Wine Battle: CAYMUS CABERNET vs $25 BORDEAUX!
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- čas přidán 17. 05. 2024
- John Jackson, DipWSET a/k/a Attorney Somm conducts a wine battle - a single-blind-wine-tasting between the iconic Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, which sells for $80, and a Bordeaux that sells for $25 - to discover which wine is better!
Attorney Somm first discusses the history of Caymus Vineyards, Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon and its fruit sources, and then introduces the competitor - the 2020 Château Lilian Ladouys Bordeaux, which sells for $25 and is classified as Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel.
Attorney Somm then tastes each of these wines blind, rates the wines and tries to identify which wine is which. After that, he does the reveal!
Watch to find out whether the $80 Caymus Cabernet can beat a $25 Bordeaux!
#caymus #caymusvineyards #napavalley
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Yay! I’m so happy that my bet won this battle! No spoilers in my comment because I want more people to see this fun and worthwhile video. The way you set up the wine battle between the Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon and the Château Lilian Ladouys Bordeaux was both insightful and exciting. Your deep dive into the history and background of each wine added so much context, making the tasting even more compelling. The blind tasting and reveal were thrilling to watch, and your expertise shone through every step of the way. Indeed, your expert tasting and rating process kept me on the edge of my seat, and the reveal was a fantastic climax. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and making wine appreciation so accessible and enjoyable! Hope you will make more videos like this-can’t wait to see more wine battles! Maybe Bordeaux vs Barolo in the next one?😂 Cheers, John!
Thank you, Margaux! Appreciate the support and the thoughtful comment moment! Very glad you enjoyed this video. I will definitely have to come up with another blind tasting challenge in the future! Happy Saturday! Cheers!
@@AttorneySomm My pleasure, John! So happy about the outcome of this epic wine battle! I can’t wait to see the next one! Cheers and happy weekend! Congratulations on this outstanding video!
@@margauxml Much appreciated! Thanks again!
Really enjoy this format. My first experience with Caymus was the '96 vintage. It was very early in my wine life and it was very enjoyable however I lost interest in the estate over the years as I have had more disappointments than surprises. Overall, it didn't perform well in the cellar, including a few Special Selection bottles ('99 &2001). I no longer have any in the cellar.
Now I collect mostly Bordeaux (no 1st growths however) simply because I find them more reliable in the cellar. St. Julien is my favorite region. I haven't tried the Lilian Ladouys but am planning on seeking some out.
I love the channel and I learn a lot from you! Thanks!
Thanks very much! So glad you enjoy the channel! I definitely enjoyed the 90s Caymus too! Bordeaux is definitely very consistent and age worthy. Lots of compelling values there too.
Great format!
How about for a future Wine Battle, the battle of "Le Petit"s (Clos Apalta vs. Smith Haut-Lafitte) or Super 2nd-2nd Wines (Pichon Comtesse Reserve vs. Pagodes de Cos) or Riesling rivalry (Nahe's Donnhoff vs. Kamptal's Brundlmayer)?
Thanks very much! Appreciate the suggestions. I'll definitely give these some thought and work in some additional tasting videos in the future. Cheers!
While I enjoyed the video it was perfectly predictable. If someone confuses a Caymus for a Bordeaux in a blind tasting it would be very surprising. While I enjoy this tastings I would prefer something like Caymus vs Austin Hope, Lilian Ladouys vs Laroque, Catena Zapata vs Zurcardi, etc. Thanks John !
Thank you! Appreciate the feedback and the suggestions. The catalyst for this video was the value proposition of Cru Bourgeois wines and not as much a test of my skills. Given the huge price discrepancy between these two wines, I thought this comparison tasting would illustrate the point. But your feedback is well taken. Cheers!
First James Suckling throws shade at Caymus on an Instagram reel this week and now you take a flamethrower to them showing they’re a wildly overpriced sugary drink 😂 Love it.
Get ready everyone else will follow suit
I’ll have to check out his Reel!
Definitely the way it works on CZcams when a video does well.
Just saw it! 😅
Do more of these, man! Great work
Thank you! Appreciate the kind feedback! Cheers!
Anything will be better then Caymus
I taste these wines blind to ensure there is no bias of any sort.
