With over 400 wineries, Napa Valley can offer l unique and unforgettable wines for the world to taste and experience. But, Caymus Wines stand out among the rest.
These wines are one of Napa Valley’s awarding and well-recognized wines. The Wagner Family produces these wines in Caymus Vineyard at 8700 Conn Creek Rd, Rutherford, California.
Caymus wines are one of the wines every wine enthusiast should try. In this article, we’ve listed out the things you should know about Caymus wines.
History of the Wagner Family and Caymus Vineyards
The Caymus Vineyards is a family venture that each member values for the past 30 years. A Caymus Vintage becomes their family’s legacy.
In 1971, Charles Wagner and his wife Lorna Belle asked their son Charles if he would like to join them in starting up a winery. Charles just graduated from high school back then.
Charles accepted the offer. In 1972, the family produced 240 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Chuck and his children, Charlie, Joe, and Jenny, managed the family business.
The Wagner family focused on producing high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon. Their production increased to 30,000 cases per year.
The Wagner thrive and continue farming grapes in about 350 acres in Napa Valley today. The family also has a commendable work ethic, innovation, down-to-earth sensibility, and deep appreciation for good wine and food pairing that everyone can enjoy.
In 2001, Charles and Chuck were given the Hall of Fame by Wine Spectator Magazine. While in 2007, Chuck Wagner earned the Distinguished Service Award, for his crucial and persistent contribution to the wine business.
Caymus Wines and Tasting Experience
Caymus Vineyards is famous for two Cabernet Sauvignons. The Napa Valley and the esteemed Special Selection.
Caymus Napa Valley is the vineyard’s standard Cabernet. It is a bit less precious compared to the Special Selection but still offers big flavors.
Caymus Special Selection is the flagship wine of the Wagner family. This selection includes the very best barrels of the vintage Caymus produced.
The high-quality wines from this selection give soft, elegant, and rich-tasting notes.
Both Caymus wines have flavors and aromas that can only be achieved through a technique called hang time. This technique involves leaving the grape to hang on the vine longer for it to develop suppleness and develop the tannins of the grapes.
Caymus Vineyards also produces Conundrum, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc. The vineyard also has a fantastic view that can captivate your soul. The beautiful landscapes and weather are perfect for any afternoon wine tasting.
Aside from the relaxation, intimacy, and view, they also provide personalized service for every guest. They will also share farming and winemaking stories in Napa Valley and the family’s history for more than 150 years.
You’ll also get to sample fantastic wine like Soleil and Emmolo if you visit their wine tasting room. Wine tasting in Caymus Vineyards is only $50 and usually open for six or more seatings.
How to Decanter And Pair
Decanting allows Caymus wine to soften and become more fragrant. You’ll be able to enjoy a vintage when you know how to properly decanter it.
Depending on the character of the vintage, decanter younger red vintages for 1 to 3 hours. Older vintages need minimal decanting, just enough to eliminate the sediments.
Serve a Caymus wine at 15.5 degrees Celsius. The cellar temperature gives the wine a more fresh taste.
Enjoy Camus wine with any type of meat dish. You can pair it with pork, veal, lamb, beef, duck, game, and chicken.
You can also pair it with any barbecue, braised, grilled, stewed, and roasted dishes. A Caymus red wine is also good with Asian dishes, mushrooms, pasta, and hearty fish courses like salmon and tuna.
You can serve Caymus white wines with any seafood and shellfish dishes. Enjoy a Caymus white wine with sashimi, sushi, chicken, and cheese.
Reviews
To help you in picking your Caymus bottle, here are the best-reviewed and rated vintages from Caymus wine selections.
- 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
This vintage is polished and smooth. The bold flavors and deep aromas of oak and cassis stay soft on the palate. You can pair this wine with a thick and marbled ribeye. According to Wilfred Wong of Wine.com, this vintage is one of the most stellar new wines from Caymus Wineries up to date. He rated it with 92 points.
- 2015 Caymus Special Selection
This wine exemplifies the richness and structure that makes Caymus Wineries one of the world’s top producers of Cabernet and Bordeaux wines. The tasting notes include bold and bright black fruits like plum and blackberry, melted licorice flavors, luxurious oak, and black tea.
It pairs well with a grilled Porterhouse. Wine Spectator rated it 95 points.
- 1997 Caymus Special Selection
This wine is soft, smooth, and polished. It is medium-bodied and bright, but still sweet with tasting notes of red cherry, wild berry, and spicy oak. Stephen Tanzer of International Wine Cellar rated it 93.
Takeaway
Every wine enthusiast will surely enjoy sipping a classic Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon and relish the incredible history and family behind it. Caymus wines should be one of the next bottles you should open.
