Dean Quintal

9.5

Deep, dense red-purple hue. licorice, toasty oak, and subtle mocha notes. Dark fruits like blackberry and plum are noticeable, but it's more restrained than overtly fruity.
full-bodied, with sultry dark fruits (black cherry, plum), dark chocolate, licorice, and spice. Can’t wait for at least another 5 years before I try this again. Didn’t feel too you but feels like it will be better with age. — 8 months ago

Alexandre Czesnat

8.9

BlackBerry, Oak, Tobbaco aromas, chocolate, a bold Cabernet Sauvignon with really good quality — a year ago

Ming L

9.0

Dismissed by many as too jammy or too ripe, I’ve always thought this is the fun bottling. This ‘21 is no exception. Beneath the slightly over extracted ripe dark fruits lies quite complex aromas and flavors of figs, sweet spices, dark chocolate, smoke meat, and hint of balsamic. Rich palate but not overbearing. In a good vintage like ‘21, this can benefit for 5-8 years of bottle age.
My guilty pleasure. — 2 years ago

Roman Ochocki

9.5

My third vintage of Palermo. Acidity is higher, but there's a dark chocolate, an oak, bitter dark fruit. Excellent wine, but it's obvious. I long for another vintage already. — 4 years ago

Nick Brandon

9.1

Deep, but undiscernable fruity characteristics on the nose.
Plummy, jammy notes and very drinkable. Full-bodied and spicy. Some dark chocolate notes, too.

Paired with wild grains, sauteéd greens, and baked salmon filets. — 5 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

So happy that I got a chance to try this legendary Super Tuscan wine. Primarily Sangiovese with some Cab Sauv and Cab Franc. Deep Garnet color and aromas of iodine and purple flowers. Black cherry and currant fruit. Hints of chocolate and baking spices. Touch of vanilla. Smooth tannins and nice and round. Beautiful! — 6 years ago

Juan Pablo Perez

9.0

Nariz: mora, ciruela, chocolate, algo de pimienta blanca

Boca: Algo de fruta en ataque, Tanino M/M+, Acidez M, Alcohol M+

Buen vino por precio — 6 years ago

Kland Aida

9.0

A good wine. Oak, a bit of chocolate, dark fruit and cherry. Pretty dry but smooth enough that easy to drink. — 8 months ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Decant and pour. Nose: enticing perfumed dark fruit, mint, pine, floral, pencil shavings. Taste: creamy, balanced, savory wine with blackberry, milk chocolate, earth, leather, graphite, and a lingering long finish with some slightly grippy tannins. YUM!! No hurry, time to go. — 9 months ago

with Brenda

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Another outstanding vintage! Dark ruby color. Aromas of black currant, black cherry tobacco and dark chocolate. Bold blackberry and cherry flavors with vanilla, dried spices and oak. Long and smoky finish. Full bodied, lush, powerful and rich. Bright acidity and firm tannins. Beautifully complex. Revisited again in July 2023. My Boss loved it! — 3 years ago

Debra Copeland, WSET3, CSWS

9.2

Dark ripe black Cherry, plum and smoked wood. Dark chocolate, leather and spices - this is ageing nicely! — 5 years ago

Jerry Nowicki

9.4

Smooth and rich flavors of chocolate and a slight hint of tobacco. — 6 years ago

Kimberly Jensen

9.0

Not very good at rating wines flavors or essence or whatever it is wine people do! But this tasted like drinking dark chocolate and raspberry! — 6 years ago

Guillermo Gonzalez

9.1

Blue fruits, touch of cedar on nose. Big with plums and dark chocolate. Bordeaux on steroids, 15.3% ABV! Had with rib eye and wedge salad. — 6 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Caymus Vineyards – Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Caymus Special Selection is the flagship Cabernet, crafted only in exceptional years. The 2018 vintage stands tall among recent releases, showing why Chuck Wagner’s vision continues to shape Napa’s most recognized “luxury Cab.” 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from prime valley-floor vineyards, it strikes the perfect balance between Caymus’ signature ripe, fruit-forward style and an added layer of structure from a long, balanced growing season.

Aromas & Flavors
A powerful bouquet of ripe blackberries, cassis, and dark cherries, layered with cocoa nibs, espresso, and baking spices. Subtle hints of licorice, cedar, and vanilla lift the complexity, while a core of lush fruit drives the palate. The oak integration is seamless, giving a supple sweetness without overwhelming the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Rich, opulent, and velvety—yet with surprising finesse. The tannins are silky and well-structured, giving length without heaviness. The finish lingers on black fruit and mocha, balanced by just enough acidity to keep it vibrant.

Winemaking Notes
Meticulous fruit selection, long maceration for concentration, and extended aging in new French oak (18+ months). The Wagner hallmark: generous fruit expression wrapped in polished oak for immediate pleasure but with aging potential.

Food Pairing
An indulgent pairing with ribeye, prime rib, or braised short ribs. For a decadent twist, try it with dark chocolate truffles or roasted lamb with rosemary.

Verdict
One of the most impressive Caymus Special Selection vintages in recent memory—showing both lush Napa Valley opulence and refined elegance. A wine that thrills now but promises to shine for years.

Personal Pick Highlight
This 2018 stands as my favorite Caymus of the modern decade—a true benchmark that captures everything people love about Napa Cabernet at its richest and most expressive. Cheers!
— 9 months ago

Anthony Cammarata Jr.

8.9

This Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a soft and tasty red with plummy flavors and hints of chocolate and coffee with a smooth silky finish. The longer it breathes the softer and silkier it gets. — 2 years ago

with Daniel and Michael

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Elegant and polished. Drinking well. Hint of chocolate and black fruit. Lovely. — 4 years ago

with David

Dawn E.

9.2

This is a gorgeous wine even now(early)! Showing silky smoothness, smoke,cherry liqueur, cassis,black licorice, maple syrup, tar, milk chocolate and vanilla! I actually opened this last night but decided to wait!
This is my upcoming work weekend; wishing a Happy Fall weekend to everyone! — 6 years ago

Julie Gorsline Perry

10

Black cherry and spice with a chocolate finish — 6 years ago

John A

9.4

Musty loamy earth with mushrooms on opening...blackberries, figs, bitter chocolate, graphite minerality, tobacco/leathery, spice, and cedar...powerful and yet with a great mouth feel — 7 years ago