The 2013 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection is a robust red wine from the Napa region of California, produced by the renowned Caymus Vineyards. This varietal, made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, comes with an alcohol content of 15.2% and is sealed with a traditional cork closure.
James Suckling, writing for jamessuckling.com on May 4, 2016, awarded this wine a score of 92. He describes it as having a "full-throttle character" with "lots of ripe fruit and toasted oak" complemented by notes of "sage and mint." Suckling highlights its "silky tannins" and dominant ripe fruit, suggesting that it will mellow with age and recommending to "try it in 2019."
Wine Spectator provided a slightly higher score of 94 in a review dated September 21, 2023. The publication's reviewer, JM, praised its "prominent singed vanilla and mocha flavors" which lead into a "plush, supple core of warmed plum sauce, cassis, and black cherry compote." The review notes a "fine-grained finish" that emphasizes the fruit, with the mocha note taking "the final encore." The review concludes that this wine's style is "an obvious style that always wins fans," and suggests drinking it from now through 2032.
Kevin Johnson from JJ Buckley gave the wine a score of 91 on August 10, 2016. Johnson described the wine as having an "inky dark purple core with a sliver of translucency at the rim." He noted a bouquet "stuffed full of black and blue fruit along with sweet oak and secondary aromas of crushed granite and dark tilled earth." On the palate, the wine confirms the primary fruit with added "red cassis," pleasant acidity, "silky round tannins," and sweet baking spices that linger on the finish. Johnson concludes that the 2013 Caymus Special Selection is "made to drink now" but will also cellar nicely for the next 10-15 years.
Overall, the 2013 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection is a full-bodied, fruit-forward wine with notable oak influence and a potential for aging. It receives high praise for its bold flavors and smooth finish, making it a standout choice for both immediate enjoyment and long-term cellaring.