Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Medium light lemon straw colour , very fine constant bubbles . Quite restrained and mineral on the nose , with some light toasty notes , white flowers , lemon oil . Quite closed . On the palate this is really quite intense and mineral , oyster shell , chalky , limestone hints . Some lemon pith and a lightly toasty with a saline hint , fresh acidity , long and detailed , refined and very balanced . Really young still , needs time to open and will be long lived . Better in 5- 10 years and will last well a further 5-10 years — 7 months ago

Mariana Puga

9.7

this is really nice! i notice some floral and strawberry notes — a year ago

with Raul

Ron Siegel

9.3

One of my favorite go to wines for a grilled steak & a great vintage for GL that is drinking beautifully. Perfectly stored btls match my more than 2 dozen tasting notes listed below. — 6 years ago

Dean Erstad

9.2

Excellent smooth with good notes of charcoal and smoke. — 7 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Smells like a Pinot, looks like a Cab Sauv, body and finish of a Zinfandel. Aromas of gingerbread with flavors of red berries and even cranberry. Lots of sweet spicy notes. Let this one open up as it is a BIG Pinot Noir. Almost like Christmas in a glass. Outstanding! — 9 years ago

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 — 10 years ago

Ben Tollin

9.4

Let it breathe 40 min. Sweeter than expected. Easy drinking with med + tannin. Zin based fruit notes evident. Excellent! — 11 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Using a library photo from Delectable. The vintage I had was 2014 which was a brilliant White Burgundy vintage. The nose showing struck match sulphides - also mineral with flint. Notes of fresh herbs with white flowers. Palate is restrained but very precise. The first white from the Burgundy dinner in Sydney on August 7. Just catching up with notes now. The food match with steamed Murray Cod was superb. — 8 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.7

Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 90% Tempranillo & 10% Graciano, aged 48 months on American oak, 20% new. On the palate flavors of dark berry fruits with spice, oak and smoky earthy notes, slight vanilla nuances on ripe full soft silky tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with fruit, oak, cigar box spice and clean mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine!! Tasting great, has more aging potential! — 10 months ago

Scott Kahn

8.9

Beautifully drinkable offering. Soft tannins with dried red fruits. Lacking floral notes. — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Tasted blind. Dark reddish brown color, port-like in color and in the nose. Notes of raisins, molasses, tobacco. What is this? While it seems like it could be Madeira, the impact in the mouth and the tastes in no way resemble that. Someone threw out the guess that it could be really old Bordeaux. Yep. Drinking some history tonight! — 6 years ago

Lynn Gowdy

9.6

A more typical vintage year, this 2004 is balanced, poised, and elegant. Anise, red fruit elements (cherry), black berry; subtle tertiary notes (cooked blackberry, mushroom, wet leaves on a forest floor). Medium acid and silky tannins, the length goes on and on. A deliciously voluptuous beauty. — 8 years ago

Rick Jordan

9.0

Super bright, clear wine, lighter bodied. Wonderful melon, lemongrass, passion fruit and white pepper nose. Green melon, passion fruit, peach, ginger and some herb notes I'm struggling to identify beyond the lemon grass, maybe tomato leaf? Passion fruit comes through nicely on the finish. Really pleased with this one! — 9 years ago

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

9.4

2001: going into a black olive, black truffle note. Rich meaty notes, vibrantly meated, smoky, leather, tobacco, cigar. Towards full, complex, chewy. Light liquorice, light black truffle. Tip top. — 11 years ago

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

Doug Powers

9.3

Cigar box, pencil lead, also some lovely spicy redfruit aromas, still pretty structured, but showing a deep core of lovely dried redfruits, some sweet fruit notes in the long, lingering finish, very fine LLC!! — 3 years ago

with Jim

Nick H

9.3

Although further along in its aging, this still definitely had some life. Good soft acidity and primary cherry notes. Shows the life that Cali cabs can exhibit, can’t wait to do the same for the 2013s and 2016s. — 7 years ago

Pooneet K

9.1

Really nice, and showing quite well with 7 years of age. Medium color, extremely well balanced. Dark earth, black olive, savory notes for sure. Long finish with great acid. Excellent food wine. — 8 years ago

Lauren Domenech

10

Mad love for Rioja. 1996 is rocking. Dark fruit notes shaded by a canopy of leather & earth. — 10 years ago

Matt Forester

9.6

1994. Hard to believe it's a 1994. I'm sure I've never tasted a better 1994 from Bordeaux. Currant, cassis, some vegetal notes, leather, barnyard. Beautiful with some power. Doesn't taste to me like it is fading at all. — 11 years ago

with Matt