Rob's "Wine of the Week" Archives
So here is my wine review for the week of April 14th...
CAYMUS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005 AND
CAYMUS CABERNET SAUVIGNON SPECIAL SELECTION 2005
 
Description: I have made a recent annual tradition of reviewing the Caymus cabs recently. Caymus has a sterling reputation dating back 15 years of making incredible cabs. Their special selection has been named “Wine of the Year,” by more than one wine publication on more than one occasion. Known for big, full, lush, balanced cabs, Caymus does one thing and does it exceptionally; Cabernet.
I have visited the winery in Napa more than once and hated it. I found their presentation and approach to be condescending at best and rude at worst, proving that just because you make a great product doesn’t mean you run a good business. I would avoid their winery in Napa at all costs, but their wine is simply unavoidable.
How and when I drank it: Saturday afternoon, April 12, 2008 at my house
How to get it: Caymus, blessed by its reputation, is readily available at most wine specialty stores and even some grocery store top shelves. The wine can also be found at a multitude of on-line locations and at their terrible winery in Napa. The Special selection is somewhat harder to find, but not impossible. Both wines are found on almost any great restaurant’s wine list and either one is almost always a far better choice than some shitty, overrated bottle of Opus One.
How Much: The Caymus cabernet lists at $70 per bottle and the special selection, which for years was always uniquely priced at $138, is now $160. Inflation sucks.
My Thoughts: The Caymus Cabernet 2005 is rich, full, tight and VERY young. In a few weeks you’ll see that I am finding this to be a consistent quality in the big 2005 Napa cabs (I just tasted Pride’s 2005 and I won’t touch it again for 5 years, even though it’s an amazing wine…it just needs to age A LOT). Underneath all of the tightness and youth is exceptional promise. This wine shows toast, cedar, wood, and a lot of tannins with just a little herb at the end which definitely needs to soften. There is no way I would want this bottle anywhere near me until at least 2010, but I am confident that it will be an excellent wine by then The Special Selection 2005, meanwhile, is also an enormous red wine that needs to sit and age. Yes, I tried decanting, breathing and even running it Through the Vinturi, and there is simply no outsmarting mother nature. This red is balanced and full with vanilla at the end and huge bite of tannins on the tongue. The body is lush and filled with structure and is drinkable now, but not advised. I would wait a few years, decant and be amazed. All of the promise of yet another spectacular Special Selection is in this bottle. For that price, it has to be this good and it is.
Overall Score: Another glorious year for Caymus.
Caymus 2005 Cab = 
Caymus Special Selection 2005 =
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