still had a nice colour to it, with just a hint of brick on the rim. A testament to this great vintage in California.
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Thought this might have been too old at first. Decanted and aerated then poured. Dark garnet color with a touch of bricking. Opened a bit harsh and astringent. Over the next hour, opened and softened a bit to reveal some additional fruit...plum, cassis, blueberry and some additional complexity. Clearly improved with air but still was not as good as expected.
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This is a very good and well made wine. When tasted side-by side with the 1997 Plumpjack Oakville Reserve, however, the Caymus was much softer, with almost non-existant tannins. This Caymus is well into its optimal drinking window, so it's time to start polishing these off.
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This used to be a great bottle of wine. Alas, it is now somewhat over the hill. Not objectionable, but a shadow of it's former self. If you have any drink asap.....it will only get worse....
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The last of the 97's. An epic vintage. I had low expectations as the previous 97 Caymus i tasted did not age well. I was pleasantly surprised with this bottle however. Perfect cork. Decanted for 1 1/2 hours and enjoyed with a New York strip...well matched. Medium red in color. Nicely balanced while the tannins had faded away. A surprising amount of fruit layered with slate and pencil lead. I must confess that this is the first time that I have ever described a wine with slate and pencil lead, but the minerality was showing nicely. This was a nice farewell to the 97 vintage.
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Drink up - a real disappointment. This time wine was decanted. Only possible issue, wine was served a little warm - about 68/69 - Try true cellar temp around 62 - might right structure better.
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Wow, just wow. A great wine that has aged gracefully in my Eurocave. It seemed like the right time to drink this wine - not sure how it would be in coming years. Sorry we didn't have a second bottle.
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Stored properly since release. Allow still inky color, not much going on. Was a bit disappointed for this wine, especially the vintage. A bit light and slight tart. We did not decant which might have been a mistake, but wine sitting in the glass through dinner did not improve.
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Well the last of my 97's. Think these need to be drunk. The wine although still holding together is starting to lag on the fruit side. It is like cabernet with equal or syrupy!! I believe these are no longer in their prime.
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Wow this was a phenomenal bottle. Sourced this on the Internet in Nov-11 and I always wondered how Caymus would age as they seem so good when young. Dark ruby/garnet color with no sign of any age. Right away from the bottle a nice nose of cloves and red raspberries. This was a very fine example of what I really enjoy in a Cali-cab. Smooth, velvet with a nice long finish this was an extremely balanced wine that we really enjoyed.
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Decanted 30 minutes before tasting. Nose of green pepper and black fruit. Smooth black fruit on the palate with additional notes of mushroom and earth. Tannins have settled down and this is drinking very nicely now.
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Understated elegance, nice nose, not over powering, smooth tannins refined over time, hints of blackberry, light on the palate and finish. But not sure if it is worth the initial price of $85+ over 10 years ago.
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Still loaded with dark fruit, but very elegant now, not the big bruiser these wine can be at a younger age. Still rich dark berries and licorice flavors with a nice subtle earthiness on the nose and palate. Outstanding wine that we enjoyed after our meal, but this has the grace and elegance now to pair well with more than red meat.
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Much better than the last bottle. Nose of tire rubber, which wasn't too appealing, but tasted great. The nose burned off after 45 minutes and it was all enjoyable.
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Very dark and inky, youthful. It smelled like suntan lotion, lots of coconut and boysenberry - very sweet. Massive fruit and very good balance with precision. Not what I was expecting at all with a large finish. Very good.
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Like eating black cherries in a cedar closet. Wonderful cedar aromas and lots of perfectly ripe, but not overdone fruit. Good acid, nice balance and not exaggerated in any way. Have had several Napa '97's lately and this one was at the top of the class.
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Great vintage for Caymus who consistently delivers. This was no exception with huge fruit bomb, well balanced on the mid palate and nice long silky finish.
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At its prime now - good time to drink. Very nice nose. Plenty of ripe red berries accompanied by a hint of chili peppers. On the palate wonderfully smooth with a nice, earthy finish. A hint of tannins, but I don't think there's much more ageing potential. However, it's definitely not too late, either. Decanted for two hours and then had it with a hearty German beef dish. Near perfect.
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Really lovely. Contrary to some other notes, we didn't find this over the hill at all. Sure, the fruit isn't all up front but this still had great dark fruit smell, and taste. Some earthiness too, making it a perfect companion to the braised short ribs and root vegetable puree. Wish I had more...
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Would have pegged this for being 7-10 years old if tasting it blind (as opposed to the 13 years it is). The cork was in fantastic condition with a very dark end but otherwise looked like it was 3 years old. If you're lucky enough to have a bottle of this and you're wondering whether it will get any better with age I say: Drink Now.
I don't think it's getting any better. But at the same time I don't think it's over the hill. Delicious stuff with a hint of the swagger it had in its youth that has been replaced with wisdom. What's impressive here is that these wines are enjoyable upon release yet can age and evolve beautifully as evidenced in this wine.
Is there a more consistent producer in Napa?
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Dark ruby to purple. Nose of blackberries, cassis, spice, oak. Similar on the palate with some mint and chocolate. Good tannic structure and fruit profile which should allow this to hold up for several years. Good drinking now, though. Very rich.
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This is nice, but not complex and suffered from being drunk after a 1990 Silverado Stags Leap which blew it away. slightly jammy, but not too, mid weight.
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Another enjoyable bottle of 97 Caymus. 2 hour slow ox, then 1 hour into decanter prior to consumption. I have had this wine many many times and always seek it out when it is at a reasonable price. Serge and I cooked up some T-bones which was the perfect compliment. This wine continues to improve and provide total pleasure. The nose was a full bouquet of cherries, blackberries, a hint of earthiness. Once in the mouth, the secondaries are very evident, black fruit, leather, a bit of oak as the flavors were quite integrated and worked in harmony as it filled my mouth. The finish was incredibly long. Longer than I remember it. This is a classic Ca. Cab without the major fruit bomb attitude. The only bad part is that this was my very last bottle but I will seek out more when the opportunity arises. This wine never failed to deliver in all the years I have been drinking it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED A+++
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I haven't had this bottle in over 5 years and this one was as good as they come, maybe even slightly better. Plenty of life left and 3 hours decanting brought the best this wine can deliver. Drink, hold, enjoy, it's all good and worth the effort to find more bottles.