I once had a half bottle of caymus that was excellent. i’m not often in the mood for it but, when i am in the mood for a big fruity napa cab , my go to is elizabeth spencer
@@lowlines3239 Thanks for weighing in! I have definitely enjoyed some Elizabeth Spencer wines. I'm still a big fan of the Caymus SS from the 1990s and early 2000s. They are still showing very well. Randy Dunn used to be the winemaker.
Totally agree with you
@@guypomerleau6215 Thank you!
A nice video once again, thank you! As you are so enjoyably analytical, other comparisons immediately come to mind that would be great to watch you do. From certain champagnes to the classic California vs Bourgogne Chardonnays, German vs Austrian Trockenbeerenauslese and so on.
Thank you! Appreciate the feedback and suggestions! I’ll definitely come up with some additional tasting ideas and work them into the rotation.
Good to see you joining the blind tasting community. I'm happy to see some of these in the mix. That review was very enjoyable. I'm pleased the result went the way it did because £25 mark is really hitting good stuff. There are some really excellent Spanish wines in that price category. I used to buy them when they were even cheaper but they still offer great value. I'm not talking about the secret stuff but good old fashioned Rioja. They are superb cellar defenders and excellent in their own right. This review proves that point. I've also been enjoying some very good Italian wine in the £25 category too. It's a great sweet spot for price/quality. Cheers John. WT
Thanks very much! I enjoyed working on this video. It was fun and a nice change of pace. Definitely agree about the price point. The purpose of the video was primarily to emphasize the extreme value associated with Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux.
Definitely agree with you about Rioja/Spain and Italian whites as well.
Hope you enjoy your weekend! Cheers!
Love this video. Informative, great format.
Thanks very much! Appreciate the kind feedback. Glad you enjoyed it!
Fun video John! Living in Bordeaux and knowing the reds rarely have that sweet sensation /cloying factor you mentioned with #1, and having lived in NorCal and tasted a lot of red Napa, your excellently orchestrated review tipped me off. More please!
Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed it. Appreciate the kind feedback! Definitely hope to work in some more tasting videos. Hope you enjoy your weekend!
Yes, I would like to watch other tasting comparison videos between Napa and Bordeaux. I like similar price points, like $50 and $75. I am tending to find better wine for less money in Bordeaux, so I really enjoy your tasting reviews of those.
Thank you James! Appreciate the feedback. Lots of excellent value in Bordeaux in that price range. Cheers!
The value offered by Bordeaux wines, despite taxes and shipping costs, is hard to beat. One of the topics about Caymus that is rarely discussed is their pricing strategy. Steakhouses sell it for around twice the inflated retail price. This creates the artificial impression that it's a good deal at restaurants, making it ubiquitous on tables, helping to position it, and increasing high-markup retail sales. Fantastic sales ans marketing, much better than the product itself.
Completely agree with you re: Bordeaux! That is true re: Caymus. They are certainly very savvy at marketing and wildly successful with sales.
I think this was an easy blind tasting video due to the well known tasting characteristics of Caymus Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (especially compared to a St. Estephe wine)🍷. Hard to get this one wrong. 😁
It was not difficult to tell them apart, even tasting blind. But I definitely tried to be as objective as possible in my evaluation and remove my personal preference from the equation.
From you beautiful descriptions I could already work out which was which 😊 thank you for this fun, informative video 😘
Truly appreciate it! Thank you!
A very interesting tasting! I expected the Lilian Ladouys to be better - and it happened: at this price, this is an absolute steal! Ithink that the wine taster did a bit overrate the Caymus with 92 points. This is not a bad wine, it's ok, but not a wine for discerning people. Cheers!🍷
Thanks very much! Completely agree with you. I think 88 is very fair for Caymus. Lilian Ladouys is definitely a phenomenal value for the price! Cheers!
Fun video! Another interesting blind tasting would be to compare Caymus with 2 or 3 other Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons at a similar price point.
Thank you! Much appreciated.
For $25-35, the Caymus would be a reasonable, viable candidate-particularly if one enjoys a sweeter, oaky style of Cab. At it current price point, (and under!) however, too many better options. Kudos to Caymus for finding & exploiting their niche.
