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2022 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 50th Anniversary, Caymus Vineyards: A Review

Hello friends it’s been far too long, and far too many bottles escaping a recap. I’m fixing that right now, courtesy of the 2022 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a limited-edition headliner of a wine that commemorates the Wagner family and its Napa Valley roots. 

2022 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 50th Anniversary, Caymus Vineyards, Fairfield, California, USA.

The 2022 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon pours in a distinctive, deep ruby hue. Swirling it in the glass reveals not only its vibrant crimson color but also dark berry aromas of goodness…probably black cherry or plum? Other tasters cite its “baking spices” and “enticing whiffs of cocoa, tobacco, and leather,” but I’m pleasantly covered in the berry framework of this intriguing bottle and miss a few of those nuances. That may be attributed to our consumption of this Caymus bottle in its (relative) youth rather than allowing its profile to mature over the next 5 to 10 years? Anyway, the 2022 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 50th Anniversary is a full-bodied wine with layers of ripe black fruit and vanilla, and I find myself doing less sipping and more swirling of the wine. Like many Wagner wines, it’s velvety on the tongue and has a fulsome mouthfeel that leads to a balanced, satisfying finish.

Fruit for the 2022 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 50th Anniversary was harvested from diverse terroirs, ranging from the cooler Coombsville region in the southern part of the Valley to warmer Calistoga in the north. Also in the mix are grapes from the renowned Rutherford and Oakville appellations—all blended in the production of a complex, intensely enjoyable Napa Cab that is itself a celebration.

From its deep, inky color to its rich, concentrated flavors of dark fruits and spices, the 2022 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 50th Anniversary truly captivates the senses. It’s a milestone for the Wagner family and a testament to their ongoing pursuit of excellence. This 2022 Caymus deserves to be savored and appreciated, both for its exceptional quality and also for the legacy it represents. I’m so pleased we have another one to hold for the future!

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2021 Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon, Orin Swift Cellars

I’m remembering this one gladly – a fella’s requested birthday drink to commemorate another trip around the sun. Many thanks to Cara for all the special touches that make for a fun celebration and looking forward to many more.

2021 Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon, Orin Swift Cellars, Napa Valley, Saint Helena, California, USA.

I’ve been privileged to sample the Palermo on happy occasions in the past, and you can read a review of the 2016 at your convenience.

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The Ones That Got Away – Winter 2023

Very busy holiday season here to close out ‘23 but wanted to take a moment to recognize all the great grapes I haven’t had a chance to profile in Notes down the stretch. Below are a few of the leading contenders.

2020 Attila’s Selection Zinfandel, Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma County, California, USA.

2020 Locations 10, California, St. Helena, California, USA.

2018 Merlot, Buena Vista Winery, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA.

2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Crossbarn Winery, Sonoma County, California, USA.

2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Justin Vineyards, Paso Robles, California, USA.

2021 Eight Years in the Desert, Orin Swift Cellars, St. Helena, California, USA.

2019 Attila’s Selection Zinfandel, Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma County, California, USA.

2020 Saint Emilion Grand Cru, Chateau de L’Annonciation, Bordeaux, France.

2019 Machete Red Wine, Orin Swift Cellars, St. Helena, California, USA.

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2021 Salman Vineyards Petite Syrah, Jeff Runquist Wines

NotesOfNote has suffered throughout 2023 because of my various distractions and competing priorities, but having sampled this Jeff Runquist over the past week it’s high time to get back to spreading the joy of good grapes. Any reasonable reader of Notes may be aware that his 1448 is a go-to weeknight wine for this oenophile. On rare occasions, though, I’ve had the great pleasure of sampling the next tier of Runquists.

2021 R Petite Syrah, Salman Vineyard, Jeff Runquist Wines, Clarksburg, California, USA.
2021 R Petite Syrah, Salman Vineyard, Jeff Runquist Wines, Clarksburg, California, USA.

