【James Suckling 92 pts】
【Vivino 4.3】
ZTUS047 - Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Price：$930/Bottle
Type：Red Wine
Grape Varieties：100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region：USA/Napa Valley
ABV：14.6%
Volume：750ml
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Napa Valley 納帕谷
Winery
Caymus Vineyards is located in the prestigious vineyard belt east of Rutherford in Napa Valley, California, surrounded by renowned wineries such as Robert Mondavi, Beaulieu, and Martha's Vineyard. Owned by Chuck Wagner and his family, the winery's history of vineyard management is relatively short. In 1906, Chuck Wagner purchased the estate, originally owned by Spanish, for winemaking, but this was soon halted due to Prohibition. The vines were cut down and replaced with peach and plum trees. Things improved slightly in the 1960s when Charlie, the grandson of the original owner, took over and began replanting vines. However, Charlie initially didn't make wine himself, instead selling grapes to neighbors for winemaking. It wasn't until 1971 that Charlie decided to start making wine under his own label. At the time, Charlie told his 20-year-old son, Chuck, that if the winemaking failed, they would have to sell the winery. Chuck, who had grown up on the Lutherford family farm, immediately dropped out of school to help.
In 1972, the Wagner family used the year's bountiful grape harvest to produce 240 cases of wine. This initial attempt, while not a resounding success, garnered some applause. From then on, Caymus Vineyards produced a full-bodied Caymus Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon annually. In 1975, the Wagner family began carefully selecting Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from several prime vineyards, creating their first wine, "Caymus Vineyards Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon," which was a great success.
In 1984, after Randy Dunn, who had served as winemaker at Château Gamour since its inception, left, 84-year-old Charlie handed over the winemaking duties to his son, Chuck. After Charlie's passing in 2002, Chuck Wagner took full charge of the viticulture and winemaking processes at Château Gamour, including the number of macerations, fermentation temperatures, the type and degree of toasting in French oak barrels, and the duration of aging in oak. Chuck and his father Charlie consistently upheld the quality of the vineyards and the winery's products, which gradually earned the winery a strong reputation in the wine industry.
In 1989, *Wine Spectator* magazine selected Château Gamour's 1984 vintage as its "Wine of the Year." Five years later, in 1994, the 1990 vintage again took the top spot, while the 1985 vintage was chosen as the second-place "Wine of the Year" in 1990. The following year, the third-place "Wine of the Year" was again a masterpiece from the 1987 vintage. Therefore, *Wine Spectator* magazine called Caymus Vineyards Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon its most consistently high-quality wine. In 2006, the 1990 vintage of Caymus Vineyards Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon received 94.6 points from *Wine Spectator*, being named "Napa Valley's Best Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year." The 1984 vintage was also named Best Cabernet Sauvignon. Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon is the only wine to have received this honor twice. At *Wine Spectator*'s 2007 Wine Experience, owner Chuck was awarded the "Outstanding Contribution Award" in recognition of his significant and tireless contributions to the wine industry.
Although Château Camu is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, the Wagner family also acquires Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and various white grape varieties from other regions to produce a range of red and white wines. However, due to the small production volume, the estate's Zinfandel is only available in the Château Camu tasting room.
Region
The vineyards used to produce Château Camu's special selection wines are a 5-hectare plot located on the outskirts of Ludford, along the Napa River. The soil is volcanic soil covered with a thick layer of gravel. The vineyards are planted at a low density, only 1,600 vines per hectare, all of which are Cabernet Sauvignon. Fortunately, the average yield is 5,500 liters per hectare, exceeding the French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) standard of 4,000 liters per hectare.
Winemaking
Although Chuck Wagner has only been involved in winemaking for a short time, he strives for perfection. The winery harvests all its grapes by hand, and the aging process for its newly made premium wines also displays a unique and meticulous approach. To avoid the new wines developing an overly strong oak flavor, the winery typically doesn't pump the fermented juice directly into new barrels. Instead, it matures the wine in barrels that have only been used once or twice for three to four years before transferring it to solid oak barrels. This carefully designed aging process endows the wine with a special elegance, delicacy, and richness.
Rating
James Suckling 92 pts
Aromas of black currants, cassis, dark cherries, cedar, graphite, dried herbs and spices. The palate is full-bodied, showing ripe dark fruit supported by firm tannins and balanced acidity, with a structured and focused finish.
