Rick Phillips

9.7

Just peaking in my estimation. May sill have a couple or three years before its decline starts. Opened and sat in the bottle for 2 hours. Poured a glass which sat another hour. Bold forward fruits. Blackberry, Plums, Black Cherry, hints of spice herbs that quickly fade into a smooth, luxurious taste of velvety tannins. Backend is just as the Front, Luxurious Bold Fruit but just a touch of old earth, lite tobacco and chocolate/cherry. — 5 days ago

with Letha

"Odedi"

9.2

Dark ruby in color with a wide purplish rim.

Earthy nose and medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing red and black fruits with cedar, earth, tobacco leaf, herbs, peppercorn, mediterranean spices and chocolate notes.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and raspberries.

This Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley is extremely young and needs 10 years in the bottle to mature properly. Elegant and fruit forward, yet restrained.

I've had many different vintages of this wine, but never had it so young. Not as powerful as some other vintages, but already complex and nicely balanced.

Feels like a good quality Left Bank Bordeaux, and will continue to age nicely, and get better in the next 20 years.

Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.

A good sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$490. — 2 months ago

Mark Osmers

9.1

Consistently excellent Bordeaux-style red blend
(Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc)
Fruit forward cherry, plum, blackberry, with a nice oakey finish
— a year ago

Rob N

9.4

Smooth, high-quality Napa cab. A little less fruit forward than I had anticipated. But still, a treat. 10 years is a pretty nice bottle age for this one. ~$285, direct from winery. — 2 years ago

ESF

9.0

So solid, year in year out - I know they make a ton of this, and yes it’s at Costco, but when you’re looking for a reliable Zin, this is it. Bordering on being too fruit forward - this barely checks the box for secondary aromas & flavors. Balanced harmonious with intermediate aging potential. Try to find their single vineyard offerings. — 2 years ago

Peter Montoleone

9.0

Very good and consistent. Bold and round with a fruit forward start. — 4 years ago

C. Cole

9.4

Second bottle of the evening and… wow. Such a beautiful wine to close out the night. Dark berries, licorice, spices… hold up to the richest desserts, yet it’s light enough to dance on the tongue. Looking forward to seeing how the other, slightly younger bottles develop. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

This is a very tasty and easy drinking Zinfandel blend from Sonoma County.

Fruit forward with nice complexity. Elegant and entertaining.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly, and will continue to get better in the next 7 years.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.

Wine Enthusiasts 92 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 67% Zinfandel, 17% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 5% Alicante Bouschet and 3% Mataro.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$36. — 7 days ago

Christian Fischer

9.6

I am torn with the rating here. We had this after the Dom Rose and man did this need a lot of air. Very closed and tannin forward upon opening and decanting, then slowing opening up - an hour was not enough. It really came together after 3-4 hours and then had an amazing balance. Evolved from 9.0 to something 9.6 through the course of the evening. — 17 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Deep, dark Ruby red color with a fruit forward nose, lots of ripe berries with oaky notes. Jammy big and bold blackberry flavors with some spice, cacao, cedar and leather notes with nice mouthfeel. Big fine tannins with berry fruit carried over to the finish with oak and sweet spice. — 5 months ago

Lisa McKinnon

9.1

Light tannins, somewhat fruit forward, reminded me of a Meritage. Good with filet. — a year ago

Ming L

9.1

Named after two classic soil types of Napa Valley, Forward Gravelly Loam and Kidd Loam, this is a Petite Sirah leading blend. And I believe 2015 is the 4th and last vintage made by Merryvale.
Blackcurrant, fig, roasted coffee bean, and light fresh herbs on the nose. Some red berry fruits still lingers around on the smooth palate. Resolved tannins. In its prime. — 2 years ago

Steve S.

9.2

This is a pretty damn good fruit forward Zin. Full of lush dark red berries. — 3 years ago

David Leiman

9.4

1984, surprisingly tanic, acidic, and Heavy dried fruit, prunes and dried figs. over oxidized tasting at first but interesting. From producer to cellar at breakers in palm beach. Small leak out the bottle on one side of the cork. Over time it settles and the dried fruit subsides and then the lighter acidic flavors of fresh berries comes forward. — 4 years ago

"Odedi"

9.3

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose and full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and already very complex.

Showing black fruits with cedar, vanilla, leather, light earth, chocolates, tobacco, spices, peppercorn, coffee, cola and licorice.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Cabernet Sauvignon from Stags Leap District in Napa Valley is already drinking beautifully. Rich and extracted. Fruit forward, elegant and nicely balanced. Soft and smooth.

In your face kind of wine, with a teeth staining color. Bold and beautiful. The high alcohol is still noticeable, but will integrate with time.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after a few hours of airtime.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 to 20 years. Showing good potential to become a 95+ point wine.

Wine Spectator 93 points. Robert Parker 99 points. Wine Enthusiasts 97 points.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were aged for 28 months in all new French oak barrels.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$300. — 21 hours ago

John Harding

9.6

Cherry and berry nose. Fruit forward with a distinctive spice. Tannins and acidity have mellowed. Easily my favorite. Easy to drink. Drank this 2009 in 2026. Probably my favorite vintage. I save it for special occasions, but it’s time to drink it. Bottom of the cork was getting crumbly. — 2 months ago

with Jenny

Ted

9.0

Very approachable young bourdeaux blend. Again very fruit forward. — 5 months ago

with Jeni

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Caymus Vineyards – Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Caymus Special Selection is the flagship Cabernet, crafted only in exceptional years. The 2018 vintage stands tall among recent releases, showing why Chuck Wagner’s vision continues to shape Napa’s most recognized “luxury Cab.” 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from prime valley-floor vineyards, it strikes the perfect balance between Caymus’ signature ripe, fruit-forward style and an added layer of structure from a long, balanced growing season.

Aromas & Flavors
A powerful bouquet of ripe blackberries, cassis, and dark cherries, layered with cocoa nibs, espresso, and baking spices. Subtle hints of licorice, cedar, and vanilla lift the complexity, while a core of lush fruit drives the palate. The oak integration is seamless, giving a supple sweetness without overwhelming the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Rich, opulent, and velvety—yet with surprising finesse. The tannins are silky and well-structured, giving length without heaviness. The finish lingers on black fruit and mocha, balanced by just enough acidity to keep it vibrant.

Winemaking Notes
Meticulous fruit selection, long maceration for concentration, and extended aging in new French oak (18+ months). The Wagner hallmark: generous fruit expression wrapped in polished oak for immediate pleasure but with aging potential.

Food Pairing
An indulgent pairing with ribeye, prime rib, or braised short ribs. For a decadent twist, try it with dark chocolate truffles or roasted lamb with rosemary.

Verdict
One of the most impressive Caymus Special Selection vintages in recent memory—showing both lush Napa Valley opulence and refined elegance. A wine that thrills now but promises to shine for years.

Personal Pick Highlight
This 2018 stands as my favorite Caymus of the modern decade—a true benchmark that captures everything people love about Napa Cabernet at its richest and most expressive. Cheers!
— a year ago

Amy Mercovich

9.3

2018 vintage, dark cherry fruit forward but balanced with a vegetal quality of green pepper and nice tannins. $56 at Mahan’s — 3 years ago

Nathan Renfro

9.0

A bit different than previous FN vintages. This one less fruit forward, a bit more acidic, and tannins really tight. This one is obviously very young, but still tighter than previous vintages. Black and blue fruit come through, with some wet stone, vanilla, and licorice. Needs more time in the cellar. — 5 years ago