WineLovers Discussion Group

Just as bad as you thought it was going to be.

I just bought two more bottles of the 2011 Caymus Napa Valley bottling on WTSO. That's some pretty good juice. I'm not sure why it was being offered on a flash site.

I've tasted the Conundrum red on a couple of occasions. It seems to me that Caymus just takes a bunch of leftover crap, tosses some sugar in and bottles it. I'm guessing it is wine "made" by the director of finance - "We need margin, people!"

Not a bad deal, Sam. I have to admit liking good old regular Caymus too. Where do they ship from? I see on the site it says it will ship September 18, which I presume is a hell or high water kind of a thing. Still too hot most places for me to like shipping now.

Jenise,

WTSO ships from New Jersey. You can delay shipment for up to six months and they will hold the wine in temperature controlled storage at no extra charge. We have done so on several occasions including for this Caymus (Nov. 1) . I believe September 18th is the earliest ship date.

I have been quite happy with WTSO. We have started buying quite a bit of daily drinker wine from them. They are very responsive to complaints and took a shipment with cork seepage back without question.

Caymus Conundrum is an oxymoron.

Hi,

I have to say, Caymus used to be a go to wine for me, back when they were $20-25. Drank like a good St. Julien, but with more oomph. (Sort of like the '02 Insignia I was lucky enough to find at a decent price at a local restaurant last night.) But,now, and it's not the price, pretty much all I get is blueberries and oak. I have a couple of '06's in the cellar, and I just never find them satisfying. I haven't had any of the special selection in years; is that where there more interesting juice now goes?

Joshua Kates wrote:Hi,

I have to say, Caymus used to be a go to wine for me, back when they were $20-25. Drank like a good St. Julien, but with more oomph. (Sort of like the '02 Insignia I was lucky enough to find at a decent price at a local restaurant last night.) But,now, and it's not the price, pretty much all I get is blueberries and oak. I have a couple of '06's in the cellar, and I just never find them satisfying. I haven't had any of the special selection in years; is that where there more interesting juice now goes?

I hear you, Joshua. Back in the day, Caymus Estate Cab was a staple of my cellar, but that was back when it retailed for $10-15 a bottle. I never saw the need for SS at its extra price and oak sheen, but I wouldn't refuse a taste if offered, either. Those were the days of Charles Wagner (Père), a crusty old farmer who could intimidate even the most self-confident winegeek. Alas, I long ago exhausted my stash of those wines, and Chuck (Fils) Wagner's vision has not proved very appealing at all. Pity, that.

Mark Lipton

Jenise wrote:Just as bad as you thought it was going to be.

Agree, yuck.

Joshua Kate's wrote: I haven't had any of the special selection in years; is that where there more interesting juice now goes?

The special selection is definitely head and shoulders above the standard bottling, though I do enjoy the Napa Valley. I love the 2007 SS and bought up several when I happened onto them for a good price.

Sam Platt wrote:

Joshua Kate's wrote: I haven't had any of the special selection in years; is that where there more interesting juice now goes?

The special selection is definitely head and shoulders above the standard bottling, though I do enjoy the Napa Valley. I love the 2007 SS and bought up several when I happened onto them for a good price.

The 04 is smashing. Had one a few weeks ago. Wow.

I bought one bottle of the 2010 Special Selection. Will hold it for some time still.