Carol Montoya

9.0

Tasted at Total Wine & bought a bottle. A little fruity. Not too bold. Good with steak. — 6 months ago

Jason Phillips

9.3

Spicy nose. Nice and bold. Black cherry and baking spice. Wonderful! — 10 months ago

Neal Ferry

9.2

Extremely Nice… in all aspects — 4 years ago

Jon Ruyle

9.3

This is all wet rocks and blue fruit, just what I love. — 6 years ago

Jim Laing

9.0

2016 This is an excellent Cabernet from Orin Swift. Smooth and bold — 7 years ago

Robert Wright

9.2

A dense, dark ruby wine! Blackberries and hints of blueberries and vanilla on nose. Attack is bold dark fruit, rich with blackberries and black cherries. Vanilla and cocoa appear in mid. Finish is long with bitter dark fruit, vanilla and pepper. Full bodied. Medium tannins. Great wine enjoyed with friends! — 8 years ago

William Brouwer

8.9

Classic cab. Affordable at about $10. — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Deep, dark Ruby color with a fruity nose and tons of ripe berries with oaky notes. Jammy big and bold blackberry flavors with some spice, cacao, cedar and leather notes with nice mouthfeel. Big fine tannins with berry fruit carried over to the finish with oak and sweet spice. Nice! — 8 months ago

Steve Mitchell

9.2

Medium tannins, full bodied, balanced Cabernet .Nutty , earthy paired with a prime rib.
— 4 years ago

Rob

9.0

I’ve said it before. Really enjoy Justin because you always know what you’re going to get. Bold cab, even better a few days later — 5 years ago

Diane Frazzetta

8.9

Crispier than Whispering Angel — 7 years ago

Patti Gamboni

9.0

Really nice. Mostly cab. Good structure and fruit and earth. Generous and tasty! — 7 years ago

Nicole Schilling

9.0

Smooth but bold and fruity. — 8 years ago

Jean-Francois Pelletier

9.4

Deep color. Intense nose of white chocolate, red cherries, some blue fruit and vanilla. Full body, beautiful balance and long finish. So good. — 10 years ago

with Chris and Michael

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Caymus Vineyards – Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Special Selection is Caymus’ flagship bottling, the only wine to twice earn Wine Spectator’s “Wine of the Year.” The 2013 vintage comes from a benchmark Napa year—warm, consistent, and producing deeply concentrated fruit. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from prime valley-floor sites, this wine showcases the Caymus hallmark: bold, plush, and fruit-driven Napa opulence.

Aromas & Flavors
Opulent blackberries, cassis, and baked blueberries, wrapped in layers of cocoa, espresso, and toasted vanilla. Secondary notes of licorice, sweet tobacco, and graphite add depth. With time in the glass, hints of cedar and leather start to show, signaling the early stages of graceful evolution.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and richly textured, almost velvet-like, with powerful yet polished tannins. The 2013 vintage delivers intensity and weight, but with balance—long, lingering finish loaded with ripe dark fruit and spice.

Winemaking Notes
Meticulous cluster selection, long maceration for depth, and extended aging in new French oak barrels (18+ months). Chuck Wagner’s hallmark style: unapologetically ripe fruit, creamy oak integration, and a seamless, approachable structure even in youth.

Food Pairing
A natural match for grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, or herb-crusted lamb. For a more indulgent pairing, try it with aged Gouda or truffle-infused dishes.

Verdict
A monumental vintage of Caymus Special Selection—ripe, hedonistic, and still showing youthful vigor more than a decade later. Built for aging, yet already a crowd-pleaser. A benchmark expression of Napa Cabernet’s luxurious side.

Personal Pick Highlight
2013 stands out as one of Napa’s greatest modern vintages, and tasting it now is like catching Caymus in its prime sweet spot: power meeting polish. Cheers! — 8 months ago

Mike Whitworth

9.8

Classic Napa...delicious — 6 years ago

Karyn Lai

9.6

Costco. Oaky. — 7 years ago

Michael Sixbey

9.0

Very smooth like a cab. Great for the price. — 8 years ago

Kalpesh J

9.1

This drinks bold, can be paired with food or without. So damn good. Another bottle please. — 8 years ago

Neil Barratt

9.0

Delicious fruity and complex. Alcohol comes through more than I would like. — 10 years ago