Caymus Vineyards

Caymus Vineyards is a Napa winery owned by Chuck Wagner and his family.

Caymus Vineyards
LocationRutherford, California, United States
Coordinates38.469231°N 122.398617°W / 38.469231; -122.398617
AppellationNapa Valley
Other labelsBelle Glos, Conundrum, Mer Soleil
Key peopleCharles Wagner -- founder
Chuck Wagner -- winemaker
Cases/yrCaymus: 58,000
Belle Glos Meiomi: 80,000
Conundrum: 120,000
Mer Soleil Silver: 20,000[1]
Known forSpecial Selection
VarietalsCabernet Sauvignon, Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Sauvignon blanc
DistributionNational
TastingBy appointment
Websitewww.caymus.com

History

The Wagner family has farmed the current Caymus property to wine grapes since the 1940s; until 1972, when the winery was established, the fruit was sold to other area wineries.[2]

The vineyard was planted to Nathan Fay's clone of Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1960s.[3] Fay also famously provided grapes to Stag's Leap Wine Cellars.

In 1975, the winery hired Randy Dunn as winemaker, and offered the first vintage of their flagship wine, the Caymus Special Selection.[3] The Special Selection is not produced every year, but only in "better years" (the last vintage of Special Selection not to be released was 1996). In 1989 the 1984 Special Selection was named Wine Spectator magazine’s “Wine of the Year.” The 1990 Special Selection received the same title in 1994, making Caymus the only winery in the world to have received the award twice.[4] The winery makes a "regular" cabernet that is released annually.[5]

Chuck Wagner, Charles' son, took over winemaking duties in 2015, a role which he continues to hold to this day.[3]

Wines

In addition to the two Cabernets, the Wagners also produce small amounts of zinfandel and sauvignon blanc under the Caymus label. The family also makes other wines under the "Wagner Family of Wine" -- Mer Soleil, Conundrum, and Belle Glos -- out of non-Cabernet varietals. Mer Soleil is a Chardonnay label made by Charlie Wagner, Chuck Wagner's eldest son, with two wines; the "Silver" is unoaked, while the "regular" sees barrels. Belle Glos is a Pinot noir label made by Chuck Wagner's other son, Joseph Wagner, with five wines; four single-vineyard wines, and a blend of vineyards that goes into "Meiomi." Conundrum produces non-varietal white and red wine.[1]

References
  1. "Interview: Caymus Vineyards Makes Bold Choice". Shanken News Daily. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  2. "Caymus Vineyards". California Winery Advisor. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  3. "Caymus Vineyards". Cal Wineries. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  4. "Top 100 Archives".
  5. Olmstead, Larry (20 April 2012). "Caymus, A Wine Lover's All-Time Favorite Wine". Forbes. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
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