PHOTO: Julie McCulley pours the latest vintage Silver Oak at Carlsbad Wine Merchants.If I was to count the number of showcase Cabernet Sauvignons in the Napa/Sonoma wine making district on one hand, Silver Oak Cellars would be included. Silver Oak has wineries in Napa and Sonoma.
Oakville is home to the estate grown cabs of Napa where the current Silver Oak ’03 has been released after having been aged in American Oak for some 28 months and is a “drink now” delight, but will age gracefully, rounding out the tannins for up to a decade.
On the other side of this dynamic duo wine country is Silver Oak’s Alexander Valley Sonoma Winery near Geyserville, where the ’04 Cabs have just been released.
A little softer, darker and drawn from three estate vineyards with a blend of lovely characteristics, these wines mature in 50% new and 50% once-filled American oak barrels for up to 26 months, then settle in 15 more months of bottle
aging. Winemaker Daniel Baron made his mark in the vineyards of Bordeaux where he learned about no-compromise excellence. “In the old world, the pursuit of excellence is the driving force behind every decision made in the vineyard. That’s what I strive for as a winemaker,” he said.
It was with an exciting expectancy that I popped into the recent new release party for Silver Oak’s latest cabernet triumphs at Carlsbad Wine Merchants, where Regional Sales Manager Julie McCulley was pouring the new releases. My first taste was the Alexander Valley ’04. The entry was a velvety rush of immense fruit filling the palate with great depth of flavor. Its finish is long and elegant. Price at the date of this event was $62.99./bottle.
The ’03 Napa Valley version rewarded tasters with a distinguished yet bold flavor of concentrated fruit, with a rich chocolate accent. A fringe benefit was a brown sugar hint that I look for in an upscale cab. Price at the event was $89.99/bottle.
Bravo to Silver Oak, one of the few wineries that produce only Cabernet Sauvignon, with a devoted following that knows great value. Read more at "http://www.solveroak.com
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