Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Slightly deeper and brighter colour than the 2004 , younger looking . More ruby with a garnet rim . Really aromatic and floral , violet , mint , spiced red cherry , ripe raspberry , eucalyptus . Still really fresh and fruit driven . Some dried herbs and earthy notes in the background. On the palate this has lovely elegance and poise , with herbal red cherry , strawberry and slightly nutty notes. Quite ripe and juicy , but with fresh acidity and fine tannins . Long and fruit driven on the finish . Still young from now and over the next 10 years . — 4 months ago

Daniel M

9.0

Super nice nose ! Very fruity with blackberry, raspberry, a bit of tar, a bit of bread yeast, a bit of pine sap. I could have called nebiollo on the nose. The palate is juicy and fruity with nice raspberry and blackberry notes, some width, some matter on the side, some dusty tannins that leave a drying layer over a nice amd fruity finish with a tiny, nice bitter note that adds a nice level of complexity to an otherwise youthful and playful wine. Good stuff ! — 7 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.5

Silky silky smooth...so well made. Still young but very enjoyable. Has a long future ahead — 7 months ago

Vanessa

9.2

Okay this wine was amazingly delicious but was undoubtedly quite young in this present moment.

There is so much more potential to unveil over time.

It has concentrated plum, fig, red currant, pomegranate, boysenberry notes next to licorice, meat, earth, peat, clove notes. Tannins and acidity are firm.

With time, we anticipate edges will be soften and complexity will be deepen with more tertiary notes and we cannot wait to revisit this wine down the road again. — 10 months ago

with Deked1

Marcio Morelli

9.3

Decades to go.
So young.
— 7 years ago

Marc vanholst

9.9

First time ever I taste a Masseto but what a great wine. Almost 20 years old but still vibrant and young. Fruity but complex. Remarkable complexity and length. One of the best Italian wines you can ever taste ! — 8 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.4

2001 vintage. Lovely youthful notes here. Still way too young. Plummy and mixed berries, some smokey oak, mulberries. On the palate, medium body, tannins are well integrated, hints of black pepper and nutmeg. White chocolate. Yummy despite its youthfulness. Open in 2025. — 10 years ago

Jennifer Brown

Buyer PLCB-Luxury Division

9.5

Still young opened up nicely with decanting — 11 years ago

Paul Einbund

Wine Director/Sommelier Frances

9.0

Tight and young but perfect as evah — 11 years ago

romo

9.3

Relieving-ly sound. Sweet nose and subtle Piedmont rays at odds with the young tannic finish. — 4 months ago

Scott Soren

9.5

At nine years old it’s still quite young. Deep garnet, color, robust nose. This is a pure pleasure a good blend of power and elegance. I will drink for the next 20 years.  — 6 months ago

Victor Charcan

9.3

Tipicity! You know it’s Bordeaux, and great, the moment you smell it. Yet this dark fruit, pencil lead one took me to the wrong bank. It felt fresh, and less dark. Blackberries and plums, for sure. A great wine. So young… — 7 months ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.4

Not a birthday night. Gonon too young but outstanding. Everything else just exceptional. — 8 months ago

Thijs Hendriks

9.6

Still young, wow! — 3 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.4

Very fresh, bright, elegant and young, but accessible. An excellent Yquem in small format. We loved it ! — 4 years ago

with Adriana

Richard Benitez

9.0

Fruit forward, slightly acidic, clean and full berry with clean lingering tannic finish at the end. — 6 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

56 yrs old and still drinking young. Deep dark color, black & red fruits with mint, cedar, leather, graphite and tobacco. — 9 years ago

Jaylen Gadhia

9.5

Beaucastel is by far my favorite chateauneuf, killed this one a little young but was still a very rich and bold but nicely balanced Bordeaux. Dark cherry and dark chocolatey notes. — 10 years ago

Evan Bloom

9.3

Young, red and black fruits. Wonderfully balanced. Brought a smile to my face and a 'wow' to my mouth. Splendid from such a difficult vintage, and can't wait to taste it again with a few more years on it. — 10 years ago

with Tim

James Parker Huston, CWE

Sommelier Charlie Palmer

9.9

A little young, but very worthy — 12 years 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. — 5 months ago

Raun Kupiec

9.0

Great tannins, balance, nose. Still quite young. — 7 months ago

with Barbara

Alessandro Dalle Carbonare

9.6

Way too young. But beautiful — 8 months ago

Adam Beasley

9.0

Way too young. Still pretty tough after a 5-6 he decant. There’s is a lot of structure here and the dark roasted fruit plays well with the other aromas / flavors like charcoal, pencil lead, and soil. Not my go-to style of wine, but decent with prime rib. — 4 years ago

Paco Suro

9.0

Lean but well structured. Young. Opened up nicely over a few hours. Cedar notes. Hint of green pepper. — 5 years ago

with Geoff

Manny Abascal

9.3

2006. Young, Bright. — 7 years ago

Doc Jay

10

46 years young. Astounding depth. — 9 years ago

Gil Kulers

10

1944
One of the mysteries of wine. Young (yes, young), fresh (yes, fresh) red fruit, balanced, well-integrated tannins (no surprise). Great floral aromatics that evolved as it warmed. This wine had no business being as hedonistically delicious as it was. — 10 years ago

Mindie Dieu

10

One of the few Merlots I can drink at any time and don't have to be in the mood for. Fragrant, smooth, almost silky. — 11 years ago

Rick Chrisler

8.9

Very nice, medium oaked — 12 years ago