Special Selection is not simply the upgraded Caymus. It is a separate wine made only in vintages the family judges worthy, drawn from the best barrels set aside each year from their Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The reputation is unusually well earned: it remains the only wine ever named Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year twice, for the 1984 and 1990 vintages, and the 2013 went on to place among that publication's top wines of 2016. The 2013 growing season in Napa is widely regarded as one of the great modern vintages, delivering both ripeness and structure rather than forcing a choice between them, and this bottling reflects that. It pours a dense ruby, and the nose opens on blackberry and cassis before layering in black licorice, anise, cocoa and cedar. The palate is where it earns its price. There is genuine opulence here, with ripe dark fruit, mocha, brown spice and a cigar box earthiness, but it never turns flabby, because fine grained tannins and real acidity hold the whole thing in shape. The texture is the signature: velvety and dense at once, supple rather than heavy. The finish runs long and keeps giving fruit without losing Cabernet's backbone. Bottled at 15.8 percent alcohol by volume, this is unmistakably a Napa wine in the full bodied idiom, but it carries the weight with more grace than most. It drinks beautifully now with an hour in a decanter, and it has the structure to reward cellaring for years yet. Serve it with a well marbled steak, lamb, or aged hard cheese, and give it a large glass.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
15.8% |
| Size |
750ml (75 cl) |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Napa Valley, California |
| Appellation |
Napa Valley |
| Producer |
Caymus Vineyards, Rutherford |
| Varietal |
Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Vintage |
2013 |
| Style |
Full bodied red |
| Drinking Window |
Now through 2030 |
Tasting Notes
Color: Dense, rich ruby with depth right to the rim.
Nose: Blackberry and cassis lead, layered with black licorice, anise, cocoa, vanilla and a subtle cedar note.
Palate: Opulent and richly textured, with wild berry, plum and ripe black fruit moving into mocha, brown spice and cigar box earthiness. Fine grained tannins and firm acidity keep it balanced.
Finish: Long, layered and powerful yet refined, with fruit generosity that keeps reverberating over integrated oak.
FAQ
What makes Special Selection different from regular Caymus Cabernet? It is a separate wine made only in vintages the family considers worthy, produced from the best barrels set aside each year rather than being a general blend.
What is its critical standing? Special Selection is the only wine to have been named Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year twice, for the 1984 and 1990 vintages, and this vintage placed among the same publication's top wines of 2016.
Should I decant it? Yes. An hour in a decanter noticeably opens the aromatics and softens the structure, and a large bowled glass helps.
How long will it keep? Critics have suggested a drinking window running through 2030, so it is drinking well now with plenty of cellaring life remaining if stored properly.
What should I serve it with? Well marbled steak, roast or grilled lamb, short ribs, or aged hard cheeses. It has the weight to stand up to rich, savory food.
Where can I buy Caymus Special Selection online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
