2008 Caymus Cabernet- Amazing every year. $59.95
22 Aug
How Caymus makes consistently fantastic wines year after year is absolutely beyond me. Not only have I never had a vintage I didn’t like, I’ve never had one that didn’t blow me away. Did you ever wonder why they release their wines a full year before most other wineries and two years before competitors like Silver Oak? Because their wines sell out every year. Those other wineries already have their wines bottled, but they can’t release the next vintage until the prior vintage is gone. Caymus doesn’t have that problem. Some people won’t buy Caymus because it’s one of the most famous names in the valley. But unlike some of their competitors who rest on their laurels, Caymus wines keep delivering every year.
Equally impressive is how this wine tastes great upon release but is completely ageworthy at the same time. Comparisons will no doubt be made to Caymus’ incredible 2007 vintage. I haven’t drunk the 2007 and 2008 side-by-side yet, but my initial thought is that the 2008 drinks as well or better than the 2007 today. How they will compare in 10 years is TBD. My gut is that the 2007 will be marginally better, but it really could go either way.
What I love so much about Caymus wines is their uniqueness in an age when many California Cabernets are starting to taste alike. I guarantee I could pick ether vintage out of a lineup of 10 similarly priced California Cabernets. They have a signature sweetness that brings the firm tannin into balance. Perhaps the best part of this wine is the texture- weighty, silky and rich in every way.
In the style of The Most Interesting Man in the World: ” I don’t always drink $60 Cabernet, but when I do, I prefer Caymus”.
