United States · California

Caymus

Caymus Vineyards was established by Chuck Wagner in 1972 in Rutherford, Napa Valley, initially producing small quantities of Cabernet Sauvignon from the family's ranch property. The Special Selection Cabernet — first produced in 1975 — became one of the most decorated American wines of the 1970s and 1980s, winning Wine Spectator Wine of the Year twice (1984 and 1990), making Caymus the only producer to have received that honor twice. Wagner's decision to consistently source from Rutherford's distinctive benchland soils — known for the 'Rutherford dust' texture of tannins from well-drained, gravelly loam — created a signature style that balances approachability with structure. Auction records span 2,386 lots at a $174 average with prices reaching $2,629. The standard Napa Cabernet Sauvignon dominates by volume at 1,783 lots and $161 average; the Special Selection commands $256 across 393 lots with the 2001 vintage drawing most activity. Early releases from the 1970s and 1980s remain historically significant. The historic Zinfandel bottling, with the 1976 as the top vintage, averages $94 across 36 lots — reflecting collector interest in early-era Napa wines. Caymus operates under a different commercial model than most ultra-premium Napa producers, with hundreds of thousands of cases annually across its portfolio, which moderates secondary market prices but sustains enormous auction volume. The Special Selection remains the primary collector focus, particularly vintages from the critical 1980s–1990s era.