1995 Caymus Special Selection California Red

1995 Caymus Special Selection

93 WS

From the critics:

30693

31634

Featured Review

Sleek and well-structured, with a braid of exotic smoke, currant, green olive and herbal flavors that drape together nicely, holding a tight focus and showing how ripe, supple tannins can integrate without dominating. Finishes with a dash of mocha and spice.--1995 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2010. 2,000 cases made. Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator | 93 WS

While it is fashionable to criticize this wine because of its price, and the secrecy surrounding the amount produced (who really cares?), the wine is unquestionably outstanding. The 1995 boasts a dark ruby/purple color as well as an attractive bouquet with lavish quantities of toasty new oak and black currants. There is moderate tannin, good purity, and an open-knit, sexy style. If the wine had not fallen a bit short on the mid-palate, it would have merited an even higher score. It should drink well for 10-15 years. Based on the fame of this winery and the price of the wine, one would expect this Cabernet to compete with Colgin, Bryant Family Vineyards, Screaming Eagle, Araujo, and Harlan Estate. It does not. Nevertheless, it is an outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon.

Robert Parker | 90 RP

(14% alcohol): Good bright, dark red. Sexy oak tones to the aromas of musky dark berries, menthol and dark chocolate. The enticing silky, spicy palate shows a light touch. An elegantly styled wine with a restrained sweetness and juicy, nicely integrated acidity to its plum and chocolate flavors. Finishes with a fine dusting of granular tannins and very good lift and length.

Vinous Media | 90 VM

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.
Subregion	Napa Valley
Cru	Special Selection

Producer	Caymus : In 1972 a star was born. This birthed the official debut of Caymus Vineyards and what would become one of the most iconic estates in all of Napa Valley. Just three years after its inception, Caymus Vineyards became one of the first wineries to produce a California Cabernet Sauvignon made from a special selection. This selection was produced from the estate’s best parcels located in Rutherford. They did this with the help of Randy Dunn, who is among the list of elite California wine producers (Dunn Vineyards). The Wagner family was no stranger to the world of wine making as they had been cultivating land in Rutherford since 1906. They turned a disaster into an opportunity when they moved to Rutherford after the San Francisco earthquake, proving that great things can become of terrible situations. This great thing sprung forward the long history of a successful wine making family, and ultimately the development of one of Napa’s most sought after wines. From 60 acres in Rutherford, Caymus produces a Cabernet Sauvignon, the highly esteemed Special Selection and a Zinfandel. These high quality wines deliver a soft, elegant and rich tasting profile. Caymus is legendary for producing extraordinary wines with a signature style: dark, lush, supple, and abundant in fine textural tannins. Both the Cabernet Sauvignon and Special Selection have flavors and aromas that can only be achieved through a technique called “hang time.” This is a process in which the grapes are left to hang longer on the vine to develop suppleness and the ability to extract more tannin. Production for Caymus is around 58,000 cases per year. The Flagship Special Selection is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon while the Napa Cabernet is also primarily Cabernet Sauvignon but occasionally contains small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The Zinfandel is a smaller operation but remains in the portfolio as it was a favorite of the late Charlie Wagner Sr. Caymus Vineyards continues to thrive and has won just about every award in the business and was named “Best Winery for Cabernet” by Wine Spectator magazine, which also helped put Caymus in its Hall of Fame. All of this made possible because a family had a vision and a true desire and passion to produce high quality wines.