The 2012 Caymus 40th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon celebrates Caymus Vineyards 40th year of wine-making in Napa Valley, California. Caymus Vineyards is still and family owned and operated vineyard/winery and in 1972, their first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon sold for $4.50 a bottle. In 1987, Wine Spectator proclaimed Caymus, “The best damn Cabernet Sauvignon in California,” and twice they were named “Wine of the Year“. It’s funny, when I write about a $10 or $12 Cabernet Sauvignon the technical information concerning the wine is filled with information about the oak barrel aging program and what regions the grapes were sourced from. You don’t get much of that with Caymus, here you are buying 40 years of history, a Cab that evolved over 40 vintages with a winemaker who has perfected his craft. You buy a Caymus Cabernet because it IS a Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon. Caymus prizes fully ripe grapes, they are looking for rich, luxurious wine, with balance and subdued acidity. The alcohol content is 14.6%.
The color is such a deep dark purple that I think it can absorb sunlight. The nose is nuanced, dark berries, with baking spices, fudge and savory notes. This Cabernet is young, 2012, for an age worthy Red wine, but it drinks very well right now. It starts with very rich extracted blackberry, Godiva chocolate, sleek licorice, a hint of pepper and plums. The mid-palate shows orange zest, a mild pull from the tannins and a puff from a Cuban cigar. The structure is solid and well-integrated for a young Cab. This is a Cabernet Sauvignon that is just waiting for the best aged steak in town. The finish is full and lengthy.
We at CheapWineFinder.com have great respect for a good value priced wine, but there are times when stepping things up a notch or two are absolutely called for. A wedding, college graduation, an anniversary, a birth, these occasions needed something memorable, something worthy of the long haul, something meant to last. And what is more worthy than Napa Red that has got the job done, at a high level, for 40 years. The 2012 grape vintage in Napa Valley was almost perfect, the grapes were just about as good as they are going to get. Caymus Vineyards knew exactly what to do with the grapes. A local wine shop, one of the best in Chicago, if not the best, had a Napa Cabernet Sauvignon tasting with Caymus 40th and 2 other big name Napa Cabs. The other 2 Cabernets drank well, but when they counted up the sales at the end of the day the Caymus 40th Anniversary Cab sold 10 times as many cases as the next Cab. That’s 10x, multiples, not 10 more cases. It is not cheap, on line it sells for $50 to $65, but if you have an occasion that calls for the best, the 2012 Caymus 40th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon ain’t a bad choice.
this bottle was received as a sample