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Recently received this bottle as a gift from a friend who does not have a cellar. i figured that the wine needed to be drank quickly so we did a mini verticle vs. the 2007. When I went to remove the cork it quickly fell apart, oops, worried that it would be flawed. Decanted for a short period. Wine was outstanding, Mark, Rob, and Joe thought it was better than the 07 and loved the wine. Rob said"best wine he's ever tasted" The 97 was lighter in color and not as heavy in the mouth. Both wines were outstanding and the 07 improved with time. The 97 did not give any indication of being pass it's drinking window.
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We figured Thanksgiving is a great time to open up this Caymus magnum. Decanted for 2 1/2 hours. There really wasn't much sediment but the cork had some purple throughout so I'm glad we opened it up. I'd have to say it was average for a Caymus. Some of our guests thought it was delicious. But it still seemed a bit green for me.
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Pepper, spice, leather with blended with rich, dark fruits. Decanted for an hour and it got better with time. Not complex, but a pleasure to drink. No signs of age, but at the top of its game
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This is one of the best wines I have ever tasted. Purchased at the winery and stored in the best possible condition we have here in South Carolina. We opened and decanted 2 hours before drinking. To get to 96 points, you need layers, depth, and concentration. No disappointment here. There is just a hint of flowers on the nose, with a thick rich aroma of ground and plenty of blue fruit. At 11 plus years, the what must have been powerful oak has stepped into the background, helping reveal all the good stuff. Still young, dark and vibrant, could use another hour in the decanter. Heavy, mature, dark, focused blueberry and blackberry fruit. On the palate we are getting some of those secondary flavors like leather and licorice. I think there is a bit of eucalyptus near this vineyard. The finish is starting to show some graphite and road tar with the fruit. Seamless silky tannins. It was a shame to have to share this. No spitting.
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Double decanted prior to taking this wine to Fleming's Steakhouse. Some sediment upon decanting, and the wine was a little shy on the nose at first. After pouring at the restaurant and letting it air for another 20 minutes it opened up well. Smells included cedar, beef stew, and some warm spices. Tannins are well integrated at this point, but there is considerable acid which should allow this wine to age a bit longer (although I don't know if that would really improve it). Initial tartness on the palate with some licorice and dark berries. On the back end there is some buttery/waxy vanilla typical of American oak, which I didn't find to be excessive. Length of about 30 seconds. Not extremely complex or nuanced, but very enjoyable to drink.
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Great nose on opening - creosote, blackberries and currants, some dried flowers. On the palate still has some good fruit - not as bright as a young wine but silky smooth tannins - still a hint of alcohol lingers. A very very good wine. Still shows too much oak which detracts a bit.
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Outstanding. Opened an hour before and would have decanted if we had one at the office :-) Got better and better - great long finish. Still tastes like has some time left - very pleased to have 3 left.
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We tasted the 1997 and 1998 Caymus side by side. Both wines had deep red color and good body. The 1998 was a bit rough and really did not taste all that good. I considered this one corked. The 1997 was nice from the start and got better as time went on. After an hour it was soft, it had more dark fruit and chocolate type flavors. Very nice!
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I am not given to superlatives but after this warmed from cellar and was decanted using a venturi aerator I only have one word to say...WOW. I had a trio of the'91 Caymus SS (99 points WS) and I never remember it tasting as good as this even when consumed with about the same bottle age. Nose redolent of freshly turned Rutherford dirt (I assume this is Rutherford, St. Helena and environs fruit), crushed raspberry, a certain almost Martha's mintiness. Awesomely integrated, tannins there but so in balance with the fruit and acid. Just a hint of agey oxidized carmel that disappeared on aeration, the wine is still youthful but showing a graceful Helen Mirren streak. Crushed blueberry, raspberry and red currant with a hint of wood and vanilla. Just beautfiul right now, very silky mouthfeel from the harmonious integration of tannn, acid and fruit. If I had more, I would certainly consider drinking them for maximum enjoyment. If you had a case, save one...but the rest are just butter right now. This wine spent most of its life at either 55 Degrees F (wine unit) or 63 deg. F (passive basement) so you would have to consider it well cared for.
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This wine was not the best Caymus we had -- not sure if the bottle was off compared to expectations and previous tastings or this wine is nearing end of life. Was a bit disappointing as the fruit was almost gone and the oak was the most notable item.
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Vertical tasting 92, 97, 02 and 06. the range was chosen to provide perspective on how the wine ages over time. The years did vary but the wine maker and where the grapes come from have not changed. 07 was a great year but for Caymus every year is great and this wine was still excellent. This wine compared to the 92 had more body, more fruit and a similar finish. Over-all a great wine at a good value.
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The immeadiate perfume on the nose after opeing the wine was exactly what you hope for on an aged cali cab. The strong hinds of earthiness and fruit poured out. While the first sips (wihtin minutes of opening) were not as good, after the wine decanted for several hours it opened up beautifully. If you are a fan of cali cabs as I am, this wine was worth the wait and met all of my expectations. I do think it is at is peak and will not get better with more age, but I also do not think it is on the decline.
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Very nice for an eleven year old Cali Cab made in the beginning of the overextraction era by one of the biggest offenders. The nose is a little closed but green olives and red currant pop out after a few seconds of deep snuffing (Riedel Vinum Cab glasses). There is also a top note of Rutherford dirt to the nose (ashey, dirty, etc.). Nice deep crimson color but very little sediement in the bottle. I am betting there was a fair amount of filtering and fining before bottling. Very nice long legs on the glass and the flavor profile tends towards red currant, Rutherford dust, blueberry, Martha's Vineyard mint and a nice 45 second finish. Very moderate to almost nonexistent tannin and enough acidity but not at all sour or mouthpuckering. I think we are in its best drinking window...quaff now, minions. In truth, I think this drank better than the three bottles of 1991 (99 WS Rated) Special Select I drank a couple of years ago.
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French Bakery BYO 1990's Cali Cab Sauv dominant wines; 12/19/2007-12/20/2007: Janet & Jorge's wine. Exceptional, drinking beautifully now, and shared WOTF, and WOTN with the 97 Phelps Insignia. Still has years left. This was clearly the flight of the night. I was surpirised this showed so well, because the CT reviews of my 97 Special Select(which I have not tried), have been circumspect. A complete wine, bouquet, palate and finish. Jorge and I also shared our appreciation for Caymus' Belle Glos. All tribute to a consistently outstanding producer.
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Fabulous Caymus nose upon opening. Drank with filet and enjoyed every drop although it is getting a little thin towards the end. Finished off with pieces of Flagrants Desirs 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate which brought out all that rich sweet Napa Cab Fruit that I love about Caymus. I reminded me of a wonderful molten chocolate cake.