Yes interestingly that is within the original price range adjusted for inflation as well. But it is certainly a cash cow that does extremely well for all who sell it. Through this video, I’m hoping to nudge a few people in a different direction so that they can save their money and enjoy better wine.
Somehow the results may have been predictable. Unmistakable taste of Robitussin.
Blind tasting is always the great equalizer.
Thanks, John. I got it from your description. I know nothing about Napa Cabs these days; the reason I stopped buying them, probably 30 years ago now, is because I found them to be unsatisfying alcoholic fruit bombs and poor value for money. Bordeaux, on the other hand, provides an almost limitless array of excellent value, complexity and longevity. Cru Bourgeois has to be the best value red wine on the planet, imho.
I did enjoy this video because it is a change from your usual format but please don't jettison your point of difference either.
Thanks very much, Steven! Appreciate the feedback. Completely agree with you about Cru Bourgeois! Such phenomenal value in that category. There are definitely some values to be had in Napa Valley (eg Dominus Napanook and Othello), but there is definitely much more value in Bordeaux.
@@AttorneySommIndeed. Last weekend, for example, I drank a delicious 2014 Beaumont in perfect condition, which I bought for not much more than £10 per bottle en primeur.
@@stevenholt4936 What a fantastic buy! Very well done.
I love this format of watching you taste live !
Thank you! Appreciate the feedback. I'll definitely give some thought to doing more tasting videos in the future.
Thx. Excellent tasting.
Thanks very much!
Great video. Do more blind tastings, especially with broader price ranges in the mix. Just goes to show you price is not always indicative of quality. And if you’re charging $80 for a bottle of wine it is unacceptable to not deliver a 90 point wine! Too many choices out there in the value category. I have had Caymus and you described it perfectly. It’s a heavily manipulated wine year in and year out to taste virtually the same. It lacks personality and character. I honestly don’t know how they sell that much every year?!
Thanks very much! Appreciate your feedback. The price discrepancy was definitely the catalyst for this video. Caymus is certainly a huge money maker. I think that it gets by on its reputation with many consumers.
Great video. Please do more comparisons of even more expensive wines.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Seems like it is well received, so I'll definitely come up with some more. Have a couple in the queue already so it will take me a few weeks. Cheers!
The oak factor was my clue that Number one was Caymus, the second was the tannic structure as the Bordeaux would have a higher tannic structure lending itself to longer aging. Blind tasting is always interesting, but not knowing what the wines are makes it even more fun! And really shows how good your palate is, and what you like.
Thanks very much for weighing in. Completely agree with you! 👍🍷
Love seeing the blinds. More budget bottles would be even better. Fun video, thanks.
Thanks very much! Appreciate the feedback and suggestion!
@@AttorneySomm Nice! Thanks for the reply.
@@matthewbykowski2353 My pleasure! I definitely appreciate the feedback and always try very hard to respond to all comments.
Love this content! I would love to see more wine battle videos
Thanks so much! Cheers!
Please do more of these!
Thank you! Appreciate the kind feedback! Cheers!
I think the real value of this video is not that Caymus is overpriced plunk, all serious wine drinkers pretty much agree on that. What the tasting really shows is that you can get a really good balance & complex wine for around $25!! The Lilian Ladouys is the real star of the tasting.
Salud🍷
Thank you! Yes exactly. The point was to highlight the value of Cru Bourgeois generally and this wine in particular. A straightforward review of this wine would not get as much attention.
Oh yay, love that you're doing tastings on camera now!
Thanks! I have done some in the past - Aldi, first Caymus video and a number of podcasts where I taste with winemakers.
More blind tasting. They are fun to watch love the channel
Thanks very much! Appreciate it.
Great topic. Do more of these. I guessed the Caymus just by your description.
Thank you! Appreciate the kind feedback! Cheers!
Yes, you achieved an interesting video for sure! However, now my sleeper budget Bordeaux will be pricing up to $50+ lol. Joking aside, we hit on this fantastic Bordeaux with the 2018 vintage and have been buying it consistently through the current 2020 vintage. The 2019 vintage was absolutely stellar. I had to get my merchant to order more from their sister stores. We bought all we could. This and Chateau Palon Saint-Emilion are absolute bargains.
