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. — 9 days ago

Ed Chin

9.0

Not the fruit bomb I expected in fact there is a brightness to it. Crowd pleaser. — 14 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

This bottle of the 1984 “Signature” was opened and Audouzed about an hour prior to service. It was then enjoyed over the course of three hours. The wine pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and was initially tightly wound but eventually opened up to reveal sensational notes of black currants, blackberries, tobacco, mixed herbs, inorganic earth and fine baking spices. In the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (still!) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. A sensational, classic, evergreen Napa Cabernet Sauvignon made by the legend herself, the one and only Cathy Corison. Drink now with some air or short decant. However, well stored examples will drink well through 2044. — 2 days ago

Tom Garland

9.3

1.5 hour decant(little sediment). A splendid dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: Intoxicating notes of sweet dark fruit, currants, herbaceous, cloves, floral, pencil shavings. Taste: Wow! rich, pure, elegant mouthcoating wine with blackberry/dark cherry, oak, graphite, loamy soil, and a baking spice-savory herb-dark plum medium plus finish. YUM!! Lots of potential and glad to have a few more bottles...give it a few more years. — 3 days ago

Kapyrick Wine

9.2

v15. Don’t know why I still had this, but I’m glad I did. Toasted barrel and hand crushed fruit nose. Fresh, rich, dark, blackberry and blueberry fruit. Long, dry, pleasantly chewy, chocolate and black pepper finish. So good! — 2 days ago

Ed Chin

9.2

Restrained in a really good way. Tannins were a little dusty that added some character. A few years would be beneficial — 12 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

This bottle of the 1984 Insignia was opened about 30min before service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The wine pours a deep garnet with a slightly browning rim and an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and plenty of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated black fruits: blackberries, black cherry, Chunky beef stew, mushroom, eucalyptus, leather, organic earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A mature wine what’s still lovely; full of secondary and tertiary notes. Drink now. — 2 days ago

Amelia Mowry, CSW

9.6

Aromas of blueberry, black currant, lavender and rose petals. Earthy graphite and savory herbs favors with hints of spice and cocoa powder in the glass. Creamy and fine grain tannin finish. Could have aged for another 20 years. — 15 hours ago

with Lou, Cristian and 1 other

Amelia Mowry, CSW

9.5

A beautiful dark ruby/purple color. Aromas of dark plum and cherry with subtle notes of eucalyptus. Typical Dunn power and finesse with a long finish. — 15 hours ago

with Cristian and Bill

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

No time for more proper notes.
Young (!!), bold yet surprisingly restrained, big (polished) tannins, nice depth & length.
I like the mid palate.
Stash away or have with food. — 12 days ago