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Decanted 1 hour. Really nice mouthfeel, good balance. Black cherry. The age shows through slightly. Limited to no finish though. For my palate, this would have been better a couple years ago.
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Red currants, Cherry and dill. Not a good combination. Too much dill for me. My palate has obviously changed since the time I bought (and enjoyed) this wine.
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Hard to be fair because it was up against a wall of reserve bottlings that dominated the tasting. Still an excellent botle of wine with at least a couple more years left in it. JP
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Very perfumed on the mose. Good rush of fruit. Well integrated with gritty mineral and grit finish. Wonderful wine drinking well now but vould go another 5 years.
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This is 1 of my favoriate wines. Big, bold dark red ruby wine. Tastes wonderful with a T-bone steak. Geat fruit. Tasted better the second day. Great long finish. Lots of cherry in this wine.
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Farily dark purple color. Tannins still a bit better on the finish and overall more dominated than the fruit. Rutherford dust (or dust, anyway). Not unpleasant but not properly complemented by other characteristics. I don't know if I'd wait.
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Tasted November 15, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking. Nose of plums, smoke and anise. Flavors of black plums, black berries and black currants. Light to medium acidity, light to medium tannins with medium body. Drink now.
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Very nice fruit up front but somewhat hollow in the mid palate....from other bottles I have had I thought that this might be going in the wrong direction.
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Wow - this wine is singing. Rich, mouthcoating palate of strawberries, currants, some spice, fine tannins, and a long finish. I am actually glad that I have more of these in the cellar!
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This improved on the second night. Maybe a little sulfite on day one - just some funk but it blew off by day two. Decent medium body with blackcherries. Drink now.
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Fairly classic Caymus, with good depth and richness and drinking well now, although it should keep for another 10 years. It is not as good as some Caymus, but still very good.
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Characteristic Caymus olive and chocolate notes with some dark cherry. Actually really nicely textured on the palate, with decent weight and plenty of fine, balanced tannin remaining. Classically styled.
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14.3% alcohol Very dark core, garnet edge. Aromas are ripe and rich showing currant, pine, wet earth. Elegant and balanced with ripe cassis flavors joined by red cherry, tart plum, vanillin, pipe tobacco, a touch of lead. Oak is not subtle, especially through the finish, but integrates into the wine nicely. Would score higher if more complex. Medium-full body. Tasty stuff. Decanted 2 hrs. Drink or hold
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I thought this might be a 97 Bordeaux with it's funky earthy, brett, soy sauce, cassis and chalk nose. That earthy sensation carries over to the palate and it picks up red fruits, dark cherries, black pepper and a touch of bay leaf. Despite the plusses, the wine still maintains some uncomfortable sour acidity. Your decision, might improve with time.
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Deep, dark ruby colour. Mocha, black currants, vanilla, toasty oak and olive nose. Medium-full bodied with moderate acid and firm tannins. Good fruit and length. 4/5
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3/3/2024 - bryon m Likes this wine: 90 Points
A big night with a vertical tasting of 6 Caymus Napa Cabs.
1993 - Brown at rim, light in body, nice berry flavor, not much going on and a very shirt finish. Still nice
1997 - Color was good, medium body, more fruit and softer than the 1993.
2003 - A little better than the 1997, full body, round, nice mouth feel, good fruit flavors.
2009 - very enjoyable - full body, fruit and a touch of vanilla at the end. The end lingered for a while. Delicious.
2015 - This was the best, complex, round, drinking perfectly, good finish that lingered for a while. Nice balance of fruit and vanilla bean.
2020 - Good, less complex than the 2015, sweet fruit and vanilla. This could be better in a year. Soft mouth feel, round, delicious.
Great night!
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12/17/2022 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 92 Points
Napa 1997 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon ($30 in 2000). Light mid-garnet, amber edges; 14.4 alc.; older Cabernet nose; mint, berries, cassis; balanced; low-mid acids; mid tannins; long, smooth berry, mint and wood finish. w/filet. 17 UC Davis scale, 92 other scales.
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10/25/2021 - Baron Slick wrote: 92 Points
Rich and brooding, as expected from Caymus, yet nicely integrated and fully composed. Plenty of black cherries, cassis, and eucalyptus on the earthy bouquet. The palate has retained its balance and structure, and its black raspberry flavors possess ample substance and complexity. Long and spicy on the tasty finish. This has peaked but it doesn't seem to be fading anytime soon.
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3/20/2021 - Menzies Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mostly likely past it’s prime but you can tell what a big wine it was.
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12/27/2020 - dkentaustin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Incredible red raspberry, big blueberry and sweet oak giving this wine a gorgeous rounded texture. Beautifully integrated tannins and alcohol - everything seems to be dancing in sync. A essence of crispy blackberry English muffin on the back end. Quintessential Rutherford wine - Caymus was and always has been the leader in this area. Really quite impressive, but we recommend drinking. Our last bottle from a 2000 case auction buy.
p.s. bone-in ny strip with pierogis and broccolini
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11/12/2020 - FozMonster Likes this wine: 91 Points
Did a pop and pour through a screen. Each glass better and better. Floored how good this was.
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6/27/2020 - Nothung Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened about an hour and a half and then decanted for about 45 minutes. Could have used a bit more; opened up nicely in the decanter and glass over the next hour. A wonderful, classic California Cab, rich with layers of flavor.
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4/28/2020 - bryon m wrote: 90 Points
Considering the age - good drink! Color was slightly brown at the edge, body was medium weight and clear. Mouth feel was nice - smooth at first in the middle nice flavors of berries, smoke and bacon. The end and finish was nice but short.
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4/3/2020 - tinycellar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Soft but beautiful. Precisely what I expected from an excellent CA cab that may be slightly over the peak but still retains complex aroma and fruit on the palate. Utterly silky from beginning to end. Not getting better, but highly enjoyable right now.
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10/26/2019 - AllRed wrote: 95 Points
4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (R&D's): Double blind. Perfumed floral notes with a hint of barnyard underneath. Red fruit and earth tones. Nice balance. Gorgeous. 95+ pts.
My #4, Domino's #3
Group #2, 20 pts.
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10/26/2019 - AllRed wrote: 96 Points
4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (R&D's): Double blind. Gorgeous. Perfumed and elegant, with florals over currant and green tobacco with an underlying woody element. Currant, plum and spice flavors. Really nice fruit. Balanced across the palate, finishing with terrific length. 96-97 pts.
