2009 Caymus Special Selection California Red

2009 Caymus Special Selection

97 RP

Featured Review

Deep garnet in color, the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection comes wafting out of the glass with drop-dead gorgeous scents of Christmas cake, Chinese five spice, sandalwood and dried roses over a core of warm cassis, dried mulberries and stewed tea plus wafts of pencil lead and underbrush. Full-bodied, the palate is oh-so-light on its feet, featuring layers of perfumed black and red fruit preserves and an exquisitely fine-grained frame, finishing long with bags of freshness and loads of minerally sparks. Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Robert Parker | 97 RP

So delicious now, you can hardly keep your hands off it. Blackberry tart, ripe blueberry, cassis, milk chocolate, licorice and sweet, smoky cedar flavors flood the mouth, dramatically huge and memorable, and lasting long into the finish. The tannins are obvious, but sweetly ripe and soft. A brilliant evocation of Napa Cabernet, despite a high production level of nearly 30,000 cases, which is about the same size as a Bordeaux first growth. Shows the class and potency this bottling has exhibited for many years, and believe it or not, the price is a relative bargain these days. Drink now–2020.

Wine Enthusiast | 97 WE

Bright medium ruby. Crystallized black raspberry, blueberry, violet and some sexy earth tones on the alluring nose. Suave and savory on the palate, conveying a seductive creaminess of texture to its dark fruit, mocha and soil flavors. I loved this wine's 3-D, mouth-saturating character and complicating salinity. Really resounds on the very long, chewy, savory finish, where the ripe tannins are nicely buffered by the wine's strong mid-palate material. (14.9% alcohol).

Vinous Media | 93 VM

Temptingly rich and layered, with complex mocha, plum and wild berry fruit that's spicy and aromatic. Full-bodied, gaining depth and turning ever more elegant and detailed, with tannins that give this traction. Drink now through 2019. 29,820 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 93 WS

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.

Producer	Caymus Vineyards : 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.