Caymus Vineyards
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
2011
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon represents Caymus Vineyards' signature expression of Napa Valley Cabernet—a bold, fruit-forward wine celebrated for its approachable richness and consistent quality across vintages.
Country
United States
Region
Napa Valley
More information
Producer
Founded in 1972 by Charlie Wagner, Caymus Vineyards has become one of Napa Valley's most recognised producers of Cabernet Sauvignon and a defining name in the modern American fine wine landscape. Based in Rutherford and now led by Charlie's son, Chuck Wagner, the family-owned estate has shaped the contemporary profile of Napa Valley Cabernet through five decades of meticulous vineyard sourcing and restrained winemaking. Its wines are distinguished by concentrated black fruit, polished texture and a capacity to age gracefully for decades.
Quick Facts
- Location: Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, United States
- Founded: 1972
- Founder: Charlie Wagner
- Ownership: Wagner family
- Leadership: Chuck Wagner, second generation
- Principal grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
- Appellation focus: Rutherford AVA, with additional fruit sourced across Napa Valley
- Estate philosophy: Meticulous vineyard sourcing, extended maceration, careful barrel selection
- Flagship wine: Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- Icon wine: Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon
- Style: Concentrated, structured Napa Valley Cabernet with richness and ageing potential
- Production approach: Hands-on family stewardship and traditional cellar practices
A Family Vision Rooted in Rutherford
Charlie Wagner established Caymus Vineyards in 1972 with a clear ambition: to craft Cabernet Sauvignon that expressed the depth and intensity of Napa Valley fruit while retaining balance and structure. Rutherford, with its warm climate and well-drained alluvial soils, provided the foundation for this vision.
The estate quickly gained recognition for its bold, fruit-driven wines that departed from lighter, more restrained styles then common in California. By the late 1970s, Caymus had begun to establish itself as a benchmark producer, defining a richer, more expressive Napa Valley profile that resonated with collectors and critics alike.
The Rutherford Foundation
Caymus draws much of its identity from Rutherford, an appellation known for producing Cabernet Sauvignon with what many describe as Rutherford dust—a distinctive earthy, dusty quality that complements ripe fruit and structured tannins. The estate sources fruit from carefully selected vineyard sites across the appellation, where deep gravelly loam soils, warm days and cool evenings produce grapes of exceptional concentration and physiological ripeness.
Additional vineyard sources across Napa Valley allow Caymus to achieve consistency year after year, blending sites that complement one another and contribute layered complexity to the finished wines. This multi-site approach, guided by decades of experience, enables the estate to navigate vintage variation while maintaining its signature style.
Two Expressions of Napa Cabernet
Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon represents the estate's core expression, produced annually and recognised as one of the most widely distributed fine Cabernet Sauvignons in the United States. Extended maceration and judicious barrel ageing in American oak contribute to the wine's generous texture, dark fruit character and polished tannin structure.
At the summit of the range stands Caymus Special Selection, a limited-production Cabernet Sauvignon made only in outstanding vintages. First released in 1975, Special Selection is sourced from the estate's finest parcels and receives extended barrel maturation. The wine has garnered critical acclaim over decades and is built for long-term cellaring, developing greater aromatic complexity and textural refinement with age.
Consistency Across Generations
Chuck Wagner's leadership has maintained the estate's commitment to hands-on winemaking and vineyard attention to detail. Traditional techniques—including careful fruit selection, gentle handling and extended time on skins—allow Caymus to produce wines that balance power with elegance and immediate appeal with ageing potential.
Across more than fifty vintages, Caymus has remained focused on a singular goal: crafting Cabernet Sauvignon that honours Napa Valley's terroir and the Wagner family's enduring vision. The result is a portfolio defined by richness, consistency and a style that continues to shape the identity of American Cabernet.
Country
Region
Napa Valley
Napa Valley is the most prestigious wine region in the United States and has become synonymous with world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and premium winemaking. Located in Northern California approximately 80 kilometres north of San Francisco, the valley combines exceptional growing conditions with pioneering innovation, producing wines that consistently rank among the finest in the world. Since the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris, when Napa wines triumphed over prestigious Bordeaux châteaux in a blind tasting, the region has established itself as one of the great wine regions alongside Bordeaux and Burgundy.