To read previous reviews of the 2017, please be sure to view here or more fully here. Thanks, as always, for coming along for the ride here with Notes.

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2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonnet Hill

For this guy, there’s nothing like a great bottle of California Cab…except perhaps when it’s a GIFT bottle like this 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, from Bonnet Hill in Healdsburg. According to my favorite wine store, the 2021 Bonnet Hill has jumped onto the scene in June of this year because of its incredible wine country pedigree.

2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonnet Hill, Healdsburg, California, USA.

You have to know that the fruit for the Bonnet Hill comes from Andy Beckstoffer’s Crimson Ridge Vineyard in Lake County. It’s just to the north of Napa and slowly emerging from its sleeper status for Cabernet. Elected to the Culinary Institute of America’s Vintners Hall of Fame in 2010, Beckstoffer is a legend in Napa for his family-owned Beckstoffer Vineyards, numerous contributions to the quality of Northern California grape growing, and land prescrvation advocacy throughout the Rutherford Viticultural Area. Beckstoffer started investing in the Lake Country region several years ago, purchasing a 1,200-acre vineyard he named “Amber Knolls” in the Red Hills AVA—which is from where this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon originates.

It’s amazing value in the glass, a deep, ruby red that shares whiffs of cherry and plums…innate, inky mouthfeel that rings authentic and terroir as you taste it. Didn’t need to breathe; it was ready to go right out of the glass—no aeration, either. Bottled as Bonnet Hill, this 2021 is complex and had far less tannins than I expected…very easy drinking and a gentle finish. 

The first Beckstoffer Crimson Ridge wines all released at over $80 per bottle, as spotlighted here. The 2021 Bonnet Hill is an absolute gem, priced well below that audacious marker, and I’m going to have to head back for more right away. It’s fantastic juice at a fantastic price! 

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2021 Calistoga Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Hillside

Next time you’re shopping for vino and find yourself lost in a sea of red and white options, here’s a recommendation: try sampling the Hillside 2021 Calistoga Reserve Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon. It’ll take you away from the masses and steal you away for a little quality time.

2021 Calistoga Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Hillside, Napa Valley, California, USA.

I know I’ve been away from Notes for awhile, but suffice it to say I’ve been well acquainted with new world reds throughout. This one, a 2021 Reserve and a limited-production Cabernet Sauvignon (100%), is grown in a “prominent” vineyard in Calistoga, Napa Valley. It reportedly grows in a special block where red volcanic soils merge with volcanic ash—my sense of terroir kicks into overdrive at such notions, and the grapes here show these characteristics in a tangible way. The 2021 Calistoga Reserve is not red and not purple in your glass but rather straddles the line between them.

The Hillside 2021 Calistoga Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is created with attention to detail, produced from grapes that were exposed to draught conditions. Winemaker Nicholas Bleecher indicates that growing pattern “resulted in a more natural load on the vines, requiring less pruning and dropping of fruit”—and also packs the grapes full of flavor.

What about a few notes, you say? The 2021 Calistoga Rserve is plums, blueberry—dark fruits for sure—and has little interwoven hints of earth and spice. Its tannins are very gentle, and this is a full-bodied, pleasurable red. I’ve sample in a variety of ways, accompanying meals and soloing after a long work day. Lot of the latter lately, and not enough of these fine wines. Here’s to the rest of the summer fixing those types of inequities! 

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The Ones That Got Away – Spring 2023

2019 Attila’s Selection Zinfandel, Buena Vista Winery, California, USA; 2019 Machete Red Wine, Orin Swift Wines, California, USA; 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, M by Martellotto Paso Robles, California, USA; 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Robert Story Reserve, Napa Valley, California, USA; 2019 Shirttail Ranches Cabernet Sauvignon, Hess, California, USA;  2018 Bodega de Edgar Migrant Red Blend, Paso Robles, California, USA; 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Prima Materia, California, USA. 2020 Gold Label Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, California, USA; 2019 Grenache McKahn Family Cellars, Amador County, California, USA.