Saturday, September 7, 2019

Caymus Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Caymus Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

We hosted a gala family dinner with nieces Krysta and Jenna, and nephew Andrew visiting from California. Trolling through the cellar for wines to accompany our salmon and beefsteak dinner, with sweet potatoes and grilled zuchini, we pulled this notable Cabernet Sauvignon. Andrew expressed that Caymus was one of his favorites so we pulled this 40th Anniversary Edition 2012 Caymus Cabernet.

Caymus is one of the best known and popular wines from Napa Valley going back three decades. Its reputed to provide early gratification from being approachable young, yet can also age gracefully for a decade or more. It also is known for elegant, smooth polished, nicely balanced and nicely integrated fruit. It is amazing that Caymus can produce such a wine, year after year, in such large quantity. Such is the artwork of legendary winemaker Charles Wagner.

We visited the Caymus Estate during our Napa Valley Wine Experience in 2018

We love this wine and acquired and tasted it several times during 2014. That was our 40th Anniversary year, the same as the label and as commemorated in their new label design and branding with the anniversary edition.

Tonight, this vintage release was classic Caymus, expressing all the characteristics cited above. It was also amazing in its bold expressive style, consistent with my last tasting notes in 2015 and 2014.

On 8/1/2015. I gave this wine 93 Points and wrote: "Dark inky purple, full bodied, big brooding ripe tongue coating plum, black and blue berry fruits predominate turning to a layer of mocha chocolate with a hint of cassis on abig finish."


On 11/7/2014, I gave it  94 Points.

The 2012 vintage release also shows the classic characteristics of Caymus Estate Cabernet at its best - early approach-ability and drink-ability as a young wine.

Typical legendary Caymus Cab style - dark blackish ruby/garnet colored, medium to full bodied, nicely structured, complex but smooth, well balanced and polished, it opens with sweet ripe blackberry and raspberry flavors highlighted by layers of milk chocolate, subtle tones of cinnamon, vanilla and hints of caramel and kirsch giving way to a smooth lingering modest tannin finish.

http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/11/caymus-2012-40th-anniversary-bottling.html

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/08/napanook-and-caymus-napa-reds-anchor.html

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/07/caymus-40th-anniversary-release.html

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/06/cal-cab-release-tasting-caymus-40th.html
 
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1805868

http://www.caymus.com