Over decades the Wagner Family developed an iron-clad reputation for ripe and lavish Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wine releases proudly represented under the Caymus Vineyards banner. Wines ‘til Sold Out (WTSO) members consistently buy up unbeatable wine deals on their classic and “Special Selection” bottlings, confident that they’ll receive wines of extraordinary quality from every vintage.
As Caymus continually innovates to challenge themselves while expanding their audience, they decided to venture beyond California and the West Coast to find and showcase fruit from other top sites. The “Red Schooner” series highlights the precious bounties gathered from these quests, and today, we want to explore two of their best releases with you!
Transit No. 2 Red Wine of the World
Visits to South Australia in search of the finest quality grapes eventually found the Caymus team among the renowned vineyards of the hot, dry Barossa and McLaren Vale regions. There they meticulously selected and harvested Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to send off on a trans-Pacific journey back to their winery in California.
Upon reception, the fruit stored in the chilled containers remained as fresh as if just picked – ideal for the informed and attentive winemaking methods Caymus applies to their entire production. This worldly red blend underwent refinement in a mix of new and neutral French oak barrels before bottling in February 2020 without a vintage date.
Transit No. 2 presents a deep, glass-staining ruby color. Pronounced aromas of baked blackberry, boysenberry, and fresh mint meld effortlessly with layered new oak accents mahogany and dark chocolate before taking on more savory leather and black pepper notes.
On the palate, ripe, round tannins and vibrant acidity give the complex, full-bodied red its plush texture, while dried dark cherry, plum, chocolate, mint, and peppery flavors echo through a long, smooth finish. A grilled Wagyu burger topped with melted cheddar and crisp bacon would hit the spot alongside a generous pour of this New World red wine crafted by Caymus!
“Inspiration for Red Schooner sprang from our family’s desire to make a good Malbec, and our eagerness to constantly try out new ideas.” – Winemaker Charlie Wagner
Voyage 10 Red Wine of the World
Well-drained, high-elevation vineyards within the Andes Mountains of Argentina’s Mendoza region provided the perfectly ripened Malbec for Red Schooner’s Voyage 10 varietal bottling. Like the Transit No. 2, these grapes were also carefully collected, chilled, and shipped across the ocean, so the experts at Caymus Vineyards could put their stylistic spin on them. The resulting non-vintage-dated wine matured in 40% new French oak barrels for 15 months and was bottled in September 2021.
Voyage 10 displays a striking medium-purple appearance in the glass. Its diverse scents of plum, blueberry, bell pepper, and violet build with aeration while gaining fresh earth, umami, and milk chocolate hints. Ripe tannins and lush acidity outline this mouth-coating yet supple red, driving towards an extensive, fruit-inflected finale. Share a bottle with friends and family over dry-rubbed smoked turkey legs or gorgonzola-portobello mushroom paninis!
For deep savings on Red Schooner and other crowd-pleasing wines online from around the globe, visit us at WTSO.com!