WTN: Caymus…yes, really…Caymus

[David M. Bueker]

• 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (10/19/2023)
  From my late father’s cellar.
  
  This is not in any way a caricature of California Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s not over the top, though it does still show ripe red/black fruit, and a healthy dose of oak spice. It’s just an easygoing, very drinkable, and satisfying Cabernet that soothes the ills of corporate meetings, and bridges the gap from happy hour to bedtime. I’m happy to have a few more, even if it isn’t my usual poison. It’s mindlessly pleasurable to drink, and Thursdays often need that.

[Jenise]

These days, that's about the best a Caymus can be!

[David M. Bueker]

Yeah - recent vintages are not particularly pleasurable (even mindlessly) - at least to my palate.

[Jenise]

Attended a Caymus vertical in Vancouver; Bill Spohn was there, too. The '99 was definitely one of the best wines there:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=56368&p=451703&hilit=caymus+vertical#p451703

That was an informative tasting, wasn't it, Jenise? Jenise and I were sitting together muttering things like "In what possible world did they think this would make a decent wine - oak juice!"

I still have a string of early 90s cabs and Special Selections in the cellar and am wondering when I can inflict them on my friends (oh wait! next tasting lunch is a wide open theme.....). In the meantime, this did remind me that I have 2015 Caymus Zin (which I find generally more palatable than the cab - they must save up most of the oak for that and have little left for the zin). I have taken a bottle of zin from the cellar to accompany the weekly roast beast (it is 'steak Friday' every week at our place).