Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is a barrel-select, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford, Napa Valley, bottled at 15.7% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Caymus Special Selection holds a distinction no other wine can claim: it is the only wine in the world to be named Wine Spectator's "Wine of the Year" twice, a testament to the consistency and prestige of this flagship bottling.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.7%  |  Origin: Rutherford, Napa Valley, California  |  100% Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Producer: Caymus Vineyards (Wagner Family)

Production & Heritage

Caymus Vineyards was founded by the Wagner family in Rutherford, one of Napa Valley's most celebrated appellations for Cabernet Sauvignon. Each vintage, the winemaking team sets aside the very best barrels of their Napa Valley Cabernet to compose the Special Selection cuvée — and in difficult years when quality standards are not met, the wine is not produced at all. A hallmark of the Caymus approach is extended "hang time," leaving fruit on the vine far longer than conventional practice, which risks crop loss but develops deeper color, suppler tannins, and greater concentration of flavor. The result is a wine of intense richness balanced by structural refinement.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Lush blackberry and blackcurrant rise first, followed by ripe plum, vanilla bean, and mocha. Subtle baking spice and toasted oak add complexity from extended barrel aging.

Taste: Full-bodied on entry, the palate layers dark cherry and cassis with dark chocolate and a thread of graphite minerality. The mid-palate expands with toasted oak undertones and a dense, almost confectionary richness that never tips into heaviness. Concentration is intense, yet the wine maintains a sense of seamless integration.

Finish: Extremely fine, velvety tannins carry dark fruit and refined oak through a long, luxurious finish. Balanced acidity keeps the wine focused and prevents the ripe fruit profile from becoming cloying.

How to Drink Special Selection

This is a wine built for drinking on its own terms — pour it into a large-bowled Cabernet glass and allow 30 to 60 minutes of decanting to let the layers fully unfold. It is enjoyable upon release but has the structure and concentration to reward cellaring. Pair it with grilled prime ribeye, where the wine's dark fruit and tannin match the char and fat of the beef. Braised short ribs with a red wine reduction echo the wine's depth and mocha undertones. A hard aged cheese course — Parmigiano-Reggiano or aged Gouda — lets the velvety texture and dark fruit shine without competition.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Napa Valley Cabernet collector or wine enthusiast
• Anchoring a special-occasion dinner with premium steaks or roasted lamb
• Adding a benchmark California Cabernet to a long-term cellar
• Marking a milestone vintage year such as a 2020 birth year or anniversary

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Caymus Special Selection taste like? It is a full-bodied, richly concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon dominated by dark cherry, cassis, and blackberry with layers of dark chocolate, mocha, and toasted oak, all carried by exceptionally fine, velvety tannins.

How does Special Selection compare to Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are iconic Napa Valley Cabernets and household names in the category, but Special Selection tends toward greater concentration and higher alcohol from its extended hang-time approach, while Silver Oak is often noted for its exclusively American oak aging program and slightly more accessible, polished oak profile. The two represent different stylistic philosophies within premium California Cabernet.

Is Special Selection good for aging? Yes — the wine's intense concentration, balanced acidity, and structured tannins give it strong cellaring potential, though it is also crafted to be enjoyable upon release.

Where is Caymus Special Selection made? It is produced by Caymus Vineyards in the Rutherford appellation of Napa Valley, California, one of the region's most historically respected areas for Cabernet Sauvignon.

What foods pair well with Special Selection? Grilled prime ribeye steak, where the wine's tannin and dark fruit stand up to charred fat; braised short ribs in red wine reduction, which mirror the wine's depth; roasted rack of lamb with herb crust for a classic Napa pairing; aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano or aged Gouda that complement the velvety texture; and dark chocolate desserts that echo the wine's mocha and cocoa undertones.

What sizes does Special Selection come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle; larger-format bottles such as magnums may be available in limited quantities depending on the vintage.

Is Special Selection worth the price? It positions firmly in the ultra-premium tier of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, justified by its barrel-selection process, the fact that it is not produced in subpar vintages, and its unmatched distinction as the only wine twice named Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year.

Why Special Selection?

No other wine in the world has been honored twice as Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year — that alone places Caymus Special Selection in rare company. The 2020 vintage represents the Wagner family's continued commitment to selecting only the finest barrels and employing their signature extended hang-time technique, which produces a wine of uncommon concentration and tannin refinement. Because Special Selection is simply not made in difficult years, every released vintage carries an implicit quality guarantee. For collectors and serious drinkers seeking a benchmark Napa Valley Cabernet with decades of proven pedigree, the 2020 delivers exactly what the label promises.