Caymus 'Special Selection' Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2017
Caymus 'Special Selection' Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2017 is a 750mL Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon — the best barrels of the 2017 harvest, distinguished by extremely fine, velvety tannins — from the Rutherford estate of the Wagner family, available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Vintage: 2017, Napa Valley
- Size: 750mL
- Production: best barrels of Caymus cabernet, extended barrel aging
- Score: 94 points, Wine Spectator ("Highly Recommended")
- 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"
Napa's Most Collected Label, 2017
There are collectible wines, and then there is Caymus Special Selection — the bottle that made luxury Napa cabernet a national phenomenon. Each vintage the Wagners set aside only their best barrels for this cuvee, and the 2017 earned 94 points and a "Highly Recommended" from Wine Spectator: "lush and very forward, with velvety textured waves of cassis, mulled plum and blackberry reduction mixed with flashes of mocha and roasted vanilla." A wine of structure with intense concentration of supple flavors and dark fruits — enjoyable on release, and built to reward a decade or more in the cellar.
Tasting Notes
Nose: ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, and strawberry interlaced with anise and liquorice. Palate: lush and forward — cassis, mulled plum, blackberry reduction, mocha, and roasted vanilla over fantastically balanced, mature tannins. Finish: long and persistent, ending on chocolate and mocha.
How to Enjoy
Decant two hours and serve at 60–65°F in a large Bordeaux glass. Pair with a joint of beef, venison, or hoisin ribs — or lay it down: this is a wine that improves with aging a decade or more. A definitive gift bottle for any serious wine lover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Caymus Cabernet and Special Selection? Special Selection is made only from the best barrels of each vintage's cabernet, with extended barrel aging — it is the winery's luxury cuvee, and the only wine ever twice named Wine Spectator's "Wine of the Year."
Should I decant the 2017? Yes — two hours of decanting helps this structured, concentrated wine open fully.
Can I age it? Absolutely — Caymus states it is enjoyable upon release but improves with aging a decade or more.
One of Napa's great collectible labels — order the 2017 Caymus Special Selection online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.