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. — 2 months 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

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

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

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

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

1989 vintage. Last tasted 3.28.24, 5.5.23, 4.4.23 and 12.9.22. Solid fill and cork. Recommended decanting but was denied. Mmkay. Eventually got clearance to decant after the bottle had been open for 1.25 hrs. Tasted after being open 5 mins, 45 mins and 2 hrs. Light-medium body throughout. Wine was funky and super tight initially. Had to talk a few of the “participants” down from their “this wine ain’t nothing” perch by telling them it needed at least an hour in the glass (since it hadn’t been decanted at that point). Wine threw expected sed on the decant. Started to loosen up at the 45 mins open stage and fairly exploded at the 2 hrs open (45 mins decanted) point. Dude that didn’t want to decant it gave me a wistful, regretful look at that point (since it blew the other 4 reds at the table away and was getting better) and it took waay too much willpower on my end not to say “Congrats on minimizing a fantastic wine experience, bro.” It wasn’t the best 1989 P-L specimen tasted semi-recently but feel this coulda delved into the 9.4 range without the unnecessary power trip from someone that didn’t even bring this wine to the shindig. Hopefully, this individual learned their lesson. 7.6.24. — 2 years 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"

9.3

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

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