My #1, Domino's #1
Group #1, 28 pts
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8/30/2019 - wino121 wrote: 88 Points
Vinturied into decant, it’s headed down the slope, probably 3-4 years past perfection, still drinking thou.
I have been drinking thru my 97s lately, the issue was an over ripe vintage, not much can stop mother nature’s hand.
Drink 3 years ago..
I believe cellaring and cork are the keys to the drinkability.
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6/9/2019 - barrkel Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasty enough older cabernet with secondary and some tertiary flavours, this old and high priced a wine not an habitual purchase from wine merchants for me, so a roll of the dice at a restaurant. This bottle had some cassis, but predominantly woody flavours. They started out somewhat oaky, drifted through paper / cardboard, and ended up somewhere stemmy the more air it got. Fruity acids present throughout. Tannins are very soft at this stage, and feel oak driven, I don't think this was super tannic even when young, despite the cabernet. The bottle self describes as 88% Cab Sauv with 10% Merlot and 2% Cab Franc. If having with food, I wouldn't decant, it has more of a chance straight out of the bottle. Good and interesting on its own with more air. I liked it, but I would not spend market price of £100 inc tax for it.
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6/4/2019 - RonT Likes this wine: 93 Points
OUtstanding with plenty of life left in this bottle. The wine has a deep ruby color with notes of plum, fig, wood, graphite and a very slight green pepper note. All of this follows through on tastig with the plum coming forward and the pepper receeding. Incredibly balanced with a perfect blend of light acidity and tannins.
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5/6/2019 - unionst Likes this wine: 96 Points
Color: Deep ox blood, bricking, watery edge
Nose: Initial notes of iodine, blood (iron) and minerals, complemented by plum, leather and grilled peppers; after an hour decant the primary notes are ripe plum and red raspberries with the green pepper giving way to mint.
Palate: Beautifully ripe cherries and plum, licorice on the mid-palate, mouth-watering acidity (very fresh) and a very long finish with citrus rind. Tannins are fully resolved. Very polished mouth feel. Gained weight with air, more ripe plum but still great acidity. After 2 hours a rich ripe berry mix - sweetened considerably with beautifully concentrated fruit.
Overall, outstanding! I had been partial to '94 Cali Cabs over '97 and true of Caymus, in particular. This is my last '97 Caymus. I was stunned by how much better this is with the extra age. I bought on release and have stored in climate controlled cellar since.
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4/3/2019 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottle aged very well and is a much better wine than recent vintages. Dark, dark wine with lots of personality and freshness. Not overblown like recent vintages. Nice tannic backbone. Long finish and fragrant nose. Wish I had more...
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3/22/2019 - Hanibal Likes this wine: 93 Points
perfect balance....
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3/5/2019 - Christian De Lafoye wrote:
Opened with good friends at a local restaurant. Decanted for about thirty minutes before pour. Opened with prong style cork remover; cork intact. I was pleasantly surprised especially given professional reviews in 2003 that suggested "not ageworthy". The meniscus was pure garnet without a hint of gold or amber. Tasted of pure fruit with light tannins. Soft and no harsh edges. I did not get oak or minerals. Great with a medium steak. I have two more bottles and look forward to them. Will probably drink within next two years.
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10/27/2018 - t_moderne wrote: 93 Points
Pop and pour and tasted with food (fettuccine with a meat sauce, in case you were wondering). Then tasted on its own and followed for about 4 hours.
Cork broke in half during extraction.
Dark purple color, not showing any real sign of bricking and here it is over 20 years of age. (This was purchased on release and stored in 55 degree temperature controlled conditions).
Wonderful nose of cassis, cherries and some mint and touch of vanilla.
Wonderful flavors of cassis, black cherries, hint of tobacco and some basil/mint note as well. Sufficient acidity to keep things nicely balanced.
The light herbal/mint element along with some dusty tannins helps give character to the wine.
Delicious.
I re-tasted the remaining few ounces that had been stored in the bottle but kept in the refrigerator. This maintained its good fruit profile and did not show much in the way of oxidation.
Note: I was a bit apprehensive opening this up as more recent vintages of Caymus show a more candied profile, overly sweet and tasting a bit forced, as if it was manufactured. I no longer buy Caymus.
This was a good, strong Napa cab with wonderful nuances and layers of flavor, without tasting 'manufactured.'
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10/18/2018 - Alongfield Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful nose. Rich and fruity. Remarkably similar to a much younger wine.
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6/24/2018 - wino121 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted and consumed over 2 hours.
With cork intact, this wine was singing good, with integrated tannins to fruit it was a treat to drink.
Drink now.
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5/28/2018 - Spartan517 wrote: 94 Points
- Garnet color - Wow.. still in excellent condition. Was worried my last bottle had sat too long, but still had lush fruit, medium/full body, very smooth. Didnt disappoint after 20 yrs in the cellar. But if you still have one, drink it sooner than later.
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3/12/2018 - fc1910 wrote: 91 Points
Dream Big, California Wines (Hotel Atlantic, Hamburg, Germany): One glass, brief note: still menormously cassis fruit driven, maybe a little tart, very dense full bodied, some graphit, ending lon+ and really fresh, ***-****, 90- 92
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12/31/2017 - Laddoo wrote:
Was amazing
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11/17/2017 - lesz wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful. Still very good fruit.
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11/12/2016 - Klickitat Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank with Dierdre and Jonah at Cabazon
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11/11/2016 - Klickitat wrote:
I was sure this would be gone - however this may have been the best Caymus I have cellared since 1998. Fruit still there, alcohol nearly gone, nice dry finish with a lingering finish at the end. This was supposed to be opened sooner but I am not sure why - -this was an amazing reward for patience. Beautiful nose, clear, immediate fruit - which only mellowed further with some decanting in the glass.
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8/20/2016 - SeaCellar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking at peak after 19 years. Dark red color. Very nice balanced palate.
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6/30/2016 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Beautifully mature; tangy and resolved with a hint of eucalyptus for extra interest. WOTN for me.
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4/1/2016 - Martin Ferland Likes this wine: 97 Points
Well conserved. Surprisingly good for the vintage! More so that the 1995 drank a few weeks earlier was way passed his best. Wow!!!
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2/21/2016 - tmhouse wrote: 89 Points
This bottle is in a funky place. The fruit is a little astringent right now. I drank a bottle of the 90 not long ago and I will hold hope that this 97 turns in the right direction soon. It got better wth air and food to become more balanced, but never really impressed.
