Caymus 'Special Selection' Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2003
Caymus 'Special Selection' Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2003 is a 750mL Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon — the best barrels of the vintage, selected for extended aging — from the Rutherford estate of the Wagner family, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Vintage: 2003, Napa Valley
- Size: 750mL
- Production: ~9,800 cases — best barrels of Caymus cabernet, extended barrel aging
- Scores: 96 points Wine Advocate (Robert M. Parker Jr.), 93 points Wine Spectator, 93 points Wine Enthusiast (Cellar Selection)
- Estate: Caymus Vineyards, Rutherford, Napa Valley — founded 1972, run by Chuck Wagner
- Distinction: Special Selection is the only wine in the world honored twice as Wine Spectator's "Wine of the Year"
The Luxury Cuvee of a Napa Original
Each year the Wagners set aside the best barrels of their Napa Valley cabernet to produce Special Selection — the luxury cuvee that made Caymus a household name among collectors, first produced from the 1975 vintage. The 2003 is a mature classic: Parker called it "one of Napa's most classic Cabernets," a big, mouthfilling, multidimensional wine with no hard edges, while Wine Spectator found it supple and harmonious, picking up momentum through a long, satisfying finish. Two decades on, it remains the benchmark for age-worthy Napa cabernet — the bottle that put "Special Selection" on every wine lover's shortlist.
Tasting Notes
Nose: copious creme de cassis, graphite, spice box, and a whiff of new saddle leather (Parker). Palate: rich, fleshy currant, blackberry, herb, mocha, and dill — full-bodied, supple, and harmonious. Finish: long and satisfying, with rich, intense tannins that have rounded beautifully with age.
How to Enjoy
Decant for an hour and serve at 60–65°F in a large Bordeaux glass. A fully mature vintage — drink now alongside grilled ribeye or aged cheddar, or hold briefly longer for continued evolution. This is a special-occasion and gifting bottle, not an everyday red.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Special Selection special? Each vintage, Caymus selects only the best barrels of its Napa Valley cabernet for Special Selection, giving them extended barrel aging. It is the only wine ever twice named Wine Spectator's "Wine of the Year."
Is the 2003 still drinking well? Yes — critics praised its proven ageability from release, and at 20+ years it is in a fully mature, harmonious phase with beautifully melted tannins.
Who makes Caymus? The Wagner family of Rutherford, Napa Valley — founded as a commercial winery in 1972 and run today by Chuck Wagner, who was raised on the estate.
A mature icon of Napa Valley — order the 2003 Caymus Special Selection online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.