If there ever was a fine wine that summed California’s golden coast, laid-back lifestyle and big flavour, then Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon is it. Much smaller and unobtrusive than its neighbours, Caymus’ long-track record and proven reliability of excellence have made it a premium choice in the investable wine market.

Founded by wine bootlegger Charlie Wagner in the late 1960s, Caymus is one of the rare Californian vineyards to have a long(ish) family history. Hailing from the pre-prohibition era of winemakers, the family had fallen on hard time during the 1920s and 30s. Sensing a boom in the Napa Valley wine industry, Wagner studied his family’s Rutherford vineyard’s soil, and finding similarities with the French Bordeaux region, planted the 73-acres with Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir (the latter grape has since been phased out). In 1972 he produced his first, stellar vintage (which has yet to be beaten), followed by two more excellent years. The mid-1970s saw the addition of winemaker Randy Dunn (who would later go on to found Dunn wineries). He suggested producing a Special Selection wine, with advanced oak-barrel ageing. Despite the wine having a few off years, the past ten vintages from 2007 have all been low-mid 90s aggregate scorers, with an approximate €150-250 average bottle price, showing slow but steady increase over the 24-month period from 2017-2019.

Just 2,800 bottles of Caymus Vineyards first 1972 vintage were released and the wine was an immediate success. The vintage is impossible to find today, even at auction, so investors would be wise to snap up an opportunity as its elusiveness only adds to its secondary market rate. This is not to be confused with the 2012 40th anniversary edition, which is still quite widely available for approximately €150 bottle. Again, editions were limited so this price will most certainly rise over time. Caymus Vineyards’ Napa Valley winery remains Wagner's beloved first born, but in order to keep up with market demand, Wagner purchased 178-acres in northern California, with a production of around 200,000 cases a year. Napa Valley offerings are much, much lower, at just 2,000 per vintage.