Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

From 375ml.

A very good Rhone producer visited in 2015.

At pop & pour, the fruits almost had a mid berry bubble gum character. That toned down almost immediately. Fruits are ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, baked plums, raspberries, dark cherries, juicy strawberries, chocolate bar to fudge, grilled, smoked meats, black pepper, dark spice, nutmeg, clove, iron pan, black tea, a touch of rubber toy, slight tarriness, dry herbs, roasted chestnuts, tobacco leaf, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, hints of mint, dark, red flowers, violet’s, nice acidity with a well balanced-structured, stiffly tensioned with a lush finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on earthiness & spice.

Plenty of life left in this 2012, even in 375ml. — 3 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

From 375ml. @Lira Restaurant The Chef is the Gordon Ramsey winner.

Resolved, velvety M+ tannins. Ruby fruits of; blackberry pie, black raspberries, blueberries, both plums, dark cherries & raspberries. Dark chocolate bar, slightly moist tobacco, sandalwood to barrel shavings, dry top soil, dry crushed rocks, black licorice, sweet tarriness, dry herbs, light cinnamon, clove, vanillin, mocha, dry, volcanic clay, dark, withering flowers, some lavender framed in violets, excellent round acidity with incredible, balance, perfectly tensioned, softly structured, elegance finish that lasts a full minute. — 7 months ago

Nagib Nasr

9.2

Incredible. Robert Parker style big style. — 8 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2002 vintage. Nice fill, good cork. Decanted with a respectable amount of powdery sed. Smelled great during decanting. Tasted 1.5 hours after opening/decanting. Expected light body with delicate tendrils. Medium body with a light palate footprint. Holy shazzbaat. This was absolutely firing. Like top of the pops, straight up to number one. Exceptional knitting and in a perfect spot now. Go all the way back to the inaugural 1982 vintage with this winery’s cabernet…thought my all-time fave was the 1991 altho the 1986 and 1987 were special. The 2020, picked early, thus avoiding the fires, is phenomenal as well. This was on another level and have had approx 150 bottles of Spottswoode Cab in the last three + decades. It was probably the best out of all of them. Difficult to imagine Napa Cab better than this. Power and finesse on display. Not improving but can hold this intensity for another 4-5 years. 12.24.24. — 10 months ago

Noah Abrahamson

8.9

Faint hint of brett, rustic but still fruity, pizza friendly GSM, with nice tannin once a bit aerated. Quite enjoyable. — 4 years ago

Kaitlyn Jungblut

9.1

Dry white with fruity notes — 6 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

From a great old looking bottle with a top shoulder fill and solid cork. Old light brick color, translucent. Notes of tart cherry, cola, some wood and some dry earth. Rustic. Still has reasonable fruit and structure. This bottle was better than the last one. — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A legendary Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, crafted only in exceptional vintages. The 2012 vintage is remembered as one of Napa’s “dream years” — consistent weather, long hang time, and perfectly ripened fruit. Special Selection remains Caymus’ flagship and is always made in small, meticulous quantities.

Aromas & Flavors
Nose: explosive notes of overripe black cherry, baked blueberries, leather, oak, and subtle spice.
Palate: full-bodied and multi-layered, offering rich, cooked dark berries, bitter dark chocolate, and hints of espresso, with leathery depth.

Mouthfeel
Velvety and concentrated, yet showing the beginnings of age. Silky tannins, soft structure, and a lingering, dry finish. Decadent and still powerful, but now entering its mature phase.

Winemaking & Style
Aged extensively in French oak, this bottling represents Caymus’ fruit-forward, opulent signature style, while 2012 gave extra ripeness and intensity. It’s an iconic Napa Cab that manages both power and elegance.

Food Pairing
Pair with dry-aged ribeye, braised short ribs, venison, or truffle-infused mushroom dishes. Also excellent with a hard, aged cheese like Pecorino Toscano or Parmigiano Reggiano.