Thanks very much! Glad to hear you have already been enjoying it. 23 futures are still just $19! Such a crazy value. Cheers!
I recently picked up the Château Lilian Ladouys, and it is great that there are still great yet affordable wines from Bordeaux. This makes want to pick up future vintages so I can host my first vertical tasting with friends.
Thank you! A great idea. 👍🍷
PS, many viewers are finding back vintages less than $30 too.
Easiest tasting ever!! Lol. But a great way to explain your tasting process. Thanks
Thanks! True! This one was more about the value proposition for Cru Bourgeois than a test of my skills. If I was not able to get this one right, I would need to re-think this wine thing. 😂
Awesome post. And I do the same thing with my head when checking the acidity, kinda waggle it back and forth. I did pick the wines out too from your descriptions. Maybe do a Riesling or Chenin? Cheers!
Thanks very much! Very glad that you enjoyed it. Appreciate the suggestion too!
I can understand why many poo poo Caymus. The winery's philosophy, however, has always been to create enjoyable wine for everyone. I think the main issue is the price and the "unjustified" fame? I mean, it would be sacrilegious not to have this wine on a fancy steakhouse wine list! Sorry for the rant, please do more blind tastings. They are always informative, and more Spanish Rioja please. Many are not aware how great these wines are.
Thank you! Completely agree. It is wildly successful and I’m not saying people shouldn’t drink it. It is a cash cow for everyone who sells it. I just wanted to highlight the extreme value of Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux and thought this would be a fun way to do it.
Glad you enjoyed the format! I’ll definitely be featuring a Spanish Rioja in next week’s video. I had a world class expression a few days ago!
Appreciate the thoughtful comment and feedback. Cheers!
This was great
Thanks so much! Cheers!
Nice video! Would like to see more tasting videos 😊
Thank you! Appreciate the feedback! Cheers!
definitely more tasting videos please! specially when they are this intriguing…
Same!
@@Ruirspirul Thank you!
@@Yeoldelole Thank you kindly! Cheers!
Really enjoyed this! I hope you’ll do more comparisons, perhaps wines that are harder to distinguish on exams. BTW, the WSET should def add “Robitussin” to the tasting grid!
Ha! Yes! 😂😂 Definitely hope to work in some more tasting videos. Thanks so much! Cheers!
This was rather easy for a wine expert such as yourself. More interesting would be a taste comparison of a lower and a higher priced Bordeaux from the same bank.
Thank you for the feedback. That is a good idea! Appreciate the suggestion. Here the focus was more on whether the Caymus is worth 3 times as much than on whether I could identify which was which. That was at least the catalyst for the video.
Excellent....
Thanks very much!
I'm glad you included the Points System to this tasting. Saying a wine is "Great", can mean too many things. You weren't expecting too much from this wine, but it was Much better than anticipated. "92 Points".
Anticipating a Great wine, but disappointed. "92 Points".
It also allows people to calibrate their own palate to yours, making your recommendations more valuable/comfortable with spending money.
Thank you. Yes, the "good" is actually a specific ranking for WSET students so I mentioned the higher levels in that classification in text on the screen, but also thought it important to add the scores on the 100-point system, both my scores and those of the critics. I definitely try to give people as much information as possible since different metrics resonate with different people.
Greetings from Finland and thanks for the great content. Caymus is simply non-existing in europe, so glad to see bordeaux did well🙂
Thank you! Yes, the Bordeaux is a tremendous value! Highly recommend it. Cheers!
Appreciate these tastings by you as I am in WSET 3 and I learn a lot. I was thinking at first #1 with medium acid and tannin would’ve been L Ladouys with the 50% merlot component.
Thank you! Very glad it was useful. Definitely tried to work in some of the WSET tasting concepts into this video. Good luck with your studies! It is a fantastic program.
Thank you for the pin, John! Much appreciated!
You’re very welcome! Well deserved, Margaux!
I definitely don’t like the caymus style. But I have friends that are prone to pay the price and love the sugary and oaky content of caymus. I think this style is detrimental to the Napa valley wine . But them again , there is a huge market for this style . My main critics are about the pricing . Cheers !
