Caymus Vineyards Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018 (6-Bottle in a Case)

The Caymus Vineyards Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018 is the flagship wine from this iconic Napa Valley producer, renowned for its distinctive style and consistent quality. This wine is born from a philosophy centered on "extended hang time," a unique viticultural technique championed by Caymus. This involves leaving the grapes on the vine for an unusually long period, even risking an early winter, to allow for maximum physiological ripeness. This extended hang time is credited with developing the grapes attractive suppleness, rich, mature flavors, and the extremely fine, velvety tannins that define Special Selection. Grapes are sourced from their estate vineyards and carefully selected grower vineyards across Napa Valley, contributing to the wines intricate blend and depth. In the winery, the process emphasizes gentle handling and maximizing flavor extraction. Grapes are meticulously sorted, often undergoing a three-tiered sorting process including an optical sorter, before whole berries are gently delivered to fermentation tanks via gravity. Cold soaks are often employed before fermentation to extract color and aromas. Fermentation itself is managed through a combination of délestage, pump-overs, and punch-downs to fine-tune tannin profiles and ensure rich extraction. The wine then undergoes extended maceration, typically ranging from four to five weeks, to perfect the mouthfeel and complexity. Aging is a critical component, with the wine spending approximately 21 months in French oak barrels, a significant portion of which are new (around 48% for the 2018 vintage). This careful barrel aging contributes notes of chocolate, espresso, and roasted vanilla, while maintaining the wines intense concentration of supple dark fruit flavors and luxurious, velvety texture. Caymus Special Selection is unfiltered, further preserving its inherent richness and depth.

Caymus Vineyards is an iconic Napa Valley winery with a rich family heritage stretching back generations. The Wagner family began farming the land that would become Caymus in the 1940s, primarily selling their grapes to other wineries. However, in 1972, Charlie and Lorna Wagner, along with their son Chuck Wagner, decided to establish their own winery, giving birth to Caymus Vineyards. The name "Caymus" derives from the Rancho Caymus land grant, honoring the native Wappo settlements that once inhabited the area. From its inception, Caymus quickly became renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon, a varietal that would become synonymous with the brand. A pivotal moment came in 1975 with the release of their flagship wine, the Caymus Special Selection. This wine is not produced every year, but only in vintages where the quality of the grapes reaches an exceptional level. The Special Selection achieved international acclaim, notably being named Wine Spectator magazines "Wine of the Year" twice (for the 1984 and 1990 vintages), an unprecedented achievement making Caymus the only winery globally to receive this award twice. Under the continued stewardship of Chuck Wagner, Caymus Vineyards maintains a philosophy that blends tradition with innovative techniques. Chuck is known for his hands-on approach, meticulously overseeing every step from vine to bottle. The winery is dedicated to producing wines that express the unique terroir of Napa Valley, characterized by a distinct richness, plush texture, and a signature fruit-forward style. Caymus remains a family-centric operation, with succeeding generations contributing to its enduring legacy of quality and distinction in the world of Cabernet Sauvignon.