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10/11/2015 - Wine_Bear Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wine was properly stored from purchase upon release until consumed. Good color, no brown edges. Initial bouquet has lots of fruit, peaches and cream, berries. Well balanced. Lovely.
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5/31/2015 - sabinbonita wrote: 94 Points
Outstanding.Caymus is always reliable but this is one of there best.
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10/31/2014 - ACR16719 Likes this wine: 90 Points
awesome.
Full bodied. Maybe at or just past it's peak
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3/15/2014 - hjstern Likes this wine: 91 Points
Now very elegant. Little fruit and little bouquet but a pure wine pleasure
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2/28/2014 - smokey17 wrote: 90 Points
Very soft, drinkable, and don't wait any longer! Best with food that isn't too strong so it doesn't get overpowered. Enjoyable!
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1/28/2014 - hrazdiiv Likes this wine: 93 Points
Given how fruit forward this wine is upon release, I was very surprised at how well this bottle has held up. Drinking very beautifully with a nice backbone of fruit but the oak has softened a little at this point. Not at all over the hill as other posts suggest- and the difference is not decanting the wine. Anyone who decants a wine like this for hours shouldn't be surprised when it falls apart in the glass. Still had a nice colour to it, with just a hint of brick on the rim. A testament to this great vintage in California.
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11/23/2013 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 88 Points
Thought this might have been too old at first. Decanted and aerated then poured. Dark garnet color with a touch of bricking. Opened a bit harsh and astringent. Over the next hour, opened and softened a bit to reveal some additional fruit...plum, cassis, blueberry and some additional complexity. Clearly improved with air but still was not as good as expected.
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10/13/2013 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is a very good and well made wine. When tasted side-by side with the 1997 Plumpjack Oakville Reserve, however, the Caymus was much softer, with almost non-existant tannins. This Caymus is well into its optimal drinking window, so it's time to start polishing these off.
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10/5/2013 - christopher marlowe wrote: 94 Points
Lovely vanilla notes
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8/20/2013 - ghobby wrote: 92 Points
Excellent bottle, lots of fruit, deep finish
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7/30/2013 - wino121 wrote: 89 Points
Shes getting tired..drink up.
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2/24/2013 - Dangelmaier wrote:
First time I had an old caymus, lost its vanilla and fruit forwardness, I was disappointed I would drink right away
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2/11/2013 - wallstreet wrote: 89 Points
This used to be a great bottle of wine. Alas, it is now somewhat over the hill. Not objectionable, but a shadow of it's former self. If you have any drink asap.....it will only get worse....
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1/11/2013 - Lype Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful powerful nose, in the palate there is vanilla strawberries, very good structure, nice supporting tannins. I really like this style.
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12/22/2012 - jbouchy Likes this wine: 92 Points
The last of the 97's. An epic vintage. I had low expectations as the previous 97 Caymus i tasted did not age well. I was pleasantly surprised with this bottle however. Perfect cork. Decanted for 1 1/2 hours and enjoyed with a New York strip...well matched. Medium red in color. Nicely balanced while the tannins had faded away. A surprising amount of fruit layered with slate and pencil lead. I must confess that this is the first time that I have ever described a wine with slate and pencil lead, but the minerality was showing nicely. This was a nice farewell to the 97 vintage.
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9/14/2012 - Vinobruin wrote: 89 Points
Drink up - a real disappointment. This time wine was decanted. Only possible issue, wine was served a little warm - about 68/69 - Try true cellar temp around 62 - might right structure better.
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8/4/2012 - greyhound93 wrote: 93 Points
Wow, just wow. A great wine that has aged gracefully in my Eurocave. It seemed like the right time to drink this wine - not sure how it would be in coming years. Sorry we didn't have a second bottle.
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7/28/2012 - RBaird wrote: 89 Points
Stored properly in cellar. Deep ruby color. bold fruit, yet has lost delight. Darn....should have drunk sooner!
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7/19/2012 - Vinobruin wrote: 89 Points
Stored properly since release. Allow still inky color, not much going on. Was a bit disappointed for this wine, especially the vintage. A bit light and slight tart. We did not decant which might have been a mistake, but wine sitting in the glass through dinner did not improve.
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6/11/2012 - Gladstone Lake wrote: 94 Points
Awesome. No evidence of decline here.
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5/27/2012 - bluedog wrote: 91 Points
Delicious, but on the decline - everything is integrated. Drink now!
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4/28/2012 - Chains1966 wrote: 85 Points
Well the last of my 97's. Think these need to be drunk. The wine although still holding together is starting to lag on the fruit side. It is like cabernet with equal or syrupy!! I believe these are no longer in their prime.
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2/19/2012 - hyork wrote:
relatively light - starting to decline - past its time !!
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2/11/2012 - Arch57 wrote: 94 Points
Wow this was a phenomenal bottle. Sourced this on the Internet in Nov-11 and I always wondered how Caymus would age as they seem so good when young. Dark ruby/garnet color with no sign of any age. Right away from the bottle a nice nose of cloves and red raspberries. This was a very fine example of what I really enjoy in a Cali-cab. Smooth, velvet with a nice long finish this was an extremely balanced wine that we really enjoyed.
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2/11/2012 - emkc wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. Ready to drink. Sweet jammy fruit but by no means "big". Quite elegant.
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2/4/2012 - theferb wrote: 91 Points
Still nice but a bit on the decline. Some of the fruit gone. We let it decant for some time and did not get better. Drink now.
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12/31/2011 - TL Likes this wine: 89 Points
a little past its prime
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11/23/2011 - mstreger wrote: 94 Points
Sublime. A great example of layered flavors and depth.
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11/19/2011 - J2K wrote:
Tasted blind--smells delicious, oak and sweetness. Palate is dry, fruit is hidden, some pepper, lots of oak, thinking it needs more time.
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9/17/2011 - dontime wrote:
Decanted 30 minutes before tasting. Nose of green pepper and black fruit. Smooth black fruit on the palate with additional notes of mushroom and earth. Tannins have settled down and this is drinking very nicely now.
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8/21/2011 - Wine-dragon wrote: 92 Points
Understated elegance, nice nose, not over powering, smooth tannins refined over time, hints of blackberry, light on the palate and finish. But not sure if it is worth the initial price of $85+ over 10 years ago.
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8/8/2011 - ZorroCT wrote: 93 Points
Great bottle. Currant, cherries, bell pepper, cedar and earth. Tannins faded. All flavor. Drinking well now.
