Accompanied a cheese course this evening, delivering just the right level of sweetness. Holding its own, with some quite prominent apple and touch of honey. — 9 months ago
2020 fall. This might be my favorite (at least for immediate enjoyment) among the wines guzzled on our recent Rioja binge. It’s open-knot, with lots of red fruit and spices like mace, but also has typical mature notes - that mushroom and cheese thing. At the same time, it doesn’t feel overly developed - it’s just layered. — 5 years ago
Strawberries, blackberries & berry jam in the nose with strawberries, blackberries, plums, raspberries and jam in the palate. A real fruit bomb. Paired well with both Parmesan & cheddar, ham & prosciutto and a cheese flavored cracker. Went well if drank prior to dark chocolate or a double chocolate brownie, but not as good as drank after. — 2 months ago
Very pleasant with cheese and pate. Nice sipping wine as well with good body. — 9 months ago
Ripe black fruit aromas, a definite texture with the medium body, tart fruit and light acidity with some soft lingering spices. Deliciously drinkable. Happy Valentine's Day 💗 — 4 years ago
Strong diacetyl notes and rich, smooth oak flavor. Full bodied. Creamy with vanilla highlights. Goes well with a heavier cream pasta dish, soft cheese, poultry, pork, or simply on its own! — 5 years ago
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
A legendary Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, crafted only in exceptional vintages. The 2012 vintage is remembered as one of Napa’s “dream years” — consistent weather, long hang time, and perfectly ripened fruit. Special Selection remains Caymus’ flagship and is always made in small, meticulous quantities.
Aromas & Flavors
Nose: explosive notes of overripe black cherry, baked blueberries, leather, oak, and subtle spice.
Palate: full-bodied and multi-layered, offering rich, cooked dark berries, bitter dark chocolate, and hints of espresso, with leathery depth.
Mouthfeel
Velvety and concentrated, yet showing the beginnings of age. Silky tannins, soft structure, and a lingering, dry finish. Decadent and still powerful, but now entering its mature phase.
Winemaking & Style
Aged extensively in French oak, this bottling represents Caymus’ fruit-forward, opulent signature style, while 2012 gave extra ripeness and intensity. It’s an iconic Napa Cab that manages both power and elegance.
Food Pairing
Pair with dry-aged ribeye, braised short ribs, venison, or truffle-infused mushroom dishes. Also excellent with a hard, aged cheese like Pecorino Toscano or Parmigiano Reggiano.
Verdict
An over-the-top, show-stopping vintage of Caymus Special Selection. Still bold, rich, and luxurious, but beautifully softened with age. Drink now for peak pleasure, though it can hold for another few years. — 2 months ago
2022. We loved the 2019 Martha Stoumen Carignan we had this afternoon, so we wanted to try this D&G when we went looking for another bottle. A bit darker fruit flavor and earthier, and took ~15 minutes to open up. A little more tannic bite but paired equally well with leftover kebabs. — a year ago
Delicious and complex, but not overwhelming. Easy to drink. 85% tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% mazuela. Good with strong cheese or beef. Dry. — 5 years ago
Brandon Boesch
What a wine at 11 years! So much lemon, seagrass, peaches, a bit of stone, some lemon curd. It coats the palate. Interestingly it opened up with more fruit over 2 hours. It is so freaking good. It’s really like a fresh lemon tart with a tiny bit of cream and the crust with some orchard fruit and the at the ocean. Unbelievable. I loved this wine 8 years ago and love it more now. — a month ago