Red Wine Reviews » Napa Valley Wine

Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

vinoman — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:56:10 +0000

Silver OAK Cabernet

While a $90 wine may not be on everyone’s grocery list this week, it is worth considering for a variety of upcoming “special occasions” like summer weddings, graduations, and Father’s Day, if you are looking for a gift that a red wine lover would be thrilled to receive then this is undoubtedly your wine.

Gorgeous garnet in color, the 2005 Silver Oak Napa Cab exudes elegance with intense fruit, well-rounded structure placing defined tannins front and center and plenty of persistence on the finish. Overall this is a big, rich Cab that can be enjoyed now or aged for another decade or two. Would make a tremendous gift for Father’s Day this Sunday.

winemaker’s notes:The 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a nuanced wine that illustrates the results of cool, gradual ripening and a deft balance of varietal components. It has a dark garnet color and a complex nose of boysenberry, truffles, wild game, soy and black pepper. On the palate, the wine has a silky mouthfeel and an elegant, long finish with a slight tannic grip. With proper cellaring it should give drinking pleasure through 2032.

Our 2005 Napa Valley, a blend of wine from several selected vineyards in the appellation, is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. We blended the vineyard lots in early 2006 and transferred the wine to 100% new American oak barrels for aging. Blending prior to barreling allows us to achieve a balance of the wine’s primary elements, such as fruit and tannin, before they are influenced by oak. The wine was then aged in barrel for approximately 25 months and another 20 months in bottle to harmonize its components before release.

critical acclaim:

“Good deep red-ruby. Musky aromas of cassis, licorice, game, tobacco leaf and subtle brown spices. Velvety-sweet and deep, with hints of tobacco leaf, mint and herbs giving definition to the middle palate. Nicely bright but youthfully tight wine, finishing with broad tannins. Carrying a moderate 13.5% alcohol. Still tight, but then this won’t be released until next winter. Incidentally, following Silver Oak’s purchase of a vineyard in Soda Canyon in 1999, this wine now relies less on contract fruit. ”

91 Points

International Wine Cellar

“Casual elegance defines this California classic. It’s an herbal cabernet, with scents of grape skins and black olives rising out of the earthy tannin. Round and smooth in the middle , this ends with a clean and gentle feel. Ready for a rack of lamb.”

90 Points

Wine & Spirits

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California

vinoman — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 02:41:24 +0000

This 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is the first vintage made in our new To Kalon Cellar and represents our highest values – our finest vineyards, our respect for both tradition an innovation, and our unwavering passion for excellence.

The To Kalon Cellar brings to life my vision of a winemaking facility equal to the superior quality of the grapes from our historic To Kalon Vineyard. The Cellar’s gentle gravity-flow design includes 56 French oak fermentation tanks. The return to oak fermentation enhances the aromas, flavors and complexity into our finest Cabernets, and imparts both immediate approachability and incredible aging potential.

As always, the fruit for this Cabernet Reserve comes from our finest vineyards, including over 50% from our To Kalon Vineyard and a total of 84% from the Oakville appellation. These vineyards consistently produce the most expressive and complex wines; it’s no coincidence that they hold some of Napa Valley’s oldest vines, which produce powerful, concentrated fruit.

This year also marks my father’s 90th birthday, which gives us even more reason to celebrate and raise a glass with you. May this wine bring grace to your table and zest to your life.

Red Wine – Silver Oak 2004 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Wine

vinoman — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:27:15 +0000

2004 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a refined and complex wine that combines subtlety and depth. It has a dark ruby color with a deep red edge and displays aromas of fresh blackberries, violets, cola, nutmeg and licorice. In mouth, wine has a juicy attack and offers great expression of fruit and spice on mid-palate. Its fruit-driven finish is long and elegant. Properly cellared, this wine should give drinking pleasure through 2023.Our 2004 Alexander Valley, a blend of wine from several different vineyards, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

We blended vineyard lots in early 2005 and transferred wine to 50% new and 50% once-used American oak barrels for aging. Blending prior to barreling allows us to achieve a balance of wine’s natural elements, such as fruit and tannin, before they are influenced by oak. wine was then aged in barrel forapproximately 25 months and another 15 months in bottle to harmonize its components before release.

Wine & Spirits rating: 90.