Thanks very much for your input! I definitely found the price comparison between the initial price adjusted for inflation and the current price to be quite interesting. No doubt it is a huge commercial success!
I just bought 3 bottles of the 2018 Ladouys so this makes me very happy. The 2018 was $28 per botle.
A nice price! Well done!
You had it
Thank you. Cheers!
The Ladouys is a Winery Direct wine at Total too.
Yes! It’s a great buy there. That’s where I bought this one.
Caymus is just the brand. Their wine is very sweet compared to old world wines. $80 to $25 any day of the week. And other Napa wines. Mass production and very young wines when released.
Thanks very much for your comment. Cheers!
interesting, but there were always going to be signifiers from each of the two regions as you knew in advance. Fun though. I wonder how they will compare over a decade. I imagine that the Caymus fruit will soften and the oak become less obvious. Await further comparison videos as and when. 🙏
Thank you for weighing in! I did not really have any doubts about being able to identify them. I mostly wanted to highlight the value proposition of cru bourgeois in a manner that maintained the integrity of the process. Glad you enjoyed the format! I’ll definitely think of ways to work in some additional tasting videos in the future.
This new blind tasting video is a great idea. Please feel free to do more of them. I have a feeling that I might have influenced you a bit to make this video because I commented about how I tried Caymus for the first time recently. 😂
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I was also pleased you tried it for yourself and kept an open mind.
Many viewers have requested more tasting videos, so I thought this would be a fun comparison - especially given the price discrepancy.
@@AttorneySomm so it was informative to many of your viewers to see you analyze each one on its merits and in detail without looking at the label or price so that they can make a more informed decision about what to buy when visiting the bottle shop.
@@dougronald561 Thank you! That was definitely the intent.
Love your lists of best wines for $40, $50, $75, etc. What would be a great addition is list of cheaper alternatives for some of the other big names. For example, years ago Lynch Bages was known as the poor man's Mouton. By blind tastings what are the "poor man's version" of Biondi Santi Brunello, Dom Perignon, Screaming Eagle, etc.
Actually, I love all your videos - Thanks so much!
Thank you! An interesting idea. I’ll give it some thought! Appreciate the kind feedback!
Thank you for this! I would love to see more blind tastings!!! Do you have a favorite vineyard in Paso Robles? I'm hoping to go there for a couple of days and would love your input. Salud from Los Angeles!
Hello! Thanks for the kind feedback. It has been a few years since I have been in Paso, but I did enjoy my visits to Daou (stunning scenery), Turley, and Herman Story. I had lunch at Justin and tasted during the lunch. I heard that Tin City is fun to visit too, but have not been there yet myself. Hope you have a wonderful trip! Cheers!
@@AttorneySomm Thank you so much! I appreciate your time with your recommendations. Daou is my go to cab that I always always always have on hand for cooking - and of course I enjoy drinking what doesn't go into the dish. Justin has always been reliable too. I can't wait to look into Turley, Herman Story and Tin City :) Cheers!!!
@@maries1381 Sounds terrific! I definitely need to get back there myself!
Love the video! My mom loves Caymus, are there any wines that you'd recommend to start branching out from Caymus in addition to this one?
Thanks! I did a different Caymus video about a year ago and in that one I suggest 3 alternatives. Here is the link! CAYMUS Cabernet: Savvy Splurge or Overpriced Plonk?!?
czcams.com/video/6vikncup4WQ/video.html
@@AttorneySomm Awesome! Thank you!
When you mentioned sweetness I guessed wine 1 was caymus as well. I’ve maybe only had caymus 4-5 times, but regardless of the vintage I feel like there is a sort of raisin or prune sweetness that gives it away. I still enjoy it, but I really only drink it when someone else brings the bottle.
Thanks for the comment! That approach makes sense to me.
I really appreciate your taste in wine, but in the future if you can make some videos where the wines are drinkable right now would be great.
Thank you for the feedback. In the meantime, this Lilian Ladouys is actually quite enjoyable now with a little air. I'll probably finish it tonight.
I don't quite comprehend the choice of the 2 wines. They are totally different in style, i.e. fitting for different palate preferences.
