Silver Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, California, 2018

Overview of the Wine
Silver Oak Cellars was started in 1972 with a simple driving philosphy - to focus production on only one varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon. What's more, they resolved to create a wine with a style all its own: not another hard, tannic red wine requiring years of aging to enjoy, but a wine of fully developed flavors and a velvety soft texture on the day it is released for sale.

Silver Oak Cellars produces Cabernet Sauvignon from two appellations. Their Napa Valley derives its fruit from both owned and contracted vineyards, and is produced entirely at their Oakville winery. Beginning in 1994, small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot have been included in their Napa blend to add complexity and softness.

Silver Oak also produces stellar Cabernet from their Alexander Valley vineyards. A critical reason for the success of this wine, and every wine they make, has always been that they create the final blend before aging it in American oak barrels and then bottles. Over the course of four-and-a-half years, the wine’s flavors, aromas, and textures have an opportunity to meld with one another and the wood’s delicate qualities to create the kind of graceful cohesion found only in the world's most elegant wines.

Organic and Sustainable.

Grape / Blend
94.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.2% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc

Origin
Alexander Valley, Sonoma, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Ruby in color, the 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has notes of cassis, caramel, juniper, and pomegranate. Lifted and vibrant on the nose, this wine is fresh on the palate with a juice, fruit-forward core. Its silky mouthfeel will provide drinking pleasure through 2044 given proper cellaring conditions.

About the vintage: Like a sigh of relief, 2018 was a welcome change to previous vintages. Cooler spring temperatures and a light dusting of snow in the mountains around the winery set the theme for a near-perfect growing season: cooperative and slower-paced. By May, the soils were at capacity from winter and spring rains, and conditions were perfect for a long and even bloom. A generous fruit set—both in terms of cluster count and size—followed, and the ripening season was blessed with “natural air conditioning” in the form of the Pacific fog layer in the evenings. is phase concluded with glorious warm and dry weather that allowed the grapes to achieve slow and synchronized physiological and aromatic maturity. With the abundant amount of fruit, harvest commenced in Alexander Valley on September 14—about two weeks later than the previous vintages. 2018 was truly a stand-out vintage that’s accessible, young and commands great aging potential.

92 Points - Cellar Tracker

Product size: 750ml