Tart raspberry, crushed red fruit, dry tannins. — a month ago
A gift from a friend, this is lovely, with a bit of tobacco on the nose and lively cherry and strawberry flavors on the palate. The finish goes on and on. — 7 months ago
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. — 8 months ago
One of about 7-10 Ca Chardonnay’s I enjoy. My last of three. Their 2018 is slightly better than other of their vintages I’ve had.
This rides the fence of of white burgundy & Ca Chardonnay.
Macerated red & green apples, some lime & lemon pulp, tropical fruits, kiwi, heathered honey, caramel, sandstone, saline, dry river stone, soft white spice, just a hint of brown sugar, a near chalky presence that coats the tongue, vanilla, frothy cream foam, yellow flowers, jasmine nice round acidity and an elegant rich, balanced, nicely tensioned w/ a 60 second finish that lands on volcanics and just a shade of spice. — 5 days ago
Deep cherry red ~ black. Oak vanilla black cherry plum. Fruitiness M++ Sweetness M+ Acidity M Tannin M Smooth Bitterness M Body M++ Finish M % Powerful Concentrated jammy Juicy good balanced Ridge Vineyards Pagani Ranch Sonoma Valley Zinfandel @2800, Eva - BBQ, 260914-260915 — a month ago
Pale lemon in color with a golden tint.
Light nose of green apples, lemons, spices and minerals.
Medium-bodied with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with limes, lemons, green apples, light grapefruits, minerals, light wood and herbs.
Tangy finish with limes and grapefruits.
This is a tasty and easy drinking Chardonnay from Napa Valley. Elegant and fruit forward with nice complexity. Tangy and entertaining.
Feels more like a California Pinot Gris, and better when properly chilled.
Wine Spectator 90 points.
Good right out of the bottle, and good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. Paired nicely with my salad and fish and chips.
100% Chardonnay grapes were aged for 9 months in (10% new) oak barrels.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$25. — 2 months ago
2007 vintage. Nice fill. Used a Durand to open but good cork nonetheless. Decanted and tasted after 15 minutes. JFC...does the oak ever die on this nonsense? Tried to bushwhack through it without success. Even the Alexander Valley product has the good sense to have the oak minimized/integrated/drop off after a decade. Not the case here. There's a reason why I haven't even considered carrying this on a wine list since the late 90's. This go round didn't exactly convert my opinion. 8.16.26. — 2 months ago
A spectacular, powerful wine. Fabulous bouquet. Dark cherries, black raspberries, and dark chocolate. Silky smooth with a satisfyingly long finish. Still has lots of cellaring potential, but pretty fabulous now. — a month ago
Lemon, brioche, oak, and green apple. Crisp and bright. — 12 days ago
Eleven Madison Park NYC — 2 months ago
Very nice and truly enjoyed. — 6 months ago
This is the 2022 Block 296 version of this vintage. Truly excellent. Sour cherries and oregano on the nose. Spicy! Sour cherries on the front. Medium to heavy tannic structure. Tangy on the mid palate. Long finish. Not your typical overpowering Napa Cab. — 7 months ago
Wow, so big, so fruity, a bit sugary. It’s old school cool, like a true OG CA Zinfandel. — 8 months ago
"Odedi"
This is a delicious Riesling from Oak Knoll District in Napa Valley.
Rich and fruit forward, elegant and nicely balanced. Feels like a Mosel Riesling. Fresh, crisp and easy drinking.
Already drinking beautifully, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.
Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.
100% Riesling grapes.
11.7% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$25. — 7 days ago