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

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.2

Older bottles of Chianti are some of the wine world’s unknown treasures. Everyone is happy to age Brunello but you don’t see many people putting away Chianti in the cellar. And they’re missing out. If you can find old bottles you can sometimes get them for a song, as I did a bunch of these from @garagiste_wine. You want to talk about punching above your weight?!? These suckers are classy AF. Dark fruit with leather, a touch of graphite and earth. Great acidity still, decant and watch them shine. 1996 Terreno “Riserva” Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy. ⁣ — 5 years ago

Will Stanley

9.3

Easily one of the finest aromas I’ve experienced in a Rioja, and indeed any wine, in the past year, truly a beguiling and complex experience that begs your nose to remain in the glass. I must note for my own posterity that on the palate I was initially a little underwhelmed. I’m not sure why. I think because this is such a subtle and elegant Rioja, and that I’m so out of the habit of drinking wines from this region and perhaps even, by extension, subtle and elegant wines as a whole. But the more I tasted it, the more I enjoyed it. I had a similar experience with the Viña Ardanza 2010 (which at the moment I prefer to this). But this 904 Gran Reserva is a beautiful, medium to light-bodied Rioja, very fruit-forward with Burgundian delicacy and a charm so typical of the finest wines of this region. A melange of coconut, vanilla, dried cherry and Mediterranean herbs are followed by an impressively saturated palate with medium orange peel acidity and very fine, resolved tannins. I must admit I cannot yet calibrate this wine with the notes of prominent critics, who talk about power, acidity and tannin, but maybe time will tell. This should be a terrific wine to follow over the next ten to twenty (plus) years. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Dark ruby in color with a wide brick rim.

Strong nose of black plums, cherries, cloves, light vegetables, oak, light tar, dark chocolates, coffee, earth, leather, light vanilla, light vegetables, wood and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, spices, peppercorn, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, vegetables, wood, light cloves and tar.

Medium on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Italian Brunello is drinking very nicely now.

Well balanced with a great mouthfeel and nice complexity. This 12 year old is peaking now.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly and show the complexity. Do take your time with it, as it is well worth it.

A very nice wine to sip on, and share with friends and talk about. Good with food as well. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses, and light appetizers.

Robert Parker 91 points. Wine Enthusiasts 92 points.

100% Sangiovese grapes, were aged for 24 months in Oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$85. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.6

I was fortunate enough to attend the grand tasting at TexSom this year. Talk about a Who’s Who of the wine world! Incredible environment with beautiful wines.

My first time tasting RunRig...I get what the hype is about. Plush. Dark chocolate dusted dates, bay leaf, peppercorn, licorice and a velvet mouthfeel. Wonderful. — 8 years ago

with Weston

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.5

Deep Rich and Polished Nose. The substance is pure, fine and Elegant then comes a punch of Power towards the end.
Really nice buddy here.
94-96 — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Talk about an enormous wine. The 2005 is downright youthful and packed to the gills with fruit and character. Dark fruited with anise and black pepper. It was just so dense that everything seemed locked up right now…and we can thank Mourvedre for that. This was very tasty with cassoulet, Toulouse sausage and duck confit. If I were going to open another one of these, I would probably hold until 2030 and this will probably last for another 25 years beyond that. A massive wine with a long future yet ahead. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.5

#AgedWineTuesday

Ruby in color with a wide brick rim.

Beautiful nose of black currants, blackberries, blueberries, dried figs, raisins, light oak, licorice, light tobacco, light earth, chocolates, eucalyptus, light vegetables, herbs, wildflowers, cola and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black plums, figs, dried fruits, coffee, light cedar, tobacco, chocolates, cola, vanilla, licorice, spices, light earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This gorgeous 18 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley is drinking beautifully now.

This is a great surprise, as the cork totally crumbled, and I expected the worst, but it really delivered.

Shows nice balance, and great complexity with a velvety mouthfeel.

Easy drinking and good right out of the bottle. As it opens up, tannins come in (45 minutes), and make it more structured and interesting.

A great sipping wine to have all by itself and talk about. The nose is just gorgeous.

14.8% alcohol by volume.

95 points.

