Best ever Caymus Napa for MacLean:
Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 is a rich, plush and deeply fruit-driven Cabernet that shows the classic Caymus signature from the first sip. It opens with ripe aromas of blackberry, cassis, black cherry and dark plum, wrapped in layers of cocoa, vanilla, espresso and warm baking spice. The palate is full-bodied and velvety, with soft, polished tannins, concentrated dark fruit and a lush, almost creamy texture that carries through to a long, smooth finish. The wine is built from fruit sourced across multiple Napa Valley sub-appellations, blending valley floor ripeness with hillside structure for balance and depth. Fascinating fact: Caymus is known for its “hang time” approach, allowing grapes to stay longer on the vine to develop extra ripeness and softer tannins, which contributes to its signature plush, approachable style even in its youth. Serve it at cool room temperature.
She also chooses this as her “Best Beef Wine,” which makes sense, as it has long been THE #1 Cabernet at top steak houses everywhere.
And best ever for wine writer Ken Hoggins, who says:
This clear and dark ruby red colored Cabernet Sauvignon from Caymus opens with a shy black licorice and cherry-cola bouquet with hints of tobacco leaf, violet, and chocolate. On the palate, this wine is full bodied with integrated medium plus acidity. The mouthfeel is balanced, round, smooth, and a little lush. The flavor profile is an extracted black cherry and cedar blend with notes of cola and licorice. We also detected hints of toffee, clove, and menthol. The finish displays friendly and fine-grained tannins that linger nicely. We would pair this Cab with a beef bourguignon or with a pan-seared duck breast. Enjoy
Chuck Wagner says:
2023 is a classic Caymus Cabernet vintage, a personal favorite. I relish vintages like this. The growing season was relatively uneventful. Grapes for this wine are farmed in a range of Napa’s sub-appellations – from Coombsville to Calistoga – with fruit from the valley floor creating lushness and the hillsides providing backbone. Diversification enables us to make the best possible wine in a given year, featuring layered, lush aromas and flavors, including cocoa, cassis, and ripe berries.
