1999 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Bright, deep ruby-red. Alluring ripe scents of black raspberry, blackberry, mocha, espresso and dark chocolate convey a slightly roasted quality without coming off as heavy. Suave, sweet, round and silky in the mouth, with a faintly liqueur-like quality leavened by harmonious acidity. The chocolate note carries through the wine but this fleshy midweight does not come across as overly sweet. Finishes with substantial even, dusty tannins and very good subtle length. This one grew on me as it opened in the glass. (15% alcohol)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Deep crimson. So well mannered and defect-free that you have to coax it out of the glass. Round and gentle. Quite sweet. You could drink this without food, though it vibrates with health. A particularly successful vintage for this wine in my book. (JR)
The dense ruby/purple-colored 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection reveals an overlay of sweet, toasty new oak intermixed with blackberries, currants, and vanilla with hints of tar, chocolate, and espresso. This big, sweet, juicy Cabernet is not the most complex effort. It is overt, flamboyant, and consumer-friendly. Drink it over the next 12-15 years. This Cabernet hardly represents cutting edge winemaking, but it remains immensely popular with most consumers. Tel. (707) 963-4204; Fax (707) 963-5985
About the producer
Caymus Vineyards, based in the heart of Napa Valley, produces Cabernet Sauvignon from low-fertility valley floor and mountain sites, shaped by meticulous viticulture including dry farming, high-density planting, yield thinning, and late harvesting to achieve its signature rich, opulent style.