Rutherford is arguably Napa Valley’s most prestigious wine growing appellation.  Ever heard of Scarecrow?  It’s $1500 per bottle and is grown and produced in Rutherford.  How about Quintessa, B.V. Georges de Latour, Caymus, Staglin or Rubicon Estate?  Tired of me asking you questions?  Trick.  That was another question.  Okay, here’s a statement: Those wines all hail from Rutherford and their price tag shows.  Of the wines I listed, Caymus is the cheapest at $60.  Needless to say, when a Rutherford Merlot came along at $7.99, I had to try it.

MSH is a value-focused project of Tom Gamble, owner of some of Napa’s best vineyards.  He teamed up with other high-end wine growers and took surplus grapes from top-notch vineyards to create incredible tasting wines for Yellow Tail prices.

The MSH Merlot is an incredible expression of Napa’s take on this noble grape.  Deep purple bubbles lead to cocoa on the nose and rich chocolate on the palate.  This wine is exceptionally polished for it’s price and will impress any fan of Napa Valley Merlot.  A friend recently shared a bottle of 2002 Rubicon Estate Merlot with me and I would be proud to serve him this wine.  In fact, next time he’s over, I just might!

Buy Here: MSH 2009 Rutherford Merlot $7.99

The sense of place a wine can convey is absolutely incredible to me.  Round Pond’s Rutherford Estate Cabernet has Rutherford written all over it.  These grapes are grown next door to B.V. George de Latour and Caymus so you know the soil is top notch.  In fact, Round Pond sells some of their grapes to Caymus as only around 5% of their 360 acres of grapes end up in their own wines, with the rest going to high-end producers looking for top quality Rutherford Grapes.

Rutherford wines have a uniqueness unlike any other AVA in Napa with the possible exception of Oakville and Howell Mountain.  The Rutherford AVA is 6 square miles but, somehow, the wines taste different from any other wines in Napa.  You’ll hear a lot of talk about “Rutherford dust”, and that is the perfect description of the Round Pond Cabernet.  A sweet, alluring nose with a hint of black pepper leads into a rich, full, sweet taste with firm but well integrated tannins.  This wine is drinking great right now but will only improve every day you can resist drinking it.

We toured Round Pond in July and at $35, the tour with tasting and food pairing (pictured right) is only $5 less than a bottle of their signature Cabernet.  Honestly, I’d rather sit down with a block of cheese and a bottle of their wine.  That said, the tour is very detailed and informative, and the food pairing is a nice touch.  The tasting takes place on their beautiful veranda overlooking their stunning vineyards (pictured top), along with those of Honig, B.V. and Caymus.  If you become a huge fan of this wine, which you’re likely to after tasting it, it’s worth it to see where it’s grown, aged and bottled.

This is getting increasingly difficult to find due to its huge 94 point Wine Spectator score.  LA Wine Co has the lowest price in the country by $5, so stock up if this seems up your alley.  If it doesn’t, go get your head checked.

Buy Here: 2007 Round Pond Cabernet $39.95

Wine Spectator 94 points

“A tremendous effort, dense and chewy, robust and concentrated, with a rich, focused core of blackberry, currant, cedar, herb and mineral. Full-bodied, gaining depth and persistence. Drink now through 2018. “

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”.

Buy Here: 2008 Caymus Cabernet $59.95

How can a $60 wine be an incredible value?  When it’s Caymus Cabernet.

I’m sitting outside under the California heater on a beautiful spring evening and I’m trying to come up with a reason why the 2007 Caymus isn’t the most enjoyable wine I’ve ever had.  I’m willing to officially crown this the best California Cabernet I’ve had under $100.  And it’s $40 under $100!

2007 is really proving to be a great vintage for Napa Cabernet.  It’s approachable early, but has the structure to age.  I had the 2006 Caymus soon after it was released and it was good, but really needed to be laid back for 5 years before it was really ready to drink.  The ’07 tastes amazing now and I have every reason to believe it’s only going to get better.

This wine is unique.  The nose is complex and warm with earthy tones.  The aromas jump out of the glass but not a single scent dominates.  The wine pours almost black and that density is fully reflected in the mouth.  It’s mouth-coating with a sweet chocolaty flavor accented with, but not obstructed by, toasty oak.  The tannins required for aging are there, but not overpowering, and the ’07 Caymus definitely isn’t shy.  But it’s also not overblown either as its 15% alcohol is perfectly integrated.

For me, there’s something indescribable about a special wine; the kind you want to taste again and again, even if you’ve just had a sip (WARNING: this can result in dizziness, memory loss and entire days spent laying on your couch).  Caymus is one of those wines and if you haven’t tasted the ’07 yet, do yourself a favor and come up with an excuse to celebrate.

Other things my wife and I bought today that cost $60: a tank of gas, curtains and gardening supplies.  Will any of those give us the pleasure of a bottle of Caymus?  Clearly not… I have to hang the curtains after all!

Wine Spectator 92 points

“Ripe and fleshy, with rich plum, wild berry, spice and savory herb notes that are complex, full-bodied and expansive on the palate, ending with firm tannins and a dash of espresso. Drink now through 2016.”

2007 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon- LA Wine Company $59.95

Update from day 2:  This wine is ridiculously good…