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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 93.3 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 595 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Delli on 10/21/2023: I know we’re out of the community drinking window but the wine was a drinking well and I suspect (no more of this vintage) has years left. (2386 views) | | | Tasted by pdicorpo on 8/28/2023 & rated 95 points: This remains one of the favorite American wines. Perfectly aged. Incredibly well-balanced but with solid notes of dark berries and black currants. This was absolutely delicious (2401 views) | | | Tasted by awineo on 7/24/2023 & rated 95 points: Always consistent.
At 24 years the wine aged nicely, still retaining full body and aged tannins. (2568 views) | | | Tasted by Adventr.us on 4/22/2023 & rated 91 points: This was a gift bottle, tendered on release. It's been in my cellar since. And in that sense, it was a most gracious and considerate gift. I'm definitely grateful for that friend's thoughtfulness. Since then, it's even appreciated in value to the point where I would never buy this bottle for me ... so I'm just that much more appreciative that my friend did. However, gratitude aside ...
It's fine - lots of fruit still present, tannins largely resolved, everything in balance. While the CT drink-by date suggests "drink up", I think it'll hold for plenty more years with no issue.
The problem is, I just don't really like these style wines anymore. It's the quintessential Parker-fruit-bomb that I also enjoyed in their golden era ... but my tastes have long since evolved. Just too big, too much heat on the back end, no nuance or layers or intrigue. I thought our grilled grass-fed/finished strip steaks and lamb-loin chops would help mellow it out, but to me, it was still just a punch in the face, and that's it.
If you like this style, it's a solid example. But given my evolving palate, it wasn't worth anywhere near the valuation to me ... (3322 views) | | | Tasted by Miceri on 1/7/2023 & rated 97 points: Dark red; after a few hours a very impressive nose, tons of sweet licorice; very rounded and balanced, nice very soft tannins, long sweety aftertaste; best Special Selection ever tasted - it does need age! (4056 views) | | | Tasted by llavoe on 12/31/2022 & rated 92 points: Very dark color.
Good aromas,
Still very full bodied.
Signs of age present but very solid and smooth. (2473 views) | | | Tasted by EdKz@comcast.net on 10/23/2022 & rated 89 points: purple, full body, blue and black fruits, voluptuous, density of flavors muddled with finish. enjoyable on its own, so-so with Asian-midly spiced ribs. poor qpr (3124 views) | | | Tasted by nywine68 on 10/21/2022 & rated 90 points: Explosive nose of raspberries. Overtly sweet. Very fine tannins. Stewed figs and black olives. Long finish. Sweetness overpowers the latent complexity underneath (2829 views) | | | Tasted by TZins on 9/29/2022: drank with sonny and lisa (2232 views) | | | Tasted by CornDoggyDogg on 9/2/2022 & rated 95 points: Typical Caymus Special Selection. No formal notes but I was able to guess the wine blind. It's exactly what I expect and hope for from this wine. A little bit of everything on the nose and palate except that some of the red fruit was gone. Tannins super soft and silky - incredibly easy to drink. Wish I'd opened it a year or two ago. There's still plenty of life left but my guess is the best days are behind it. Love this wine every time. So impressive for a large production Cabernet. (1952 views) | | | Tasted by CWilliam on 6/5/2022 & rated 92 points: CA Cabernet vs. Bordeaux and Italy (Paul's House (in Town) - (May 15, 2022)): CA Cab vs. Bordeaux / Italy Tasting (all tasted blind)
Wine #6 of 10
The wine that created this tasting (see tasting event for more details). Blacker in glass than all previous wines. On nose, cassis, blackberry and tobacco. On palate, fruit was very sweet & soft - this has aged well and was not oxidized. Full body (clearly a CA cab), medium tannins and low acidity (much lower than all previous wines). This was a wine that was better on its' own than with food (93+/- on own, 91+/- with food).
