Albert Phelps

9.0

Very rich full body. — 25 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have written a few times regarding my tale of Caymus & Caymus Classic. Their vintages post 2011 and their vintages pre 2011.

I have at event tastings that Caymus was pouring, encouraged their staff to talk with Chuck to make both Caymus & Caymus Classic. Recently, I emailed them to pass on my thoughts to Chuck asking him to make both. If you liked Caymus the way it was, I encourage you to do the same. There is a dwelling amount of older, well preserved Caymus Classic vintages. info@wagnerfamilyofwine.com should you be so inclined.

Their post 2011 Caymus Cabernets are picked at higher brix and syrupy sweet. I get why Chuck changed. Many like sweeter Cabernets that drink easy young. That is not my wheelhouse.

In my intermediate wine days, I aged and enjoyed many pre 2012 vintages. This perfect bottle bought on the secondary market at around $70 is extremely well stored. The cork when I cut the foil looked slightly depressed, when I pulled it with an Ah-so was next to new.

I enjoyed this with a Ribcap, not the best wine for that steak but, ok. This 07 is more filet or NY Strip.

The nose shows; a very dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush-blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mellow dark spices, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry tobacco, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender.

This bottle now nearly 18 years in bottle has not faded. It is at its precipice and will hold a few yrs. 2007 a grand Napa vintage. Decanted a little over an hour and enjoyed over the next 90-120 minutes. With this experience, another hour in the decanter is even better.

M-M+ velvety, rounded, tannins. The palate is round, ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush; blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, stewed plum, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries with notes of liqueur overtones, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, black licorice, dark berry cola, distinct dark, Caynus Classic spices w/ palate heat, herbaceous notes, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone/rock, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry river stone, charcoal, notes of menthol, dry tobacco, leather, dry oak barrel shavings, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender, perfect, round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted-toned-structured, elegantly/smartly polished finish that goes on and on and long sets on beautiful earth & spice.

94+ This experience is becoming rarer & rarer. — 4 months ago

Alex Thomas

9.7

Excellent Pinot...90 points on the James Suckling rating..
Beautiful nose glides down the throat. — 6 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.8

2019 edition, Campbeltown used whisky drawn from both Port casks and rum casks - 45% came from Port casks while the remaining 55% was drawn from rum casks. Distillery's note: "Nose: A delightful fruitiness bursts through; watermelon, strawberry laces, brambles and blueberries followed by crushed vanilla pods and glazed cherries. Taste: Chocolate covered oranges and Caramel shortcake! Deliciously full bodied, with tropical fruit squash, gingerbread and dried mango. Finish: A captivating Campbeltown Malt; sea salt, oily and fruity. Lemon sherbet, whipped cream, apple peel and salted pretzels complete this beautiful dram!" — 6 years ago

Eunah Han

8.9

Very perfumey, floral, chamomile, easy drinking — 7 years ago

Donald Ross Patrick

9.5

Raisins and leather on the nose. Slightly sweet. Taste begins sweet and caramel; very full. Slightly alcohol forward. Dries out late with hints of oak and smoke. As someone else said, it's like the offspring of bourbon and rum. — 7 years ago

Brian Kostreba

9.0

Great Pinot , tastes like it from Burgundy. Red fruit, not sweet, white pepper, light tannins. Very well rounded. Did not get the mushroom forest nuances that others are describing.  — 2 months ago

Alan Hense

9.2

Full bodied with classic notes of lanolin wet wool, ripe peaches, lemon and vanilla. — 3 years ago

Adam Kincaid

9.4

‘01 is drinking beautiful in ‘22. Primo. 21 years old is drinking age, how about that?

This wine has aged beautifully and remains strong. Dense and rich, but soft and supple. I’m leaning heavily into the current and jammy notes that remain, but the obvious flavors are the old leather, tobacco, and sage.

Color comes out dark ruby red, but after about an hour in the glass you can see the oxygen taking hold. No decanting required. Glad I bought two of these! — 4 years ago

with Jillian

OMG PEDRO

9.5

Amazing #vinako !! … Fresh and refreshing mid-weight Rivera del Duero. Gentle tannins. Expected low acidity and flavors of ripe strawberry fruit, herbs, leather, licorice, cocoa and tobacco but with complexity and a mineral smooth beautiful finish that one don’t expect in such a young wine… In my modest and humble opinion one of the BEST wine producers on the planet…. I am just looking at the bottle in disbelieve and thankfully thinking about however made this nectar of the Gods possible… Every HITO is exactly that : en event , a celebration, an accomplishment … What can I say … Thank you !! And keep it cming for years to come… — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Time for a good Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a delicious one from Washington State.

Deep purple in color with a short purplish rim.

Nose of black plums, cedar, chocolates, coffee, cooked cherries, leather, light vegetables, earth, licorice, black tea, tobacco and black pepper.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, chocolates, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, light vegetables, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Medium plus on the finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Merlot from Columbia Valley. Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel. Another delicious wine from Michel Rolland.

Still young, but already tasty. Drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Good by itself or with food. Good right out of the bottle, but better after an hour of airtime, as the complexity comes in. Showing nice complexity already.

Wine Enthusiast 89 points.

Tangy and interesting. A Delicious wine.

A blend of 75% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in (85% new) French Oak barrels.

14.9% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$65. — 6 years ago

Joe Catanese

9.7

At 21 this Dom clearly demonstrates why patience is a virtue! Rich toasted brioche and long long finish. — 7 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 2017 | cherry, clove, flint. Taste with character, acidity (which often is very low in pinotage), nice bitterness and long aftertaste. — 4 months ago

Javier Alonso

9.2

Gran vino para disfrutar de una comida
Buena acidez, bien equilibrado, mucha fruta, post-gusto largo, persistente — 4 months ago

Kerri

9.0

Good semi dry bubbly. Loved the tiny bubbles, holds up well. Not too sweet — 3 years ago

David J. H. Ruiz

10

2/21/2022: Brunch TYP + Family — 4 years ago

Gunja Gargeshwari

9.5

Honey, port wine on the nose with a silky mouthfeel and perfect viscosity. The finish has a burn which is perfect not soft like an aberlour and it’s not sweet either. Masterpiece! — 5 years ago

David S

9.0

Delicious and super tart apple ice cider fortified with apple@brandy I think this would be great for guests. Tart enough to make your cheeks squirm. — 6 years ago

Meg Herring

9.3

One of my favorite sherries... possibly my top favorite! Tasted at Bodegas Lustau. — 7 years ago

north woods

9.5

Light and bright on the palette, hints of apple and a mineral finish, very smooth, creamy bubbles. Crafted with organic grapes, its breaths of things fresh and green......a keeper! — 7 years ago