Despite covering a relatively small area of approximately 19,000 hectares, Napa Valley contains an extraordinary diversity of soils, elevations and microclimates across 16 distinct AVAs. Cool morning fog from San Pablo Bay moderates temperatures in the southern Carneros and Oak Knoll districts, providing ideal conditions for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, while warmer northern appellations such as Calistoga and St. Helena favour bold Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Mountain districts including Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder and Diamond Mountain produce wines of exceptional structure and complexity from volcanic and sedimentary soils. Benchmark appellations such as Oakville, Rutherford and Stags Leap District each contribute unique expressions of terroir, with Rutherford's famed "Rutherford Dust" tannins and Stags Leap's elegant, refined style.
The region is home to many internationally acclaimed estates, including Screaming Eagle, Opus One, Harlan Estate, Dominus Estate, Shafer Vineyards, Caymus Vineyards, Cakebread Cellars and Spottswoode. These producers represent a culture of meticulous vineyard management, sustainable viticulture and uncompromising quality that has made Napa Valley one of the world's most respected and collectible wine destinations.
Discover Napa Valley wines, compare prices from trusted merchants across Europe and find the best offers with Sipfind.
Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most important and widely planted red wine grapes, renowned for its powerful structure, concentrated fruit and exceptional ageing potential. Originating in Bordeaux, France, the variety has become a defining grape of fine wine regions around the world, particularly Napa Valley, Tuscany, Chile, Australia and South Africa.
Classic Cabernet Sauvignon combines flavours and aromas of blackcurrant, cassis, blackberry and dark cherry with characteristic notes of cedar, graphite, tobacco and herbs. Naturally high tannins and fresh acidity provide structure and longevity, while maturation in oak can add layers of spice, vanilla and toast. Its character varies significantly with climate, soil and winemaking, ranging from elegant and savoury to rich, powerful and intensely concentrated.
In Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is particularly associated with the Left Bank, where it forms the foundation of many prestigious blends alongside Merlot, Cabernet Franc and other permitted varieties. In Napa Valley, it has become the region’s signature red grape, producing some of the world’s most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon’s ability to express terroir while retaining its distinctive structure and character has made it a global benchmark for premium red wine. Whether produced as the dominant variety in a blend or as a varietal wine, the finest examples combine concentration, complexity and the capacity to develop gracefully over decades
History and Style
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship wine of Caymus Vineyards, one of Napa Valley's most iconic family-owned estates. Founded by Charlie Wagner in 1972, Caymus has built a reputation for producing Cabernet Sauvignon that emphasizes ripe fruit character, supple tannins, and immediate approachability while maintaining the structure expected from premium Napa wines.
Quick Facts
- Producer: Caymus Vineyards
- Classification: Napa Valley AVA estate wine
- Region: Napa Valley
- Appellation: Napa Valley AVA
- Country: United States
- Style: Full-bodied Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
- Grape Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon (typical)
- Ageing Potential: 8-12 years from vintage
- Alcohol (ABV): 14.5-15%
- Tasting Profile: Blackberry, cassis, dark cherry, vanilla, cocoa, sweet oak, velvety tannins
- Food Pairing: Grilled steak, lamb chops, braised short ribs, aged cheddar
- Serving Temperature: 16-18°C
- Bottle Status: Flagship
- Vintage: Vintage-dated (varies annually)
Vineyard, Terroir and Style
The vineyards of Caymus Vineyards are located in the heart of Napa Valley, benefiting from the region's warm days and cool nights that allow Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to develop full phenolic ripeness. The estate sources fruit from select sites across Napa Valley, blending parcels to create a wine that showcases the valley's signature opulence. The family's multi-generational winemaking philosophy focuses on gentle handling and careful barrel selection to craft wines of exceptional balance.
History and Reputation
This Cabernet Sauvignon displays a rich, full-bodied style with concentrated flavors of blackberry, cassis, and dark cherry, complemented by notes of vanilla, cocoa, and sweet oak. The palate is velvety and generous, with soft tannins and a long, fruit-driven finish. While crafted for immediate enjoyment, the wine possesses the structure to age gracefully for 8-12 years from vintage.
Discover Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon and compare prices across trusted retailers on Sipfind to secure the best value for this Napa Valley icon.