Velvet Crush

Charles Smith

The Velvet Devil Washington State Merlot 2014

k
8.9

Balanced with front fruit and decent body. No overpowering aspects. — 2 months ago

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015

Dark fruit, cassis, licorice, velvet — 4 months ago

Dave, Ted and 3 others liked this

Château Latour

Premier Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Age 30 has 1995 Latour is in an amazing place, finally, fully open and giving wafting unmistakable Pauillac perfume, integrated and seamless and liquid velvet in the mouth with melting tannins and an explosively long finale. My fav first growth 💯 — 10 months ago

Jay, Jan and 11 others liked this

St. James Winery

Velvet Red Sweet Concord

Sweet at first and then tart to finish. A very good contrast. Not too sweet and not too tart. My favorite wine so far. — 4 years ago

Pétrus

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 1975

gorgeous plum and violet. Black cherry and gorgeous velvet texture. Really classy and rounded and long — 3 months ago

Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with Matt and Paul
Tom, Jay and 7 others liked this

Hartford Court

Velvet Sisters Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2022

Hartford never ever disappoints. Open one up. They’re delicious. — 9 months ago

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1999

1999 vintage. Decanted and tasted after four hours. Medium/heavy body. Intense, dark color. Earthy, tannic nose. Plenty of grip and fruit and showing beautiful balance now. Not an Insignia fan but this was excellent and has plenty of quality time left. No rush to crush. 71% Cab, 21% Merlot, 6% PV, 1% Cab Franc, 1% Malbec. 3.5.24. — 2 years ago

Ira, Jan and 11 others liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Caymus Vineyards – Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Special Selection is Caymus’ flagship bottling, the only wine to twice earn Wine Spectator’s “Wine of the Year.” The 2013 vintage comes from a benchmark Napa year—warm, consistent, and producing deeply concentrated fruit. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from prime valley-floor sites, this wine showcases the Caymus hallmark: bold, plush, and fruit-driven Napa opulence.

Aromas & Flavors
Opulent blackberries, cassis, and baked blueberries, wrapped in layers of cocoa, espresso, and toasted vanilla. Secondary notes of licorice, sweet tobacco, and graphite add depth. With time in the glass, hints of cedar and leather start to show, signaling the early stages of graceful evolution.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and richly textured, almost velvet-like, with powerful yet polished tannins. The 2013 vintage delivers intensity and weight, but with balance—long, lingering finish loaded with ripe dark fruit and spice.

Winemaking Notes
Meticulous cluster selection, long maceration for depth, and extended aging in new French oak barrels (18+ months). Chuck Wagner’s hallmark style: unapologetically ripe fruit, creamy oak integration, and a seamless, approachable structure even in youth.

Food Pairing
A natural match for grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, or herb-crusted lamb. For a more indulgent pairing, try it with aged Gouda or truffle-infused dishes.

Verdict
A monumental vintage of Caymus Special Selection—ripe, hedonistic, and still showing youthful vigor more than a decade later. Built for aging, yet already a crowd-pleaser. A benchmark expression of Napa Cabernet’s luxurious side.

Personal Pick Highlight
2013 stands out as one of Napa’s greatest modern vintages, and tasting it now is like catching Caymus in its prime sweet spot: power meeting polish. Cheers!
— 4 months ago

Ted liked this