In 1971 Charles F. (Charlie) Wagner and his wife Lorna Belle Glos Wagner asked their son Charles J. (Chuck) Wagner, who had just graduated from high school, if he would be interested in joining them in starting up a winery. If Chuck declined the offer, Charlie and Lorna were planning to sell out of their ranch in Napa Valley and move to Australia. Chuck accepted his parents’ offer to launch the winery, Caymus Vineyards.
The Wagners produced their first vintage in 1972, consisting of 240 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then, Caymus has focused their efforts in the production of quality Cabernet Sauvignon. Today’s production is 65,000 cases.
Caymus Vineyards remains 100% family-owned by the Wagners. Charlie, Lorna Belle, and Chuck worked together as a remarkable team for over 30 years building Caymus Cabernet. Today, Chuck, his two sons, Charlie and Joe, and one daughter, Jenny, have joined the family team. Farming grapes remain the priority with the family farming about 350 acres of choice Napa Valley land.
The Wagners took the name Caymus from the Mexican land grant known as Rancho Caymus, given to George Yount in 1836, which encompassed what eventually became the town of Rutherford and much of the surrounding area.
Conundrum Red is made from a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sourced from premier California winegrowing regions, Conundrum Red features dark red varietals including Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. It is serious yet lighthearted, complex and approachable. With lavish fruit flavors and baking chocolate, this wine has smooth tannins that provide a distinctive, soft character. Be daring and drink slightly chilled to enhance the fruit profile and enjoy any time of year.
Celler Vall Llach Idus
Since its founding in the early 1990s by celebrated singer Lluís Llach and notary Enric Costa, Celler Vall Llach has committed itself to rigorous quality standards. Located in the tiny mountain town of Porrera in the D.O.Q. Priorat, the winery is now headed by Enric’s son Albert as winemaker, general manager and co-owner.
The magnificent century-old estate vineyards boast 60- to 90-year-old Cariñena and Garnacha vines as well as newer plantings of Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah that add complexity to Vall Llach’s range of widely acclaimed wines. Priorat’s notoriously stingy llicorella (fractured black slate) hillsides produce extremely low yields of intensely flavored grapes.
The Celler makes this wine from grapes from very old vines, some of which are centuries old, belonging to selected farms, owned by farmers who have been collaborating with us since our foundation. From the Cellar, we make a thorough follow-up of each of the production processes. And this collaboration with the farmers, who bring us inherited traditions and customs, allows Celler Vall Llach to identify this wine with the effort and uniqueness of the cultivation of these lands. Idus is a local wine. AGING The wine was transferred to 225 and 300 litre second wine barrels of light- and medium-toasted fine grained new French oak. The wine was moved once during the ageing period of 14 months
Review:
Made with Carignan and Garnacha, this deep-violet-colored wine has a bouquet of dark plum, purple fig, clove and lavender. It is smooth in the mouth, with flavors of black currant, blackberry, dark chocolate, anisette and violet. It offers bold acidity, plush tannins and a lengthy finish.
-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points
Hartl Rotgipfler Gumpoldskirchen Thermenregion DAC is made from 100% Rotgipfler.
The ancient Rotgipfler grape is packed with subtle fruit aromas of ripe peaches, juicy apricot and fresh pineapple. The inviting fruit aromas on the nose are complemented on the palate by orange zest, tangerine, vanilla and white pepper. Salty minerality supports a delicate structure with refined acidity.
The Rotgipfler grape has its name from the young shoots and veins of its leaves, which show a reddish (rot=red) color. It is indigenous to the Thermenregion and has become a rare variety, planted on about 120 ha only.
Acidity: 5.2 g/l
RS: 2.0 g/l
Excellent with intense spice (curry, chili, ginger, lemongrass) which can be found in Asian, Mexican and Italian cuisine.
Also counters its creamy texture with hollandaise and bechamel sauces, white meats, firm fish, poultry, Waldorff Salad or Eggs Benedict. A compliment also for mature cheeses, fig mustard and roasted nuts. Try Baked Camembert with honey, garlic and rosemary with a fresh baguette and salted butter.
Review:
"Pale golden yellow colour with silver reflections. Fresh yellow pears, delicate notes of meadow herbs and mango with fresh zest in the background. Medium body, fine nuances of white stone fruits, some melon, fine acidity, a lively food wine. - Peter MOSER"
- Falstaff (June 24th 2024), 92 pts