2003 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection
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Tasting notes
Bright ruby. Sexy violet lift to the aromas of cassis, blackberry and minerals, plus a suggestion of iron. Supple, fine-grained and deep, with lovely integrated acidity framing and extending the dark berry and dark chocolate flavors. The floral element repeats in the mouth, giving it lift. Strong, fleshy, consistent wine, fruit-driven and long, with tannins supported by mid-palate stuffing. Nothing exotic or overbearing about the oak here. A superb vintage for this wine, with nothing exotic about the oak element. (ST)
Critic scores
Robert Parker
The Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Current vintages of the luxury cuvee, the Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection, are bottled much earlier than in the past and they remain one of Napa’s most classic Cabernets. The 2003’s opaque purple color suggests a wine much younger than ten years of age. Copious amounts of creme de cassis, graphite, spice box and a whiff of new saddle leather result in a classic, authoritative, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with no hard edges. This big, mouthfilling, textured, multidimensional Cabernet still tastes like an adolescent, and is capable of lasting another 15-20 years. Some tannins are present, but their sweetness along with the wine’s voluptuous character are irresistible. Tel. (707) 963-5958
Even richer and fuller than the regular bottling, but at the same time hedonistically and voluptuously styled is the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection. (RP)
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.