Roman Ochocki

9.0

A gooseberry, honey, an apple. — 2 months ago

Conrad Green

9.5

Settled and pretty. Tell tale Barolo notes of tar and wood. Roses and faded plum with done dried herbs and a hint of dried orange. Balanced and transparent. Long. Very good. — 3 years ago

with Matt and Paul

Aaron Thompson

9.0

Hint of balsamic, rich and full body. — 4 years ago

Carol Poarch-Blagburn

9.0

Bright Cellars wine club. — 4 years 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. — a month ago

Ely Cohn

9.1

Dark forest fairy tale. Elegantly earthy, soft cherry laden salts. Beautifully refined and terrific entry into Burgundy. — 4 years ago

ESF

8.9

typical Paso - too hot, overextracted and clumsy, BUT Petite Sirah has such a gorgeous aromatic & palate profile that this was still enjoyable. all the tell tale notes of deep dark fruit compote, coffee, cocoa, cassis, pepper, exotic spices - just a big audacious nose w/generous fleshy (flabby) palate, moderate tannins and modest finish — 6 months ago

Ryan Guy

9.1

Champagne method and blend - 49% Chardonnay, 31% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier. Lifted aromas of almond cake, biscotti, and sea shell. More non fruit than fruit with a almond kringle feel the palate. Lemon zest to finish. Soft and round with loads of acid. Well done. — 4 years ago

Aylin Ulku

8.9

quite delicious. balanced. — 4 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

The new vintage at Battenfeld Spanier is always exciting. And 2020 is a doozy. Superb confectionary nose with kumquats, cotton candy, citrus, even more complex citrus and that tell tale limestone minerality. Really gorgeous penetrating minerality. So pure and deep. What a nose. I love love this wine. 2013 was our first ever white wine of the year. The vivid citrus character is really just gorgeous here. What a palate. A masterclass in elegance and skeletal structure. So clean, so mineral. Just washes your palate with minerals. Terrific inner mouth citrus aromas and also the tell tale vanilla extract and nougat flavors. Terrific energy and depth but what this really is about is the top top 1% finesse. A remarkable 1er Cru from Battenfeld Spanier. As it airs it gets sappier and juicier. But it retains this just monster finesse. Almost a 9.5. The finish is so clean and so pure. This is a stunning wine and unlike any Hohen Sulzen I’ve ever had.

Nose gets honeyed after air with Judy stunning and vivid fruit. Some papaya but juuuuuuust ripe. This is so good. Wow, that mineral wash combined with the gorgeous citrus fruit character is something else. — 5 years ago