Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1982 vintage. Decanted and tasted after 30 minutes and 2 hours. Impressively dark color. Bit of mint and funk in the nose. Elegant and supple with more than enough supporting fruit during the experience. Thriving vs surviving. This specimen was showing very nicely. Been a while since last tasting this but no rush to crush. Thank you, Bill!! 09.21.25 — 10 months ago

with Shay and Bill

Pooneet K

9.3

Delicious per usual. Last had 2 years ago and this is in a nice place. Perfect with skirt steak off the grill. A treat. — a year ago

Dave

9.4

The mocha is strong with this one. So is the mint. Let's call it a York Peppermint Patty.
Listening to Tripping Daisy. Was never a fan, but they killed it last night and I got to chat up the singer. Their music would be better with Gamay. — a year ago

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.5

Layered and focused this wine is pure and concentrated. Balanced and thick.
Long lasting finish with a core of acidity that lifts it up.
94-96 — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

It has been 15 years or so since I’ve had a Silver Oak. Thought I check in. Nothing has changed, every vintage basically tastes the same. It almost like they add flavoring. 🤷‍♂️ One red you could not fool me blind. Short Rib was excellent.

At Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

The ticket to this event has a pretty big price tag. But when you consider what a Napa etc. tasting or two and lunch would cost you, you are pretty much there and there is so much more than that. It ends up having great value. It’s wine, spirits and food candy land. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2009 vintage. Decanted and open for approx an hour before tasting. A little tight but Burgundian body and flavors. Wasn't picking up any Syrah notes in the nose either. 7.22.23. — 3 years ago

Keith Lite

9.5

A big bold plumy purple bomb As dense and luscious as a wine can get in a glass. Decanted for 2 hrs and its still a baby with blackberry, dark chocolate licorice and pepper on the nose and on the palate. A long long finish and loads of tannins to sum it all up — 7 years ago

with Bruce

Daniel P. Drake

9.5

Welcome to Friday and it looks like a beautiful weekend. The wine today is the 2013 Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore. I have been waiting a long time to try an Ornellaia it has lived up to my expectations. This wine is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot 10% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot.

On the nose is dark fruit, black cherry, plum, blackberry, graphite, violets and spice.

On the palate is a fully integrated wine with black cherry, raspberry, cassis, cedar box, some tobacco, and spice.

There is medium + acidity, silky smooth full body mouth feel with firm intense tannins. The wine rounds out with a long beautiful finish.

I was definitely delighted and not disappointed with this wine.

Please have a safe and enjoyable weekend. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 9 years ago

Ryan Mitrovich

9.5

Opens up incredibly — 10 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.4

1990. Slow burn with this one--firing on all cylinders with 2 hours of air. Hits all the aged pauillac notes — 11 years ago

with evie and V

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Bright medium ruby , quite thin violet rim . Quite discreet and fine, reserved on the nose . Red cherry , cassis , mineral tinged blackberry, after a while pomegranate. On the palate this is very detailed and precise , great freshness and with more red fruit, cherry , red plum , blackberry , wet slate , saline oyster shell with very fine tannins . Long mineral finish . Very young obviously but incredibly elegant and fresh . Will need time , this closed up quite a lot after time in the decanter . Better in 10 -15 years , will last well a further 10-15 . Incredibly promising . — 10 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2018 vintage. Last tasted 04.08.23 (9.5), 12.01.22 from a 375ml (9.5) and upon release 06.07.21 (9.5). Decanted and tasted after 45 minutes. Mysterious, dark-fruited and dusty nose. Medium body with excellent darkness of night color. Previous baby-fat overtures approximately 90% gonzo. Slimming down and getting more toned. In a state of transition with undeniable tension that can easily be misconstrued as underperforming. Last wine I tasted that was under this sort of metamorphosis at this level was the 1996 Pichon-Lalande about 1.5 years ago. Such a privilege to experience world-class wines in such a vulnerable moment. Everything is laid out bare/naked before you and you can see where the wine is headed and whether it will be following a trajectory that agrees with you. Definitely unusual to find this occurring in a wine this youthful but the 21st Century is smashing the old 20th Century clay tablets and digitizing. For most wine enthusiasts sampling this wine now, expecting some disappointment in the scoring. For myself, this is currently in the perfect symmetry of past, present and future. Will it show critically better in the future according to the accepted trials, palates, judges and juries? Probably. Will they experience the potential, doubts, insecurities and questions? Doubtful. This kid stays in this exact picture for another 2-4 years imho before striking another pose and I would love to taste this again during that time frame. An above and beyond thank you to FLB (Friday Lunch Bunch) regular Todd. 08.15.25. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

When Caymus was Caymus!!!

It is good to remember the style of wine Chuck used to make. His wine from 2011 backwards. The wine I used to collect. I refer to this now as Caymus Classic. I have requested they make this style again every time I see a Caymus representative. Just 500 cases by simply picking earlier at lower brix and applying past winemaking. They under estimate how fast those cases would sellout.

I get they made a business decision to make a sweeter wine that will drink easier young. They get better critic scores and sell to a larger customer base. A customer base that generally drinks it like supermarket buyers…within the first two weeks of purchase.

Of course, 1997 was an epic vintage in Napa and this 97 bought weeks ago has been well stored and in perfect condition. I miss this wine as it has so much more character than their 2012 vintage & forward. So do many former Caymus collectors.

