Winemaker Notes
A rich, dense ruby color, hints at the dark fruit nose of blackberry and currant that carries through to the palate, interwoven with complex aromas of black licorice, anise and crème de cassis. On the palate, the wine opens up to reveal an earthiness, with brown spice, cigar box and ripe dark fruits that linger throughout the extracted and long finish. The texture is opulent and rich, yet has a velvety quality with supple density. Rich, fine-grained tannins are balanced with ripe fruit, acidity and oak.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Zeroes in on a rich, hedonistic core of wild berry, blackberry, plum and currant, with a graceful, elegant mouthfeel and supple, caressing tannins leading to a long, powerful and refined aftertaste that keeps reverberating while maintaining a strong personality. Drink now through 2030.
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James Suckling
The full-throttle character is here as expected with lots of ripe fruit and toasted oak. Sage and mint. Silky tannins; the ripe fruit dominates. But it shows form and juiciness. Try it in 2019 as it mellows with age.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Where do I begin? When I tasted the 1975 vintage of this wine (in the early 1980s), I was simply amazed. Though I was much younger then, I instantly knew that this was a wine I had to follow; I have indeed done that and tasted nearly every vintage of this iconic Napa Valley wine. The 2013 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet demonstrates the remarkable journey on which this valley has gone—the wines were formerly lighter and more rustic. Ultra-rich and satisfying, the Special Selection continues to fit perfectly into the ever-changing array of Napa Valley's "super" Cabernets. This wine shows a deep and opaque black, purple color; rich and expansive in the nose with concentrated cassis and sweet oak, and even shows a hint of perfume. On the palate, the wine is layered and saturated—attributes that have become synonymous with these wines. The finish is smooth and lasting. (Tasted: May 26, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.