Confession. I was curious about the Caymus 40th--back in the early 90's the '89 was the first vintage I ever tasted, and of course it was love at first taste. I bought it every year thru '93 and then pretty much forgot about it. I'd moved on. But nostalgia caused me to order the Anniversary edition, three bottles. I then somehow phased on the fact that I'd ordered it--and it was summer, so no one was shipping. Then months later I got another offer and said oh hell yes, I remember I wanted to buy a few, so I ordered three. But I didn't think the order went through since I never got a confirmation of purchase from that seller. So a week or three later when I got yet another offer, I ordered three. A few weeks later nine bottles from three different sellers showed up within days of each other. I meant to return 2/3 of them, but life got complicated just then and I never got around to it.
So I've been staring at those nine bottles going "Oh woe, what's a girl to do?"
I haven't tasted one yet. I've read TN's about the wine and I'm too scared. It's not going to taste like the Caymus I remember.
So here's a question: did the style change? Or is the '12 just purposefully egregious? Oh, and is it still all Napa fruit (I admit I haven't even looked closely at the bottles) or is Chuckie sneaking in some of that stuff he's been growing down in Paso Robles? If the latter is the case, it would at least explain the saturated, porty flavors the AFWE's have reported.