History: Founded in 1972 by Charles F. (Charlie) Wagner, Lorna Belle Glos Wagner and their son Charles J. (Chuck) Wagner on the family's Rutherford property. The Wagner family produced their first Cabernet Sauvignon from the 1972 vintage. Their first Special Selection Cabernet-from selected lots given extended barrel aging-was made from the 1975 vintage.

The Wagners took the name Caymus from the Mexican land grant known as Rancho Caymus, given to George Yount in 1836, which included what eventually became the town of Rutherford and much of the surrounding area. (Caymus was also the name of a subgroup of Mishewal-Wappo Indians whose village was north of what is now the town of Yountville.)

Vineyards: The winery's 60-plus acres of estate Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley's Rutherford District continue to form the foundation of Caymus Cabernets. Caymus also purchases grapes from carefully selected Napa Valley growers who have had a long-term association with the winery.

Wines:
Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

 Fine Wine Merchant, The Saratoga Wine Exchange, offers Camus Wine to buy online.

Caymus Winery 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

The 2002 Caymus vineyard Cabernet is dense, with a saturated dark ruby color. Dominant aromas of ripe black currants, black cherries and sweet berries, with subtler suggestions of brown spices, bittersweet cocoa and earth. In the mouth, bursting flavors of berry fruits/plums at their lush, high-summer ripeness, toasted spice and chocolate. Fine, fully mature tannins give the wine a satisfying grip--a textural element I love. The finish is long, rich and fruit-filled yet surprisingly supple for Cabernet at this level of extraction. (Winemaker)

Caymus Vineyard 2001 Special Selection

This Caymus Winery 2001 Special Selection features a supersaturated deep ruby color. Aromas of ripe, vanilla-tinged black currants and black cherries, roasted coffee beans and exotic spice. In the mouth, a solid core of sweet, dense liquid cassis flavor flows seamlessly from first taste to a long, expansive finish, underscored but never dominated by notes of mocha, spices, vanilla, earth and olives. The wine is dense, with a solid grip, but the tannins remain supple. Sweet oak becomes more apparent on the finish but is always subservient to the lavish fruit. (Winemaker)

Caymus Winery 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting notes for the Caymus Vineyard 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon:

Color: Deep ruby
Aroma: Expansive aromas of black currant (cassis), blackberry and slightly briary boysenberries; an overall impression of richly ripe fruit. Secondary notes of cedar from the very well integrated oak.
Flavor/Texture: The taste follows directly from the aromas, with remarkable consistency. Pure, clear flavors of black currant and blackberry seem to fan out across the palate, underlined by subtler notes of anise, toasted spice and roasted coffee beans. The softer, rounded blueberry flavors of Merlot seem more intense at mid-palate. However, the overall flavor spectrum is essentially seamless. The texture is substantial and full, and the finish is long and sweet. (Winemaker)