I happened to taste the 2 wines before. Caymus cab 2012, and Lilian 2012 & 2016. I'd say, if you like the typical Napa cab, Caymus is a good choice to drink: ripe, sweet (not overwhelming though), fruity, clean & 1-dimension full body. Lilian is an interesting story to me, 2012 was really bad: dull, thin but 2016 was excellent. I thought it can rival the Bordeaux reds double or triple of the price. Between Caymus 2012 and Lilian 2012, I'd choose Caymus, but Lilian 2016 over Caymus. This is just IMHO.
Thanks for weighing in! The catalyst for the video was relative value. Last year I did a Caymus video and offered 3 $50 Napa wines that I thought were better at the end. Lately I have been touting Cru Bourgeois wines because they offer compelling value. So here the exercise was to see if a $25 wine could compete with Caymus, which sells for more than three times as much.
When I evaluate these wines, I do so objectively using the WSET tasting grid just like in an exam. In those situations I put my personal preferences aside and evaluate wines based on their merit. So that was what I was doing here using the current release for both wines.
@@AttorneySomm probably it's really hard to find value Napa nowadays, especially among the big names. Cru Bourgeois can provide great value, but like other Bordeaux, they are very much vintage bound, while Napa produces more consistent wines with fewer exceptions. Cheers!
@@williamhuang2976 Cheers! Yes, I agree with that. Fortunately Bordeaux has had a good run lately! There are still some values in Napa, but they can be harder to identify.
As for my own taste preference. I generally prefer Bordeaux to a Californian Cabernet. Though I think some of the Californian wines are really good. I just prefer the more delicate and less fruity taste of Bordeaux since to me it gives a more interesting finish. A really good friend of mine prefers the wines from California and so do some of my relatives. To them the Bordeaux wines are too earthy. I’m guessing it’s because they don’t have much experience trying Bordeaux wines. You can get the same basic flavor in wines costing much less than Caymus from California. That’s not to say that their opinion is wrong, and just a personal opinion. A few months ago I had a Pomerol that cost about $27 compared to a Cabernet costing almost three times as much. I preferred the Pomerol. I had the same Cabernet a few months earlier and liked it, but after comparing the two together the Cabernet was just lacking and one dimensional.
Thank you. Yes there are plenty of more reasonably priced California wines. With warmer vintages in Bordeaux and Napa producers cutting back on the amount of new French oak and harvesting earlier, they are becoming a little bit closer in profile in recent vintages than about 10-12 years ago. But there is definitely more value in Bordeaux currently and lots of very enjoyable wine for $50 or less. You might try Dominus or Dominus Napanook. The 21 Napanook was just released. It’s $95 but made by the same owners as Petrus. They do a nice job with Napa fruit.
@@AttorneySomm I bought a Dominus about two weeks ago based on your recommendation. I’ve already received it and will save it for a while as it’s a 2016.
@@MichaelH-ck4hg Glad to hear it. That is a fantastic vintage!
Bordeaux represents the best value in wine collecting. So many wines for under $30....
Completely agree with you! Such amazing value in Bordeaux right now.
Loved the 2019 Lilian Ladouys, discovered at Costco (no connection). Right on the money!
Very nice! They been consistently excellent of late.
I just would love to know how that ‘94 caymus would compare. Fun video, even if I could predict the outcome:)
Thanks! I had that 94 Caymus SS head to head with the 94 Cheval Blanc and preferred the Caymus! It had more life left.
nice video. would love burgundy recommendations under 200!!! burgundy is hard!
Thanks! I actually have a video with 10 of them for $50. Here is the video:
czcams.com/video/HuYdShF__nQ/video.htmlsi=B4-Ft_ZIw3FTL_SF
Is it truly blind if Caymus is one of the wines? Apart from that, great video and I’m glad the underdog won!
Thank you! Technically yes but there was never a doubt I’d identify it.
Come on, we all knew what the outcome would be 😀
😅 I was not overly surprised, but definitely wanted to emphasize the extreme value proposition associated with Cru Bourgeois!
For S's & G's, would have loved to of seen you do this video with a friend whom may not be too into wine.
Thanks! Not sure I have any friends like that. 😂 Seriously, though, it’s a good idea! I’ll give it some thought for the future.
