October 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.
August 28, 2023 - 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
July 24, 2023 - Always consistent.
At 24 years the wine aged nicely, still retaining full body and aged tannins.
April 22, 2023 - 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 ...
January 7, 2023 - 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!
December 31, 2022 - Very dark color.
Good aromas,
Still very full bodied.
Signs of age present but very solid and smooth.
October 23, 2022 - 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
October 21, 2022 - Explosive nose of raspberries. Overtly sweet. Very fine tannins. Stewed figs and black olives. Long finish. Sweetness overpowers the latent complexity underneath
September 29, 2022 - drank with sonny and lisa
September 2, 2022 - 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.