The Walking Fool is the newest offering from Caymus. Caymus is a world-class winery situated in Rutherford, right in the heart of Napa Valley. Founded in 1972 by Charlie Wagner, Caymus was one of the first pioneers of modern California winemaking.
This particular bottle is sourced from Suisun Valley. Suisun Valley is located just thirty minutes Southeast of Napa Valley in Solano County.
It is situated right between San Francisco and Sacramento. It is a more rustic winemaking region in California and is, in many ways, reminiscent of Napa Valley’s early days before modern commercialization.
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Caymus Walking Fool Red Blend Review
The vintage of Walking Fool Red Blend I am reviewing is the first one to be bottled, and there has been a lot of hype around it.
I would wager the core of the blend is Petite Sirah, as Caymus already has a bottling of one hundred percent Petite Sirah which they source from Suisun Valley.
As with most of their bottles, you can practically taste the family’s fingerprints on this bottle.
Caymus Walking Fool Red Blend
- Brand: Caymus
- Country: United States
- Region: California (Suisun Valley)
- Wine Type: Red Wine
- Varietal: Unlisted (I suspect Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Syrah)
- ABV: 14.5%
Appearance
The wine is a lively wild blueberry color. It sits heavily in the glass, and a few swirls reveal hefty legs which form and fall quickly.
Smell
The aroma is complex. Cedar cigar box, maraschino cherries, wild blueberries, and freshly picked strawberries pop from the glass. These are followed swiftly by hints of smoke, savory dark chocolate, and graphite.
Taste
The flavor of the wine largely follows the aromatics. Lots of cherry, strawberry, and blueberry dominate. Subtle hints of cedar, spice, and everything nice waft from the glass.
A bit of gamey meatiness comes through nicely and gives the wine a certain seriousness I was not expecting from the nose.
The wine is dense on the palate but has very little in the way of tannin or acid. It is luscious, full, and food-friendly as far as structure is concerned.
Notes of leather, coffee grounds, and cocoa powder sit on the tongue throughout the incredibly long finish.
What Does Caymus Walking Fool Red Blend Pair With?
In a word, barbecue. Grilled meats, smoked meats, maple bacon, and pulled pork are all amazing options.
I would personally go with a smoked pork butt, liberally spiced, then served on a bun with a raspberry sauce.
The options are endless with this bottle, honestly. I would especially recommend trying it with Pickwick, which is a type of cheese popular in the U.K.
It is a type of cheddar made with caramelized onions and is to die for with a richer style red blend such as this one.
With the abundance of fruit, hints of spice, and smooth structure, this is a go-to for pizza, pasta, and pepperoni alike. I would even go so far as to say that it is practically the ultimate charcuterie board wine.
What Are Wines That Are Similar to Caymus Walking Fool Red Blend?
Easy options are other Zinfandel-heavy blends. The Prisoner from Prisoner Wine Company is an obvious one. I would also recommend Scout’s Honor from Kirk Venge.
Fans of Dou’s Pessimist and anything from the Orin Swift line are sure to love the heavy dose of Petite Sirah in this bottle.
You could, of course, also try the 100% Petite Sirah this winery produces, the “Caymus Suisun Grand Durif.” Fun wine fact of the day, Durif is just an uncommon word for Petite Sirah!
Final Thoughts
An outstanding blend. Soft and food-friendly enough to be a good crowd-pleaser. Complex and serious enough to make hardcore wine geeks happy.
This is honestly my new absolute favorite offering from this winery. That said, I am a fanboy for both Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, so take that with a grain of salt!