I have a bunch of large format Ch. L. L. in the cellar. Can't wait to give one a try. Never really cared for Caymus.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! It is a compelling value for sure.
I believe 90% of everyone will know which one is caymus based of the word “Sweet Fruit”.
Yes, that is probably true. It was definitely the most prominent feature, with the oak descriptors right behind.
I like this sort of video…but it’s a bit like shooting fish in a barrel. Maybe with a more expensive Bordeaux, or an US$ 85 Napa cab that is not such an odd duck as Caymus. 🍷🙏
Thanks for weighing in. Much appreciated.
Very interesting video, and thanks for posting. But, really, it wasn’t a fair fight, was it? You know these two wines very well indeed and could pick them out from each other even if you had a head cold! 😂 Caymus slipped off the rails some time ago and has become an overpriced Cabernet Cocktail with little sense of place. (What would the Gallo brothers think?) I am now seeking out Bordeaux at the $50 or so price point, and it’s very easy to find many truly interesting wines from both banks that deliver great aging potential and drinking enjoyment. Thanks again for all your pointers and suggestions.
Thanks very much! Yes, I definitely enjoyed the style back when Randy Dunn was the winemaker.
While couched in terms of a blind tasting, I really wanted to do this video to emphasize the tremendous value in Cru Bourgeois in Bordeaux. So this one was more about the value proposition and not as much about my skills. I did objectively analyze the wines like I would if I had them on an exam and not just pick the wine that I liked best. That is why I discuss my preference separately from the evaluation.
Very glad you enjoy the suggestions! Certainly lots of excellent Bordeaux at $50 or less these days!
I have actually only tasted Caymus one other time in the past 12 years. I was confident I could distinguish them, though.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Cheers!
What glasses are you using? Do they impact the wine at all?
These are the Andrea Immer red wine glasses. I used the same glass for both, so it should not have impacted the outcome. I was able to assess the aromatics well with these glasses. To be sure, there are other glasses I have that may focus the aromatics a bit better - e.g., the JR x RB glasses, but those break so easily that I rarely use them.
@@AttorneySomm Thank you for the response. 😊
how come you never taste wines on camera? is it a lawyer thing😅 fascinating video btw!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. This video was actually done in part because some viewers have requested that I do tasting videos.
I actually have tasted in a number of videos on this channel. For example, many of my podcasts feature interviews and tastings with winemakers. I also did a Caymus tasting video last year. And my Aldi video featured extensive tasting as well.
The main reason I don't do more tasting on camera is that many of the wines I feature are wines I taste at trade events, with friends at group tastings or during visits to wineries. So in those instances, I have footage of the wines and my notes, but it is not practical to record my thoughts live.
@@AttorneySomm oh, that makes sense… either way, I hope more on camera tastings coming in the future. blind and intriguing like this one! it takes videos in totally different level of curiosity…
@@Ruirspirul Thank you! Appreciate the feedback! I enjoyed doing this video and it seems to be well received so far, so I’ll definitely try to start working more tasting videos into the rotation!
I lile this format, although would be more fun with a handful / half dozen of wines in the blind tasting mix
Thank you kindly! Cheers!
Its not a suprice you could pick a quality and well made wine. from a sweet crafted Abomination.
The sweetnes and i would call it Fake oak, of the Caymus. is such a turn of. that prise tag.. My God...
Thank you. Yes, I have only tasted it one other time in the past 12 years, but was confident I could pick it out. But I was really trying to be objective and to evaluate these wines fairly based on their merit and without letting my personal preferences tilt the scales. Tasting blind was a necessary component of that sort of a review. My hope is that people will recognize the tremendous value in Cru Bourgeois wines! Cheers!
I am confused by the sweet fruit description, aren't these wines both dry?
Great question! Yes, they are both dry wines. The best example would be to compare it to fruit. If you have an orange from a warmer client, that orange will get more ripe and taste sweeter than an orange from a cooler climate that does not get as ripe. The same is true with wine.
One of the questions we typically ask eachother when blind tasting at the wine club is whether a wine served blind is old world or new world. Typically new world wines are from warmer climates and will have fruit that is more ripe/sweet than their old world counterparts.
good show. thank you. mjr tokyo
Thank you kindly! Cheers!