The nose reveals, bright, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries that are just starting to reveal some liqueur notes, raspberries, strawberries & plum. Sandalwood, old, dry tobacco, baking soda, mid berry cola/licorice, some light graphite, dark spice, dry stems, decayed red flowers, red roses and violets.

The palate is exquisite. It is all beauty with nothing bitty or angular. Ripe, juicy, lush; blackberries, cassis, black raspberries, dark cherries with hints of some liqueur notes, raspberries, strawberries, mulberries as it unfurls & plum. Sandalwood, old, dry tobacco with ash, baking soda, mid berry cola/licorice, some light graphite, perfect dark spice with some tongue heat, mocha, dark chocolate baking bar, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & hints of vanillin, dry herbs, baking soda, dry limestone powder, top soil with pebbles, slightly moist volcanic clay, dry stems, decayed red flowers, red roses and violets, excellent, rainfall acidity and an elegant, balanced, nicely tensioned & structured, polished finish that last two-minutes and lands on spice & gentle earthy tones. I miss their distinct spice. Glorious!!!

This bottle is somewhere on the other side of the bell curve and still singing. Still very sound. It won’t improve and recommend if you own, drink them sooner than later but certainly not a rush.

88% Cabernet, 10% Merlot & 2% Cabernet Franc. 25.95% Paladins, Skruggs, Wright-St. Helena. 52.15% Caymus Estate, Glos, Usibelli-Rutherford, 15.84% Sciambra-Atlas Peak, 6.06% Tambor Vineyards-Mt. Veeder.

Photos of: Caymus tasting room, tasting room courtyard, owner Chuck Wagner and vineyard. — a year ago

Kevin Dale

9.5

Took about 90 minutes to open up, but it was worth it. Still in its prime and drinking great. — 2 years ago

Sebastian Corriere

9.3

At Bull and Bear w Kellie epically delicious! Number 2! — 7 years ago

Tom Ellis

8.9

Last 2 forgotten bottles of a case acquired in '92. Quite powerful initially, fades fast. — 8 years ago

Liz O'Neal

9.1

Just opened in 2017 - was tight the first evening and definitely needed time to open up. Earthy, mushroom/forest floor notes on the palate, despite bright acidic nose. Crowd pleaser - happy I saved this.

Purchased w/ dad in 2014 - industry price $55 — 10 years ago

with Hannah

Matt

9.5

Velvet texture and finish and really integrated structure. Lots of American oak and tobacco cedar notes. Fruit has faded a bit but opened up with time. Cool experience — 11 years ago

James Hart

9.5

Spicy, liquorice plums, wrapped up in cedar wood. Very long finish. Top notch. — 11 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Pours a deep cherry with a tawny rim. Nose of an old cedar chest of drawers, blueberry, blackcurrant and earth - very polished. Those notes from the nose translate onto the medium + bodied palate - reflecting the excellent vintage. It’s easy to get swept up with Grand Cru Burgundy but don’t forget about aged classed growth Bordeaux of quality like this - just superb. Went well with Roast Beef for Sunday Lunch. — 10 months ago

Michael Dierberg

9.7

My dad bought this through the Commanderie de Bordeaux in the late 70s or early 80s. Stored in his cellar since, Wonderfully alive and fresh, great nose. In the conditions of his cellar, this might have held up well for another 20 years. — 10 months ago

with Ellen and JiaMin

Bruce Leboff

9.2

Ageing relatively well. Opened up more after two hours. Tannins soft. But present. Colour still rich and vibrant Smooth but just slightly over the hill. Fun to drink. — a year ago

with Edel, Michael and 1 other

Tom Garland

9.4

From MAG

2 hour decant. A striking purplish dark garnet color. On the nose: beautiful notes of dark fruit, pencil shavings, herbaceous, vanilla, cloves. Taste: creamy, polished, structured wine with blackberry, dark chocolate, minerals, bell pepper, leather, and a decent herbal/potting soil finish. Drinks surprisingly well with the decant at this age, and of course a few more years it will improve. YUM! — a year ago

with Brenda

Kevin Kaley

9.1

2021 vintage. A great red blend, a little harsh upon opening but with some time was smooth and full bodied. Picked this up at Buc-ee's for $20. Only had 2 so took both. Wishing they had more.... — a year ago

Tim Lepczyk

9.6

Well, damn, that’s a tasty dry white wine with hints of awesomeness. — 6 years ago

Liliya

9.0

It was delicious! — 8 years ago

Michael Piaker

9.2

22 July 2017. Rouge Tomate, New York, NY. — 9 years ago

Pierre Arneaux

9.2

Wow. More flavor, much better than their regular cab. Silky, velvet, smooth. Chocolate. Rich fruit. Big, full flavor, lots of flavor. Not old world style for sure, not subtle. It's a big bomb. We would pay up to $75 for this so a bit overpriced to us.
— 10 years ago

N M

9.2

Needed about 2.5 hours in decanter to open up. Could use more time in bottle. A classic big, bold, chewy California Cab. — 11 years ago

Bertus van Zyl

Assistant Winemaker Regusci Winery

9.1

Loved the brambles and berries from the Zin, great acidity. Took some time to really open up, this should hold up for quite a while. — 13 years ago