Verdict
An over-the-top, show-stopping vintage of Caymus Special Selection. Still bold, rich, and luxurious, but beautifully softened with age. Drink now for peak pleasure, though it can hold for another few years. — 3 months ago

Vino Joe

9.8

Holy wow! This wine was a unique and memorable experience. It was zinging out from the first glass over the next few hours it only deepened and became more substantial. Very ripe fruit but not aged. It retained vibrancy with complex earthy notes. Absolutely fantastic vintage. Top notch. — 8 months ago

Tom Jenkins

9.2

Spanish wine with steak? YES! Big dark fruit, soft, jammy, super smooth and tasty — 9 months ago

Byron Hewett

9.2

Sweet. Stone fruits (apricot and peach). I would score it higher if it had a bit more acidity. Enjoyed with a pear tart. — 2 years ago

Eric McGann

8.9

A great drinking wine on its own- wouldn’t say it flourishes with food. Super dry, big, bold, mouth full. — 4 years ago

Gary Nishimura

8.9

Received from Bernals. Very good. Would buy again. — 5 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

8.9

Dark, inky color. Aromas of boysenberry jam, licorice and mossy forest floor. Black and red fruit on the palate, mocha and tobacco finish. Big and bold. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

As you can see from my previous Delectable notes I normally drink Mollydooker reds, particularly Carnival of Love, on cold nights in Winter. This certainly worked. Aromatics of black plum and other black fruits. The palate is ripe, sweet and full bodied - quite thick and textured. Has come together somewhat after 15 years but still a very powerful McLaren Vale Shiraz. Jeb Dunnuck’s comment of “full bore and hedonistic “ sums it up. This was the #2 wine in Wine Spectators Top 100 of 2012. — 5 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

I think if you read this nonsense I post, you know how I feel about this producer, past & present. This 07 is outstanding & top of its bell curve. It is so good to revisit these great vintages of Caymus Classic.

This is fresher than the 97. It is rich/lush, cassis to currents, ripe, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries & strawberries. Dark chocolate, mocha, classic, beautiful, Caymus Classic spice that I miss dearly in their new wines, black licorice, fudge, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanillin, most top soil, limestone, dry herbs, dry tobacco, barrel shavings, taut leather, volcanic grey clay, dark, fresh & slightly withering flowers, violets, beautiful round acidity, balance, structure, nice tension and elegant finish that last minutes and falls on spice and evoluted earth tones.

This bottle is in fine shape. Still strong and will last another 10 years of fine drinking. Phenomenal vintage and time to enjoy. — 5 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.5

Big lush, dark fruit that has not reached its peak window yet. But she ain’t far away. I was able to obtain a vertical of 01,02,03,& 04. My first foray into that vertical. No rush on this one but very impressed. Leather, pepper, if not cigar leaf here . Suffice it to say, there is a lot going on here and my lack of Cali knowledge has new intrigue — 8 months ago

Scott Koles

9.4

Big, bold, balanced, beautiful wine — 10 months ago

FabianG

8.9

#unitedpolaris — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.7

Cheers to my 6,000th review on Vivino. A Big milestone deserves a big wine. This was on my wishlist for a while now. Go big or go home!

Deep inky in color with a short brick rim. Unbelievable. Not showing age at all.

Fruity nose of blackberries, blueberries, black currants, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, leather, earth, Mediterranean spices, beef jerky, peppercorn, cedar, leather, vanilla and licorice.

Full bodied, bold, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet plums, vanilla, cedar, light vegetables, spices, smoke, tobacco, chocolates, coffee, cola, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Long finish with firm tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon based, Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Showing great complexity and a great mouthfeel. Big with bold tannins. Delicious and yummy.

This 19 year old is drinking very nicely now, and really shows like a young wine. Has at least 15 years in it.

After 3 hours of airtime, forest floor notes come in on the nose. Tasting like an aged left bank Bordeaux.

Wine Advocate 100 points.

This is a Fabulous wine to share with good friends. Very enjoyable by itself or with food. I paired it with BBQ ribs.

Thank you John, for sharing this phenomenal wine with me.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

97 points.

$1,200. — 5 years ago