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8/7/2011 - Grillgod wrote: 93 Points
Still loaded with dark fruit, but very elegant now, not the big bruiser these wine can be at a younger age. Still rich dark berries and licorice flavors with a nice subtle earthiness on the nose and palate. Outstanding wine that we enjoyed after our meal, but this has the grace and elegance now to pair well with more than red meat.
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4/17/2011 - BinVA wrote: 90 Points
Much better than the last bottle. Nose of tire rubber, which wasn't too appealing, but tasted great. The nose burned off after 45 minutes and it was all enjoyable.
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4/10/2011 - Thirsty1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very dark and inky, youthful. It smelled like suntan lotion, lots of coconut and boysenberry - very sweet. Massive fruit and very good balance with precision. Not what I was expecting at all with a large finish. Very good.
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4/3/2011 - Mark in Seattle wrote: 95 Points
Let it breathe an hour or two. It's worth the wait.
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3/30/2011 - Druidh wrote: 93 Points
Like eating black cherries in a cedar closet. Wonderful cedar aromas and lots of perfectly ripe, but not overdone fruit. Good acid, nice balance and not exaggerated in any way. Have had several Napa '97's lately and this one was at the top of the class.
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3/13/2011 - Decant it wrote: 92 Points
Great vintage for Caymus who consistently delivers. This was no exception with huge fruit bomb, well balanced on the mid palate and nice long silky finish.
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2/6/2011 - Thiemo wrote: 95 Points
At its prime now - good time to drink. Very nice nose. Plenty of ripe red berries accompanied by a hint of chili peppers. On the palate wonderfully smooth with a nice, earthy finish. A hint of tannins, but I don't think there's much more ageing potential. However, it's definitely not too late, either. Decanted for two hours and then had it with a hearty German beef dish. Near perfect.
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1/30/2011 - neilr wrote: 95 Points
Really lovely. Contrary to some other notes, we didn't find this over the hill at all. Sure, the fruit isn't all up front but this still had great dark fruit smell, and taste. Some earthiness too, making it a perfect companion to the braised short ribs and root vegetable puree. Wish I had more...
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1/22/2011 - STGivens wrote: 91 Points
Nice velvet mouthfeel. Cedar, Cassis, well balanced wine
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12/31/2010 - jmprusko Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drinking beautifully, classic example of CA Cab.
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12/27/2010 - BinVA wrote: 87 Points
Fruit is all but gone, drink up.
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11/22/2010 - matthen wrote: 88 Points
Very well integrated structure with some fading fruit. Plum, cassis, earth and currant are still present and won't last very much longer. Drink now.
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10/2/2010 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 91 Points
showing its age - some plums still
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8/13/2010 - RobertDwyer wrote: 94 Points
Would have pegged this for being 7-10 years old if tasting it blind (as opposed to the 13 years it is). The cork was in fantastic condition with a very dark end but otherwise looked like it was 3 years old. If you're lucky enough to have a bottle of this and you're wondering whether it will get any better with age I say: Drink Now.
I don't think it's getting any better. But at the same time I don't think it's over the hill. Delicious stuff with a hint of the swagger it had in its youth that has been replaced with wisdom. What's impressive here is that these wines are enjoyable upon release yet can age and evolve beautifully as evidenced in this wine.
Is there a more consistent producer in Napa?
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7/19/2010 - cgrimes wrote: 94 Points
Dark ruby to purple. Nose of blackberries, cassis, spice, oak. Similar on the palate with some mint and chocolate. Good tannic structure and fruit profile which should allow this to hold up for several years. Good drinking now, though. Very rich.
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7/18/2010 - ricknat1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is nice, but not complex and suffered from being drunk after a 1990 Silverado Stags Leap which blew it away. slightly jammy, but not too, mid weight.
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5/23/2010 - wallstreet wrote:
Another enjoyable bottle of 97 Caymus. 2 hour slow ox, then 1 hour into decanter prior to consumption. I have had this wine many many times and always seek it out when it is at a reasonable price. Serge and I cooked up some T-bones which was the perfect compliment. This wine continues to improve and provide total pleasure. The nose was a full bouquet of cherries, blackberries, a hint of earthiness. Once in the mouth, the secondaries are very evident, black fruit, leather, a bit of oak as the flavors were quite integrated and worked in harmony as it filled my mouth. The finish was incredibly long. Longer than I remember it. This is a classic Ca. Cab without the major fruit bomb attitude. The only bad part is that this was my very last bottle but I will seek out more when the opportunity arises. This wine never failed to deliver in all the years I have been drinking it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED A+++
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5/23/2010 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
I haven't had this bottle in over 5 years and this one was as good as they come, maybe even slightly better. Plenty of life left and 3 hours decanting brought the best this wine can deliver. Drink, hold, enjoy, it's all good and worth the effort to find more bottles.
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1/22/2010 - michigan dogs wrote: 93 Points
Recently received this bottle as a gift from a friend who does not have a cellar. i figured that the wine needed to be drank quickly so we did a mini verticle vs. the 2007. When I went to remove the cork it quickly fell apart, oops, worried that it would be flawed. Decanted for a short period. Wine was outstanding, Mark, Rob, and Joe thought it was better than the 07 and loved the wine. Rob said"best wine he's ever tasted"
The 97 was lighter in color and not as heavy in the mouth. Both wines were outstanding and the 07 improved with time. The 97 did not give any indication of being pass it's drinking window.
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11/26/2009 - ToddR911 wrote: 88 Points
We figured Thanksgiving is a great time to open up this Caymus magnum. Decanted for 2 1/2 hours. There really wasn't much sediment but the cork had some purple throughout so I'm glad we opened it up. I'd have to say it was average for a Caymus. Some of our guests thought it was delicious. But it still seemed a bit green for me.
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10/4/2009 - ricknat1 wrote: 91 Points
Pepper, spice, leather with blended with rich, dark fruits. Decanted for an hour and it got better with time. Not complex, but a pleasure to drink. No signs of age, but at the top of its game
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8/21/2009 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 96 Points
This is one of the best wines I have ever tasted. Purchased at the winery and stored in the best possible condition we have here in South Carolina. We opened and decanted 2 hours before drinking. To get to 96 points, you need layers, depth, and concentration. No disappointment here. There is just a hint of flowers on the nose, with a thick rich aroma of ground and plenty of blue fruit. At 11 plus years, the what must have been powerful oak has stepped into the background, helping reveal all the good stuff. Still young, dark and vibrant, could use another hour in the decanter. Heavy, mature, dark, focused blueberry and blackberry fruit. On the palate we are getting some of those secondary flavors like leather and licorice. I think there is a bit of eucalyptus near this vineyard. The finish is starting to show some graphite and road tar with the fruit. Seamless silky tannins. It was a shame to have to share this. No spitting.
