Chuck Wagner returns at Caymus

[Craig Camp]

It'll be purple hands again for Chuck Wagner, who is stepping back into his old job as the hands-on winemaker at Caymus Vineyards in Napa Valley. Wagner owns the noted Rutherford house of Cabernet and was winemaker until he handed over red wine production to Chris Phelps three vintages ago.

[Coop]

Is this Charlie Wagner's son? Is the original Wagner now dead? What a great guy he was. Caymus has been making great wines for decades and until recently were good buys. I know I can't afford to buy even the Napa Cabernet here in Vancouver. I also am scared to drink the bottles of 83 and 84 Special Selection I have in my cellar fearing I am not worthy.

I hope they can screw up a few vintages and then drop thier prices back to where real wine drinkers can afford.

I once went to thier tasting room in the 80's, it was a room in an old house with a screen door and Mr Wagner himself pouring wine and scowling.

[melkor]

Is this Charlie Wagner's son? Is the original Wagner now dead?

It is indeed his son, Charlie passed away about a year ago.

I hope they can screw up a few vintages and then drop their prices back to where real wine drinkers can afford.

They have been making good wine in bad years and great wine in good years. They also make a Zinfandel that is only sold out of the tasting room; it's made with fruit from the 100+ year-old vines in the Monte Rosso vineyard and some fruit from the valley floor - very cab like in structure, definitely worth checking out.