$80. — 3 years ago

E & K G

8.9

Talk about cost performance! If you ever find this on sale and like white burgs, load up. Some oak on it but plenty of tension, acidity that keep it all in check. Always a crowd pleaser and sure to surprise those that have yet to discover the potential of NZ wines. — 5 years ago

TwiLea Fletcher

9.2

EO talk has no place when Cherry Pie is involved. — 6 years ago

with Neal

Jay Kline

9.2

Last night, a buddy of mine who’s a Disabled Veteran and Registered Architect, announced that he was assuming control of a SDVOSB Architecture firm. He had spent the better part of a year of trying to reach a purchase agreement. So it was an evening of celebration. He’s been a Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars fan for some time and he planned to pull the cork on a few bottles. We had a couple of rando bottles too but all were California Cabernet Sauvignon. I brought this bottle. It was part of my most recent delivery from Seavey and I was curious to try it out. Well...it was clearly infanticide. This was reductive at first and most of that blew off after about fifteen minutes. This was just so wound up. Delicious, fresh and almost crunchy fruit with a lot of structure. This was very bright compared to the Heart of Fay that preceded and just fell a touch short due to it being somewhat reticent. That being said, cellar time will be very kind to these and I would imagine this will show better down the road or with a lot of air, which this didn’t get. — 7 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.2

Girl computer Cru Bourgeois. You guys. Get into the Cru Bourgeois it doesn’t mean you are bougie (which Merriam-Webster just decided to include in their dictionary so if you don’t know what I mean...look it up), it just means you have high standards and a way with bargains. Consummate old world. It’s all like hi I’m all dark berries and black currant and violets and we’ve been having a party with our buddy tar but hidden in a pencil box because we are supes into graphite. Fuck this ink nonsense we like stones and lead. This wine is badass but it really would like some food too methinks. Earth and cassis. I’d very much like a mushroom pizza on the side. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Happy 50th birthday! I always ask what were you doing when you drink a wine this old.

I am told by my Somm buddy who brought this bottle, this is To Kalon fruit even though it is not listed on the label. Excellent fill line. 12% ABV. 👏👏👏

Color is brickish on the edges but the color inside is still beautiful & solid.

This is a wine not to decant or a short one and pour it out w/ 6 people. It does get better in the glass.

The fruit is old but still ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, stewed plum/cranberries, baked rhubarb, almost watermelon notes, mid berry cola, steeped tea, dry crushed rocks, dry twig, dry tobacco, sandalwood to some cedar, light dark spice notes, dry herbaceous notes, pine bar, some tarriness, anise, dark forest, dry leaves, some v/a-bandaid, dry river stone, decade red, dark, florals, excellent acidity, great evolution, balance, still has tension, with elegance & smart polish that lasts a minute.

Bottle acquired recently from the winery. — 2 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.4

@Lee Ibarra thanks buddy. This was drinking excellent (as expected) in fact it was my favorite wine from dinner and just in a perfect spot — 3 years ago

with Lee

"Odedi"

9.3

This is a delicious Bordeaux blend from Columbia Valley in Washington State.

Very dark in color, and looks very young.

Full-bodied, smooth and bold, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, raisins, dried figs, vanilla, cedar, licorice, cola, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, earth and coffee.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This 8 year old is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Smooth and elegant. Rich and extracted, with a great mouth feel.

Good by itself or with food. A great wine to sip on and talk about.

Robert Parker 94 points.

Needs 3 hours to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle as well.

I paired it with a Charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.

A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, 17% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc and a splash of Malbec. Winemaker is Philippe Melka.

15.4% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$65 (current vintage). — 4 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.4

This is a wine that a buddy of mine and I had made at Crushpad. This is the To-Kalon Vineyard. Absolutely gorgeous. — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Last night, a buddy of mine who’s a Disabled Veteran and Registered Architect, announced that he was assuming control of a SDVOSB Architecture firm. He had spent the better part of a year of trying to reach a purchase agreement. So it was an evening of celebration. He’s been a Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars fan for some time and he planned to pull the cork on a few bottles. We had a couple of rando bottles too but all were California Cabernet Sauvignon. To my palate, this was clearly the WOTN. It was positively bursting with character. It reminded me of the Heart of Fay that we began the evening with but it was dialed up a couple notches and just had a richness and sophistication about it that indicated its pedigree. I’m still not positive that it’s worth the tariff but it is undeniably really freaking good wine. FWIW, this saw a 30-min decant. — 7 years ago

Muralee Murugesu

9.6

For a 20 year old St Estephe this Cos d’Estournel is sublime. Perfectly aged but shows a lot of youth throughout the hour opening with red fruit mixed in with leather and chalk. A good 35 sec finish. A classic Bordeaux that rocks! Kept from my Phd days ( Rodolphe this is the last one buddy) is surprisingly vibrant. happy birthday 🥳 Philippa. — 7 years ago

Rhett Reeves

9.2

Love love love. Big body. Eating Indian food at Kirma in Houston with a great buddy Nick Garcia. It’s a perfect blend atmosphere and personality, which suits this wine perfectly. — 7 years ago

Michael Herzog

9.3

Young but SPECIAL. I appreciate every bottle I have with my buddy Lim. Congrats on getting the Best of Award of Excellence at my favorite restaurant. — 8 years ago

with Kuan