This was a 40 year old regular Caymus cabernet sauvignon bottling from back when Randy Dunn was the winemaker and the Caymus style was modeled somewhat on Bordeaux. (Today the style seems to be a late picked fruit blend that drinks better earlier with food). This bottle was decanted for many hours. The initial impression was that of a medium-bodied mature St Julien from a good year, but it was difficult to pinpoint a single lingering flavor. It seemed to change from ‘briary’ to ’sweet cherry’ after a few seconds. Stated alcohol was 13%. No oxidation at all. The tannins were very soft and fine. No discernible oak. Only a trace of sediment. A light red color with a slight brown edge. Bright flavors but only a modest nose, it needs to sit in the glass awhile to develop. All in all, complex and very pleasurable. Pointless to give a numerical rating to an interesting but not ‘big and perfect’ old wine such as this.
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Coravin for our anniversary dinner. Bright color, good nose, bright fruit flavor vs the Margaux which I described as mature fruit. Both are special and need to be drunk up.
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Garnet color and translucent with bricking to the edge. The smells are iron, vegetal smells, cherry, and leather. The tastes are sour cherry, raw meat, whiff of pepper, and we'll integrated tannins with a nice tart finish.
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Medium garnet-red color, flecks of floating sediments. Prune-y nose, with black olives, pipe tobacco, spearmint and a musty wood overtone. On arrival, negligible tannin and low acidity. Nice in the mouth, still very Cabernet Sauvignon: olives and roasted cherry-plum fruit, chocolate and vanilla. Sweet-sour finish, a little chalk-y (tannin emerging). What a treat, from a well-stored magnum, upper mid shoulder fill.
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Dinner at home on Valentines and another way to celebrate our anniversary. Last bottle and it was fantastic. Great nose and color. Fruit still there and what a fitting way to say I love you to my bride of 29 years. This is a classic.
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This bottle was just in a perfect place, I've never been convinced of Caymus before but this one got me. Wonderful cut hay smell on the nose and all the tannins have faded far into the background pushing the fruit forward. Slightly garnet at the rim the wine still seemed suprisingly spry for it's age. Definitely a winner!
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At Singer & Foy. One of the darker wines of the tasting, though nowhere near opaque. Nose has somewhat neutral fruit. Palate is a bit better, with some body and richness. Still, not a "standout." 5-9-15-7: 86/100.
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With Brett, Diane, Dan and Halina at Halina's 1980 cab tasting. Quite dark ruby color. Touch of tomato. Raisiny. Flavor is OK, not great. Not fading, but not impressive. 5-7-10-4: 76/100.
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Tasting of 11 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignons. Showed a corked nose that blew off slowly, rich fruity taste of wine, solid medium finish. My #11 and Group #11.
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Tasting of 11 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignons. This was a tremendous surprise to me. rich, fruity nosw with a hint of allspice, rich, fruity mouthful of wine with enough acid and tannin to age longer, long, gorgeous finish. My #1 and Group tie #3.
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Tasting of 9 red wines, 5 Cabernet Sauvignons and 4 Bordeaux. Brick red color, rich perfume of cabernet nose, more of the same in the mouth, rich blackberry fruit, at its peak now, typical Caymus. my first place, Group #6.
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3/23/2020 - BeginTheBourgogne Likes this wine:
This was a 40 year old regular Caymus cabernet sauvignon bottling from back when Randy Dunn was the winemaker and the Caymus style was modeled somewhat on Bordeaux. (Today the style seems to be a late picked fruit blend that drinks better earlier with food). This bottle was decanted for many hours. The initial impression was that of a medium-bodied mature St Julien from a good year, but it was difficult to pinpoint a single lingering flavor. It seemed to change from ‘briary’ to ’sweet cherry’ after a few seconds. Stated alcohol was 13%. No oxidation at all. The tannins were very soft and fine. No discernible oak. Only a trace of sediment. A light red color with a slight brown edge. Bright flavors but only a modest nose, it needs to sit in the glass awhile to develop. All in all, complex and very pleasurable. Pointless to give a numerical rating to an interesting but not ‘big and perfect’ old wine such as this.
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6/29/2019 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 92 Points
Coravin for our anniversary dinner. Bright color, good nose, bright fruit flavor vs the Margaux which I described as mature fruit. Both are special and need to be drunk up.
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6/2/2017 - Venice Al wrote: 83 Points
Bell pepper, Lipton chicken soup mix and hot pepper nose. Palate is flat and under ripe. Pruney black fruit. Underwhelming!
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5/30/2015 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Garnet color and translucent with bricking to the edge. The smells are iron, vegetal smells, cherry, and leather. The tastes are sour cherry, raw meat, whiff of pepper, and we'll integrated tannins with a nice tart finish.
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3/5/2015 - Hodby wrote: 80 Points
Medium garnet-red color, flecks of floating sediments. Prune-y nose, with black olives, pipe tobacco, spearmint and a musty wood overtone. On arrival, negligible tannin and low acidity. Nice in the mouth, still very Cabernet Sauvignon: olives and roasted cherry-plum fruit, chocolate and vanilla. Sweet-sour finish, a little chalk-y (tannin emerging). What a treat, from a well-stored magnum, upper mid shoulder fill.
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2/14/2009 - jlgnml wrote: 95 Points
Dinner at home on Valentines and another way to celebrate our anniversary. Last bottle and it was fantastic. Great nose and color. Fruit still there and what a fitting way to say I love you to my bride of 29 years. This is a classic.
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5/8/2007 - jolson wrote: 94 Points
This bottle was just in a perfect place, I've never been convinced of Caymus before but this one got me. Wonderful cut hay smell on the nose and all the tannins have faded far into the background pushing the fruit forward. Slightly garnet at the rim the wine still seemed suprisingly spry for it's age. Definitely a winner!
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7/3/1993 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Caymus Vintage Tasting (Hi-Time Wine Cellars, Costa Mesa, Ca.): Denser than the 1979, dusty, briary fruit on the nose, hint of green stems, pleasant, almost chew fruit on the palate, very good berry finish.
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2/1/1992 - MicklethePickle wrote: 86 Points
At Singer & Foy. One of the darker wines of the tasting, though nowhere near opaque. Nose has somewhat neutral fruit. Palate is a bit better, with some body and richness. Still, not a "standout." 5-9-15-7: 86/100.
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1/5/1992 - MicklethePickle Does not like this wine: 76 Points
With Brett, Diane, Dan and Halina at Halina's 1980 cab tasting. Quite dark ruby color. Touch of tomato. Raisiny. Flavor is OK, not great. Not fading, but not impressive. 5-7-10-4: 76/100.
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3/13/1991 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Caymus Special Selection 1975-1986+ (San Francisco, Ca.): Rich, almost overrripe fruit on the nose, rich bottle bouquet, fruit at peak, 2 years past peak, long berry finish, and aftertaste.
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11/24/1990 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 76 Points
Tasting of 11 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignons. Showed a corked nose that blew off slowly, rich fruity taste of wine, solid medium finish. My #11 and Group #11.
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11/24/1990 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasting of 11 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignons. This was a tremendous surprise to me. rich, fruity nosw with a hint of allspice, rich, fruity mouthful of wine with enough acid and tannin to age longer, long, gorgeous finish. My #1 and Group tie #3.
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10/12/1990 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tasting of 9 red wines, 5 Cabernet Sauvignons and 4 Bordeaux. Brick red color, rich perfume of cabernet nose, more of the same in the mouth, rich blackberry fruit, at its peak now, typical Caymus. my first place, Group #6.
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