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8/4/2009 - djdaqm wrote: 92 Points
Double decanted prior to taking this wine to Fleming's Steakhouse. Some sediment upon decanting, and the wine was a little shy on the nose at first. After pouring at the restaurant and letting it air for another 20 minutes it opened up well. Smells included cedar, beef stew, and some warm spices. Tannins are well integrated at this point, but there is considerable acid which should allow this wine to age a bit longer (although I don't know if that would really improve it). Initial tartness on the palate with some licorice and dark berries. On the back end there is some buttery/waxy vanilla typical of American oak, which I didn't find to be excessive. Length of about 30 seconds. Not extremely complex or nuanced, but very enjoyable to drink.
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8/2/2009 - jmprusko wrote: 88 Points
good but lacked explosive oak and finish typical of caymus
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6/19/2009 - EyeDoc wrote: 88 Points
Great nose on opening - creosote, blackberries and currants, some dried flowers. On the palate still has some good fruit - not as bright as a young wine but silky smooth tannins - still a hint of alcohol lingers. A very very good wine. Still shows too much oak which detracts a bit.
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6/15/2009 - scxt wrote: 85 Points
Meh, disappointing for price paid and expectations.
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6/15/2009 - scxt wrote: 85 Points
Meh.
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5/7/2009 - Breguet wrote: 95 Points
Outstanding. Opened an hour before and would have decanted if we had one at the office :-) Got better and better - great long finish. Still tastes like has some time left - very pleased to have 3 left.
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4/8/2009 - bryon m wrote: 91 Points
We tasted the 1997 and 1998 Caymus side by side. Both wines had deep red color and good body. The 1998 was a bit rough and really did not taste all that good. I considered this one corked. The 1997 was nice from the start and got better as time went on. After an hour it was soft, it had more dark fruit and chocolate type flavors. Very nice!
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3/15/2009 - guitarguy wrote: 95 Points
I am not given to superlatives but after this warmed from cellar and was decanted using a venturi aerator I only have one word to say...WOW. I had a trio of the'91 Caymus SS (99 points WS) and I never remember it tasting as good as this even when consumed with about the same bottle age. Nose redolent of freshly turned Rutherford dirt (I assume this is Rutherford, St. Helena and environs fruit), crushed raspberry, a certain almost Martha's mintiness. Awesomely integrated, tannins there but so in balance with the fruit and acid. Just a hint of agey oxidized carmel that disappeared on aeration, the wine is still youthful but showing a graceful Helen Mirren streak. Crushed blueberry, raspberry and red currant with a hint of wood and vanilla. Just beautfiul right now, very silky mouthfeel from the harmonious integration of tannn, acid and fruit. If I had more, I would certainly consider drinking them for maximum enjoyment. If you had a case, save one...but the rest are just butter right now. This wine spent most of its life at either 55 Degrees F (wine unit) or 63 deg. F (passive basement) so you would have to consider it well cared for.
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1/19/2009 - gordoh wrote: 94 Points
Excellent. Ready. Will not get any better with age.
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1/17/2009 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 88 Points
This wine was not the best Caymus we had -- not sure if the bottle was off compared to expectations and previous tastings or this wine is nearing end of life. Was a bit disappointing as the fruit was almost gone and the oak was the most notable item.
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12/31/2008 - Arcturus wrote: 93 Points
New Year's Eve 2008 with Friends: Caymus 1996.97.98.99 plus a few special guests (B & N Ranch): Decanted 3 hours. Nose- floral bouquet accented with a touch of licorice. Seemed feminine relative to the 96. Mediium-weight midpalate. Elegant, soft mouthfeel and fine tannins on the finish. A close second for me on the night out of the 1996,97,98,99 lineup. 93
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9/20/2008 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ripe cherry, toast and spice on the nose. More ripe cherry and some earth on the palate.
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8/18/2008 - bryon m wrote: 91 Points
Vertical tasting 92, 97, 02 and 06. the range was chosen to provide perspective on how the wine ages over time. The years did vary but the wine maker and where the grapes come from have not changed. 07 was a great year but for Caymus every year is great and this wine was still excellent. This wine compared to the 92 had more body, more fruit and a similar finish. Over-all a great wine at a good value.
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5/2/2008 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 92 Points
The immeadiate perfume on the nose after opeing the wine was exactly what you hope for on an aged cali cab. The strong hinds of earthiness and fruit poured out. While the first sips (wihtin minutes of opening) were not as good, after the wine decanted for several hours it opened up beautifully. If you are a fan of cali cabs as I am, this wine was worth the wait and met all of my expectations. I do think it is at is peak and will not get better with more age, but I also do not think it is on the decline.
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4/29/2008 - guitarguy wrote: 91 Points
Very nice for an eleven year old Cali Cab made in the beginning of the overextraction era by one of the biggest offenders. The nose is a little closed but green olives and red currant pop out after a few seconds of deep snuffing (Riedel Vinum Cab glasses). There is also a top note of Rutherford dirt to the nose (ashey, dirty, etc.). Nice deep crimson color but very little sediement in the bottle. I am betting there was a fair amount of filtering and fining before bottling. Very nice long legs on the glass and the flavor profile tends towards red currant, Rutherford dust, blueberry, Martha's Vineyard mint and a nice 45 second finish. Very moderate to almost nonexistent tannin and enough acidity but not at all sour or mouthpuckering. I think we are in its best drinking window...quaff now, minions. In truth, I think this drank better than the three bottles of 1991 (99 WS Rated) Special Select I drank a couple of years ago.
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4/28/2008 - Gfritzh wrote: 87 Points
Improved with air time. A good wine which, unfortunately, was overwhelmed by American Oak.
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3/2/2008 - BradE wrote:
Decent, but nothing to write home about. Still very youthful.
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12/20/2007 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 94 Points
French Bakery BYO 1990's Cali Cab Sauv dominant wines; 12/19/2007-12/20/2007: Janet & Jorge's wine. Exceptional, drinking beautifully now, and shared WOTF, and WOTN with the 97 Phelps Insignia. Still has years left. This was clearly the flight of the night. I was surpirised this showed so well, because the CT reviews of my 97 Special Select(which I have not tried), have been circumspect. A complete wine, bouquet, palate and finish. Jorge and I also shared our appreciation for Caymus' Belle Glos. All tribute to a consistently outstanding producer.