Not surprising the Caymus is cloying at 9-10 g/L of RS (depending on vintage) per the LCBO.
That is high! You get more information there. Thanks for sharing!
Thoughts and prayers for our favorite attorney somm for having to taste this abomination of this sh** “wine” (Caymus). Cleanse your pallet asap!!
Ha! Appreciate the concern! 😅
John, I live in Europe and I can’t buy the LL for that money. Really no surprise on the outcome of the tasting, USA wines are way over priced for quality. Always have been. Some really awful wines in the USA. Great quality too but only for the very rich.
Thanks for weighing in. Are you saying LL costs more in Europe? Usually European wines are much more expensive here because of our 3-tier system.
I do try to identify US wines that offer compelling value in my videos too. They are there but you sometimes need to look harder.
Cheers!
Yes, more like €35-40
Caymus does not disclose that it is 75% mega purple and 25% high fructose corn syrup?
I did a lot of searching for technical details, but they definitely play it very close to the vest. Very little information about the production.
@@AttorneySomm You should do a blind tasting on Caymus, and Meiomi. They have that same artificial flavor profile that I cannot completely describe.
@@bridgeshall6466 Appreciate the suggestion. Cheers!
You bought Caymus? Did anyone see you doing it?
Yes! I have a receipt. Bought online and had it delivered by the LWS. 😁
@@AttorneySomm Burn it. Also, if there is any surveillance video footage of you buying it, destroy that as well. You have a reputation to uphold
@@thomaskoons9242 I often have to taste wines that are not in my personal wheelhouse. I think of it more like a job. I certainly wouldn’t drink it for enjoyment. But it makes me a better taster and better able to communicate recommendations for wines I do like here.
Unfortunately Lillian Ladouys is no longer 25$
Likely because of your Chanel!
Definitely look for the 23 futures. It should still be $19-20.
PS, I still see it for 26.99 at Total Wine if you buy 6.
@@AttorneySomm thank you counselor. Unfortunately I live in Pennsylvania and total wine does not deliver 😒
As soon as I saw the subject line, i had to laugh. C'mon John... You knew which was which just by smelling it.
I know your reason for doing this video was to promote the value of cru bourgeois, but couldn't you come up with something better than Caymus? You poor thing. 🤣
Yes you are right about the intent. Caymus is a popular choice in the US and the huge price discrepancy and popularity of this wine were the reasons I chose it. I was trying to reach a broader audience with this video.
Actually I think the Caymus was a smart pick. On name recognition alone it will draw attention. The video also demonstrates the beauty of Bordeaux wines, complexity and vintage uniqueness which never gets boring. Many cab drinkers don’t understand Bordeaux. Hopefully videos like this will open eyes and minds.
@@rjo8500 Thank you! Well said. That was definitely my intention with this video.
Okay, after further reflection (and some coffee this morning ) I agree. It was a good choice. Caymus is definitely going to get more views, so the goal was certainly achieved. And hopefully might influence some drinkers to expand their drinking repertoire.
It still made me laugh though.
Great video John!
@@lees5761 Thanks very much! Appreciate the note. 👍🍷
Caymus = syrupie grape juice with vanilla extract 🤢
It is not my preferred profile when drinking for pleasure.
Reg Caymus now a days is a excellent overpriced party drink but not a good wine almost fraud level pricing now on that.
The pricing is very high for what it is. The brand carries them.
I bet caymus loses and is easily identified
Caymus definitely has a distinctive style.
caymus and the copycat wine makers turning grapes into cough syrup take note! stop!!!
I definitely much prefer their original style when Randy Dunn made the wines.
cloying .... lolololololol
I call them like I see them! 😅
I hate Caymus Cabernet.
It is a very polarizing wine. I never said I did like it. But this comparison helps to underscore the value proposition of cru bourgeois, which is the point of the video.
@@AttorneySomm I do understand the point of the video, I am just 0-2 with Caymus and it wasnt a mild dislike.😁
@@DrinkinItIn I understand! Venting is always welcome here. 😂
@@AttorneySomm I knew it was a safe space.