Caymus California Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Caymus California Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from select vineyards across California, bottled at 12.5% ABV in 750ml format. Only the second vintage of this California-appellation release from the Wagner family, it marks Caymus Vineyards' deliberate expansion beyond their celebrated Napa Valley bottlings to showcase the state's broader viticultural diversity.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.5%  |  Origin: California, USA  |  Vintage: 2022  |  Producer: Caymus Vineyards (Wagner Family)

Production & Heritage

Caymus Vineyards is 100% family-owned by the Wagner family, long established as one of Napa Valley's defining Cabernet producers. The California Cabernet Sauvignon was introduced with the 2021 vintage, born from the Wagners' excitement over lesser-known vineyard sites across the state — including Paso Robles, Suisun Valley, San Benito County, and Monterey. These locations share warm days, cool nights, and rocky soils that stress vines into yielding small, concentrated berries with deep flavor extraction. The 2022 vintage continues that multi-region sourcing philosophy, blending fruit from these distinct pockets into a single, cohesive expression of California Cabernet.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe blackberry and cassis arrive first, followed by layers of Dutch chocolate powder, warm cinnamon, and subtle oak. A savory, almost meaty undertone emerges with time in the glass.

Taste: The entry is plush and full-bodied, with concentrated black currant and mulberry compote coating the mid-palate. Dark chocolate and espresso tones build alongside a thread of black pepper, creating a rich, savory core. The fruit stays ripe without tipping into jammy territory.

Finish: Long and velvety, with lingering impressions of smoky oak and cocoa. Tannins are ripe and well-integrated, leaving a warm, spiced close that invites the next sip.

How to Drink Caymus California Cab

Serve at 60–65°F and allow 20–30 minutes of decanting to let the layered aromatics fully open. This is a wine built for the dinner table or unhurried evening sipping. For wine-forward drinks, the dark fruit backbone makes it a strong candidate for a New York Sour, where a Cabernet float adds blackberry depth atop a whiskey sour base. It also anchors a traditional red wine Sangria, its cassis and spice holding up against citrus and brandy. In cooler months, use it for a Mulled Wine — the inherent cinnamon and chocolate tones integrate seamlessly with warm spices like clove and star anise.

Best For

• Pairing with a dry-aged ribeye or braised short ribs at a weekend dinner
• Gifting a California Cabernet enthusiast exploring beyond Napa Valley
• Hosting a side-by-side tasting of California-appellation versus Napa Valley Cabs
• Anchoring a charcuterie and aged cheese spread for a gathering

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Caymus California Cab taste like? It is a full-bodied, dry Cabernet Sauvignon dominated by ripe blackberry, black currant, and dark chocolate, with supporting notes of espresso, cinnamon spice, and smoky oak on a long, velvety finish.

How does Caymus California Cab compare to Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are flagship California Cabernet brands, but the Caymus California bottling sources fruit from multiple regions across the state rather than a single AVA, often resulting in a broader, more fruit-forward profile at a comparatively moderate ABV of 12.5%. Silver Oak's Alexander Valley and Napa Valley bottlings tend to emphasize oak-driven structure and longer aging regimens, giving them a different textural signature.

Is Caymus California Cab good for sipping neat? Yes — its plush tannins, moderate alcohol, and layered dark fruit make it very approachable on its own, particularly after a brief decant to let the aromas develop fully.

Where is Caymus California Cab made? It is produced by Caymus Vineyards, the Wagner family's estate rooted in Napa Valley, California. The fruit for this bottling is sourced from vineyard sites across the state, including Paso Robles, Suisun Valley, San Benito County, and Monterey.

What foods pair well with Caymus California Cab? Grilled or dry-aged red meats like ribeye complement its savory depth. Braised lamb shanks echo the wine's warm spice notes. Aged hard cheeses such as Manchego or Gruyère match its full body. Dark chocolate desserts mirror the cocoa and espresso undertones. Roasted portobello mushrooms highlight the wine's meaty, savory character.

What sizes does Caymus California Cab come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the widely available format for this expression.

Is Caymus California Cab worth the price? It positions as a mid-premium California Cabernet, sitting below the winery's Napa Valley and Special Selection bottlings. For drinkers who value the Caymus house style — concentrated dark fruit, plush texture, and polished tannins — the California bottling delivers recognizable quality at a more accessible tier.

Why Caymus California Cab?

This bottling is significant because it represents the first new Cabernet appellation from the Wagner family in decades, introduced only with the 2021 vintage. Rather than a simple value play, it reflects a deliberate search for vineyard sites across California — rocky, warm-day, cool-night terroirs — that produce the kind of concentrated, richly textured fruit the Caymus name is built on. The multi-region sourcing gives the winemaking team a broader palette than a single-AVA wine allows, resulting in an unusually layered and complete Cabernet at its price tier. For anyone drawn to the Caymus style but looking for a fresh perspective from the same family, this California bottling stands on its own merits.