Wine Advisor
Silver Oak, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is a good bit darker and richer than the Alexander Valley bottling from the same vintage tasted alongside. Very primary and open-knit, the 2017 is quite a young wine, but it speaks to a restrained approach that works very well. Cassis, pipe tobacco and spiced plum tones are nicely framed by a warm blanket of supportive yet present oak. Full-bodied and plush, the 2017 is in a fine place to drink today but should also put on some complexity with a few more years in the cellar.
About the Producer
When Raymond T. Duncan, founder of Silver Oak Cellars, first visited the Napa Valley in the late 1960s, he was overwhelmed by the rugged, rocky beauty of the land. At the same time, he was ahead of his time in realising the enormous potential of the future of the currently untouched wine industry. He therefore purchased two plots of land in Napa and Alexander Valley and started growing grapes. As his family and business were based in Colorado and he had no expertise or experience in viticulture, he hired Justin Meyer to manage the vineyards. The wines of Silver Oak are made with great care and attention. Firstly, the grapes are harvested at a higher ripeness than others, with medium-sized grains. The high sugar content of the grapes produces a wine with high alcohol content and a rich, full-bodied taste. The winery does not use alternative materials and does not use the cold percolation method like other wineries, but rather the champagne pressing method. Instead of relying entirely on natural fermentation, the winery adds artificial yeasts, which are then closely observed and tasted several times. Château Silver Oak makes Cabernet Sauvignon, the source of its exceptional flavour lies in the oak barrels. With good grapes and the right winemaking techniques, it is very easy for the wine to reflect the aromas from the vineyard, but the oak barrels play a key role in the flavour of Cabernet Sauvignon. In the past, all Cabernet Sauvignon made in Europe was made in French oak barrels. Silver Oak pioneered the use of American fire-roasted oak barrels, which were decisive in creating the classic Silver Oak flavour that defines the high quality of Silver Oak's Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines are then blended before ageing and the wines are blended and aged in oak barrels. During the 24 months of ageing, the winemaker tastes and blends the wines several times to ensure that each bottle is of uniform quality. The fresh, fruity Cabernet Sauvignon produced at Silver Oak is very drinkable at the time of release and impresses consumers with the quality and flavour of the wine.
