Caymus Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 is a rich, full-bodied red wine from Rutherford, Napa Valley, in a standard 750ml bottle. This vintage earned 92 points from Wine Spectator, which praised its creamy texture and layered complexity — hallmarks of the Wagner family's signature extended-hang-time winemaking philosophy.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~14.6%  |  Origin: Napa Valley, California  |  Vintage: 2019  |  Producer: Caymus Vineyards (Wagner Family)

Production & Heritage

Caymus Vineyards was founded in 1972 by Chuck Wagner and his parents, Charlie and Lorna Belle Wagner, in the heart of Napa Valley's Rutherford District. The 2019 vintage draws fruit from eight of Napa's sixteen recognized sub-appellations, blending 77% Cabernet Sauvignon with 23% complementary red Bordeaux varieties. A defining practice at Caymus is extended hang time — grapes are left on the vine well past conventional harvest windows to develop greater suppleness and concentrated fruit character, a decision that risks crop loss if early winter rains arrive but delivers the dense, velvety profile the label is known for.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Extravagant and voluptuous on the nose, with immediate impressions of ripe blackberry and mountain blueberry giving way to darker currents of cassis and graphite. A secondary wave of cocoa and sweet spice emerges as the wine opens up.

Taste: The entry is plush and opulent, coating the palate with black-fruit preserves and boysenberry puree. At mid-palate, warmed vanilla and crème de cassis weave into layers of tobacco and melted black licorice, carried by a creamy, almost decadent texture. The density here speaks to the extended ripening on the vine.

Finish: Long and persistent, with mocha notes swirling around dark fruit and licorice as they slowly fade. The tannins are ripe and well-integrated, leaving a sweet-spice impression that lingers well beyond the final sip.

How to Drink Caymus 2019

Serve at 60–65°F in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass. Decanting for 30 to 60 minutes helps the layered aromatics fully develop, though the wine is generous enough to enjoy straight from the bottle. Its voluptuous fruit and supple tannins make it an outstanding pairing partner for grilled or braised red meats, where the wine's richness can stand toe-to-toe with bold, savory flavors. A Margherita-style flatbread with roasted garlic and aged cheddar also complements its dark-fruit intensity, while a simple charcuterie board featuring hard salami and aged Gouda draws out the wine's cocoa and spice undertones.

Best For

• Gifting a Napa Valley wine enthusiast on a milestone occasion
• Pairing with a prime ribeye or slow-braised short ribs at a dinner party
• Cellaring for three to seven additional years to develop further complexity
• Introducing a wine drinker to the rich, fruit-forward Napa Cabernet style

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Caymus 2019 taste like? Caymus 2019 delivers an opulent, fruit-driven profile dominated by blackberry preserves, cassis, and boysenberry puree, layered with cocoa, vanilla, tobacco, and melted black licorice on a creamy, full-bodied palate.

How does Caymus 2019 compare to Silver Oak Napa Cabernet? Both are iconic, full-bodied Napa Cabernets, but Caymus tends toward a lusher, more fruit-forward and creamy style due to its extended hang-time approach. Silver Oak is typically recognized for its extended American oak aging, which lends a more pronounced vanilla and dill character alongside its dark fruit.

Is Caymus 2019 good for drinking now? Yes — the 2019 is approachable upon release, with ripe, well-integrated tannins and generous fruit that reward immediate enjoyment, though it has the structure to develop in a cellar through roughly 2029.

Where is Caymus 2019 made? Caymus Vineyards is located in the Rutherford District of Napa Valley, California, and was founded in 1972 by the Wagner family. The 2019 vintage sources fruit from eight different sub-appellations within Napa Valley.

What foods pair well with Caymus 2019? Grilled prime ribeye steak matches the wine's richness; braised lamb shanks echo its dark-fruit depth; aged Gouda or sharp cheddar complement its cocoa and vanilla layers; mushroom risotto bridges earthy and fruit tones; and dark-chocolate desserts harmonize with the mocha-tinged finish.

What sizes does Caymus 2019 come in? The Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle and is also produced in a 1-liter format.

Is Caymus 2019 worth the price? Caymus positions as a premium Napa Valley Cabernet, and the 92-point score from Wine Spectator places the 2019 vintage among well-regarded wines in its price tier, delivering concentration and polish that justify its standing as one of Napa's most recognized labels.

Why Caymus 2019?

The 2019 vintage benefits from an excellent Napa Valley growing season, and the resulting wine reflects it — dense, layered, and immediately gratifying. Caymus's practice of sourcing across eight sub-appellations and allowing extended hang time creates a Cabernet with uncommon suppleness and purity of fruit for the category. The 92-point Wine Spectator score reinforces what the glass confirms: this is a polished, concentrated Napa Cabernet built on five decades of Wagner family expertise. For collectors and enthusiasts who gravitate toward the rich, fruit-forward school of California winemaking, the 2019 stands as a benchmark expression of the style.