Figured this was my wine and I was correct. While not in top 3 of tasting, this wine impressed the French / Italian leaning tasting group. (3191 views) | | | Tasted by isdblm@lsu.edu on 5/19/2022 & rated 95 points: Still excellent but should be attended to soon if you have it. (2340 views) | | | Tasted by ayalao3 on 3/29/2022 & rated 94 points: 93-94 (3047 views) | | | Tasted by SkeBum on 2/5/2022 & rated 90 points: Pulled from the cellar and decanted for a hour or so. Deep red color, cork in great shape. (Note to other “high” end cab makers, 1.5 inch corks work best for wine that is made to be aged) Anyway, nose is oak and dark fruit, with a whiff of alcohol. Palate is good. Guests loved it, I personally thought the finish was just okay. Tannins and everything are working well. I personally consider this maker a second tier Napa Cab producer, and rated it as such.(If you don’t consider this maker as such, that is fine also) However, having drank some of the All Stars Cabs over the years this is a top notch California Cab, just not the top level. Drinking well, management aka the wife wants me to pull another bottle from storage, so I will. (3126 views) | | | Tasted by La Cave d'Argent on 12/16/2021 & rated 96 points: Purchased upon release and pristinely cellared, this opaque garnet wine was decanted off of its sediment and allowed five hours in decanter prior to initiating the tasting process. Aromatically oozing with dark bramble fruits, black currants, holiday spice cake, violets, cocoa and lavender, it is a full-bodied Cab with low-to-medium acidity, seamless alcohol (14.9%), nicely assimilated oak and plentiful velvety-textured tannins. With luscious flavors that mirror the aromas, a dense mid-palate and lengthy finish, this is classic-quality, quintessential Napa Cabernet that is drinking beautifully at this point. Comparably cellared bottles will have no difficulty reaching their twenty-fifth birthday with grace. Drink now-2034. (3847 views) | | | Tasted by Risky on 11/26/2021 & rated 93 points: Heavy body, complex, dark berries, very smooth (2813 views) | | | Tasted by Lockareff on 11/6/2021 & rated 95 points: Beautiful. Absolutely in the zone. Feels like its at its peak...drink up over the next 1-2 years. (3039 views) | | | Tasted by Verb on 9/5/2021 & rated 94 points: dark red with no age apparent on the rim - intense cherry and blackberry fruit with a touch of eucalyptus - huge full-bodied mouth with predominant sweet red cherry fruit and licorice - very light ripe tannins, low acidity - 30 second long smooth finish - a classic Caymus SS that is drinking very well now, but not sure what will be left once the fruit drops out - tasted alongside 2009 Ch Cantemerle - perhaps not the best comparator, but clearly showed the stark differences between the more structured Bordeaux and the in-your-face fruit of CA cabs - each to his/her preference, but I'd drink the Caymus now and hold the Cantermerle for another 5-10 years
(3260 views) | | | Tasted by Bodyfxr on 8/21/2021 & rated 95 points: This baby is singing right now. Can probably go another two to three years but as for balance with adequate fruit and perfect tannin structure and acidity this wine is right in its sweet spot. See previous notes for characteristics/etc. Drink or hold. (2619 views) | | | Tasted by JS199 on 8/15/2021 & rated 95 points: Awesome bottle again, similar to May note. (2506 views) | | | Tasted by Tony Simo on 6/29/2021 & rated 96 points: June 29, 2021: Erik’s tasting with Derek and Jen. All 2009’s tasted blind. The Ridge Monte Bello was elegant and refined and for me was the wine of the evening TS97. Camus Special Select was a surprise 2nd with its signature silky taste and nose. TS96. Shader Hillside Select was a close 3rd, also silky and refined. I would have thought going in this would have easily beat the Caymus. TS95. Chappellet Pritchard Hill, which I love, came of a little rustic and higher alcohol compared to the others and I was shocked to discover came in last in my rankings TS94. All these wines are unbelievable on their own. A fantastic tasting experience. (2696 views) | | | Tasted by krhaugh on 6/20/2021 & rated 95 points: Drank at Belle & Gianni’s in Eugene for Father’s Day. Beautiful cab that is drinking nicely right now. Delicious. (2394 views) | | | Tasted by krhaugh on 6/20/2021 & rated 94 points: Drank at Belle & Gianni’s in Eugene for Father’s Day. Beautiful cab that is drinking nicely right now. Delicious. (1917 views) | | | Tasted by Bodyfxr on 6/18/2021 & rated 94 points: See previous notes (1267 views) | | | Tasted by JS199 on 5/9/2021 & rated 96 points: A sophisticated Cabernet with dark fruit and a creamy texture. After the first sip you realize its going to disappear quickly. This is miles better than the regular bottling. Ready to consume. 96+ (2469 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, The 2009 Napa Valley Cabernets at Age 10 (Jul 2019) (7/1/2019)
(Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection Napa Valley Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By David Lawrason
WineAlign (2/29/2012)
(Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Szabo, MS
WineAlign (2/22/2012)
(Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley red) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and WineAlign. (manage subscription channels) |
| Caymus Producer website Cabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet SauvignonUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Napa Valley Napa Valley Wineries and Wine (Napa Valley Vintners)Napa ValleySt. Helena |
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