2019 Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 90pts wine enthusiast
TASTING NOTES
A dark regal red, the
2017 vintage opens with the pure scents of chocolate, cassis and nutmeg. Notes of bar-b-que meat and a flash of hot chili flakes demand further attention. Entry on the palate is smooth, with fine tannins becoming grippy and expansive. Flavors of lush cooked plums mix with spiced chocolate. The texture of this wine is weighty, bold and rich. Tannins persist. Toasted wood balances hints of fresh pomace on the lingering finish.
When my parents and I started Caymus Vineyards in the early 1970s, it was a mom, pop and son operation. We did everything from prune the vines to run the bottling line, and some of my best memories are of those early years working side by side. Today Caymus has grown to be a family treasure and I’m proud that family involvement remains in place from the ground up.
Along with our exceptional team – some of whom have been with Caymus for decades – we have advanced our growing techniques and winemaking knowledge to consistently make a dark, concentrated Cabernet wine expressing a singular style. Our grape sources have been refined, as our knowledge of the valley’s soils has improved. Caymus Cabernet consists of several of Napa Valley’s sub-appellations. However the sites were chosen for having comparable soil properties - light and/or stony soils where struggle of the vine can meet our ripeness standards. About 75% of our fruit comes from the valley floor and 25% from the hillside, providing a combination of lushness with a solid backbone.