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12/1/2007 - ntdavis1 wrote: 92 Points
Fabulous Caymus nose upon opening. Drank with filet and enjoyed every drop although it is getting a little thin towards the end. Finished off with pieces of Flagrants Desirs 72% Cocoa Dark Chocolate which brought out all that rich sweet Napa Cab Fruit that I love about Caymus. I reminded me of a wonderful molten chocolate cake.
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10/29/2007 - sakemakibug wrote: 90 Points
had with the bobcat and wife. most thought yum; i thought a bit oaky and heavy. nonetheless, some stoner fruitier bordeaux-like stuff going down.
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10/23/2007 - Phin wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 1 hour. Really nice mouthfeel, good balance. Black cherry. The age shows through slightly. Limited to no finish though. For my palate, this would have been better a couple years ago.
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10/21/2007 - spts1000 wrote:
Caymus 1995-2000 (202 NYC): no formal notes. this wine was very well structured and balanced. a great effort and wonderful wine.
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10/21/2007 - ScubaSommelier wrote: 90 Points
a little overrated and passed its prime. drink soon.
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6/18/2007 - Beachdad wrote: 95 Points
Opened for Father's Day and had with grilled filet mignon.
Outstanding and perfect with grilled steak. Chcolate and berries.
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6/2/2007 - JFish wrote:
Red currants, Cherry and dill. Not a good combination. Too much dill for me. My palate has obviously changed since the time I bought (and enjoyed) this wine.
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4/11/2007 - Marc S wrote: 95 Points
Great bottle of fruit. Typical Caymus. Chuck Wagner knows what he is doing.
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3/28/2007 - vintage61 wrote: 92 Points
Hard to be fair because it was up against a wall of reserve bottlings that dominated the tasting. Still an excellent botle of wine with at least a couple more years left in it. JP
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3/22/2007 - Beachdad wrote: 93 Points
Smoothe as silk after being opened for 2 hours and decanted. Berries and chocolate.
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2/3/2007 - tonyo123 wrote: 94 Points
Very perfumed on the mose. Good rush of fruit. Well integrated with gritty mineral and grit finish. Wonderful wine drinking well now but vould go another 5 years.
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1/30/2007 - Marc S wrote: 95 Points
This is 1 of my favoriate wines. Big, bold dark red ruby wine. Tastes wonderful with a T-bone steak. Geat fruit. Tasted better the second day. Great long finish. Lots of cherry in this wine.
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1/24/2007 - azwinelover wrote: 85 Points
Nice, but nothing special, I think I waited to long. I was expecting more out of a 97. Had 1 bottle, and sold rest of my case.
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12/30/2006 - Dharts wrote: 92 Points
Exceptional with a New York Strip at Steamer's.
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11/25/2006 - kkazaks wrote: 86 Points
Historical note from Oct 06.
Had hoped for better - after all, it's a 97.
Farily dark purple color. Tannins still a bit better on the finish and overall more dominated than the fruit. Rutherford dust (or dust, anyway). Not unpleasant but not properly complemented by other characteristics. I don't know if I'd wait.
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11/15/2006 - wineismylife wrote: 88 Points
Dallas Offline - 1996 & 1997 California Cabernet Tasting (Il Sole, Dallas, TX): WIML88,WA86,WS91
Tasted November 15, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking. Nose of plums, smoke and anise. Flavors of black plums, black berries and black currants. Light to medium acidity, light to medium tannins with medium body. Drink now.
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11/15/2006 - win wrote: 89 Points
Dallas OL Il Sole (Il Sole, Dallas): Interesting wine, but seemed just a bit past its prime.
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10/21/2006 - Alpine wrote: 89 Points
Very nice fruit up front but somewhat hollow in the mid palate....from other bottles I have had I thought that this might be going in the wrong direction.
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9/14/2006 - MarkC wrote: 90 Points
Only had a glass, and didn't take close notes, but the flavors and experience were similar to a month ago.
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8/20/2006 - MarkC wrote: 92 Points
Wow - this wine is singing. Rich, mouthcoating palate of strawberries, currants, some spice, fine tannins, and a long finish. I am actually glad that I have more of these in the cellar!
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6/17/2006 - brianofthevine wrote: 94 Points
Red/black fruits with sweet vanilla oak. Long finish with smooth tannins.
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6/16/2006 - EyeDoc wrote: 90 Points
This improved on the second night. Maybe a little sulfite on day one - just some funk but it blew off by day two. Decent medium body with blackcherries. Drink now.
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2/20/2006 - bdenuyl wrote: 91 Points
Fairly classic Caymus, with good depth and richness and drinking well now, although it should keep for another 10 years. It is not as good as some Caymus, but still very good.
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1/1/2006 - psmith wrote: 90 Points
Characteristic Caymus olive and chocolate notes with some dark cherry. Actually really nicely textured on the palate, with decent weight and plenty of fine, balanced tannin remaining. Classically styled.
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12/31/2005 - 6831 wrote: 91 Points
14.3% alcohol
Very dark core, garnet edge.
Aromas are ripe and rich showing currant, pine, wet earth.
Elegant and balanced with ripe cassis flavors joined by red cherry, tart plum, vanillin, pipe tobacco, a touch of lead. Oak is not subtle, especially through the finish, but integrates into the wine nicely. Would score higher if more complex.
Medium-full body. Tasty stuff. Decanted 2 hrs. Drink or hold
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11/25/2005 - KevinS wrote: 94 Points
Absolutely drinking great. Impressive stuff.
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9/4/2005 - brianofthevine wrote: 93 Points
Black cherry and rich vanilla flavors. Well rounded, full bodied, very seemless.
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8/17/2005 - skwid wrote:
Wow, I'm impressed with this. Lots of berry notes and the tannins have really calmed down.
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10/25/2003 - R2-D2 wrote: 88 Points
I thought this might be a 97 Bordeaux with it's funky earthy, brett, soy sauce, cassis and chalk nose. That earthy sensation carries over to the palate and it picks up red fruits, dark cherries, black pepper and a touch of bay leaf. Despite the plusses, the wine still maintains some uncomfortable sour acidity. Your decision, might improve with time.
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10/8/2003 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby red color. Notes of cherry, currant and chocolatey oak with some underlying herbal nuances. Improving. 92.
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5/1/2001 - Double-A Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep, dark ruby colour. Mocha, black currants, vanilla, toasty oak and olive nose. Medium-full bodied with moderate acid and firm tannins. Good fruit and length.
4/5
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