- 2014 Silver Oak Cabernet Rating
- 2014 Silver Oak Cab Rating
- 2006 Silver Oak Ratings
- Silver Oak Ratings By Year
Silver Oak Cellars, Oakville: Hours, Address, Silver Oak Cellars Reviews: 4.5/5.
- 2012 Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, USA. 2012 Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. PRICE (EX-TAX) $133 / 750ml.
- Average of 91.2 points in 53 community wine reviews on 2015 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley, plus professional notes, label images, wine details, and recommendations on when to drink.
- Whether you are looking for build, construction, renovation or remodeling, Silver Oak Remodel in Atlanta, GA has you covered. We also specialize in interior renovation. We have implemented COVID – 19 protocols so that we can continue to safely serve our clients with both design and construction.
- Coming September 1, 2020: Timeless Napa Valley, a new red wine from the family of Silver Oak. Sign up now to receive updates.
Review: Silver Oak 2015 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Nearly Sold Out
2015 was a limited vintage for many Napa Valley producers, and the acclaimed Silver Oak is no exception. We had the opportunity to review their Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, which is already sold out at many major wine retailers. You can still find yours at Wine Access (although they, too, are also limited in inventory, so make haste!).
Note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning if you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.
Silver Oak’s storied reputation across decades is a testament to its ability to remain focused, while evolving with the times. While many wineries try to expand their portfolios once they become successful, Silver Oak only produces two wine labels each year. This focus has allowed it to continue producing critically-acclaimed wines with an enthusiastic following, year after year.
While the distinctive profile of Silver Oak’s wines may not have altered much over the years, its winemaking certainly has. Silver Oak is continually working to increase the sustainability of its winemaking. Its facilities are all LEED Platinum-certified, powered by solar energy and recycled water. And its vineyards are certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.
Deciding which release to buy? There are a few key differences between Silver Oak’s Alexander Valley and Napa Valley wines. First, of course, is terroir. The Alexander Valley is one of the warmest regions in Sonoma County, but it still occasionally receives cooling breezes from the Pacific Ocean and Petaluma Gap. This yields smaller grapes with thicker skins, and ultimately, more structured tannins. On the other hand, the Napa Valley generally sees hotter temperatures. 2015 was no exception, with heat spikes of above 100 degrees throughout the summer. This yields a wine with slightly softer, more yielding tannins.
The next differences between the Alexander Valley and Napa Valley wines are in the blend. The Alexander Valley wine is nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon (95%), contributing to its bolder, more robust profile and longer aging potential. The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is only 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, with higher amounts of Merlot (13%), Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot mixed in. It is also aged for five more months in bottle. This yields a wine that is more approachable now.
We had the opportunity to review the 2015 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon – Alexander Valley, and it certainly did not disappoint. Full review below.
2015 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon – Alexander Valley
- Varietal: 95.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.7% Merlot, 0.4% Petit Verdot, 0.3% Malbec, 0.3% Cabernet Franc
- Region: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
- Color: Deep garnet
- Tasting notes: Alluring blackberry, black currant, and toasty vanilla aromatics are backed by structured tannins and vibrant acidity. Warm undertones of clove, tobacco, and cocoa unfold on the complex, layered finish. With its core of concentrated dark fruit and well-defined profile, this is approachable yet ageworthy.
- Serving: If opening now, decant before serving. 10-15 year aging potential.
To snag one of the last few bottles of 2015 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon – Alexander Valley, we recommend Wine Access. All Wine Access purchases over $120 receive free shipping. Their current pricing on this bottle ($80) is entirely comparable, if not lower than, market rates. You can receive a discount of $50 off your Wine Access purchase of $150 or more using our unique link here.
Silver Oak truly remains a paradigm of California Cabernet Sauvignon. Even in difficult vintages, its trademark style does not disappoint. The 2015 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an ideal bottle to have on hand now, or to cellar for a future occasion.
Note: This article contains affiliate links.
Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Silver Oak Cellars and their Napa Valley Winery in Oakville, California, USA.
Their Napa Valley Winery is one of two main wineries operated by Silver Oak. They also operate their Alexander Valley Winery in Healdsburg, California.
Silver Oak got their start in 1972, operating out of a dairy barn in Napa Valley and producing just 1,100 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon their first year.
They were founded by Raymond Twomey Duncan and Justin Meyer.
As the years went on, Silver Oak grew their reputation as one of the premier producers of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Nowadays, Silver Oak is run by the Duncan family who’ve been operating the winery as a family business since 2001.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Review
I did this review with my good friend, Big Al, who’s made regular appearances here in helping out with reviews.
Together, we tasted the 2012 vintage of this wine.
Notable about the 2012 vintage, weather was cooperative and led to an “exceptional growing season and a gift from Mother Nature” according to Silver Oak’s tasting notes for this wine.
One thing I wasn’t aware of was that Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is not 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
It’s actually a blend of the following, for the vintage we tasted (2012):
2014 Silver Oak Cabernet Rating
- 80% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 10% Merlot
- 7% Cabernet Franc
- 3% Petit Verdot
And finally, Silver Oak says this vintage can cellar all the way to 2037, if cellared properly.
Appearance
In the glass, the wine was non-opaque and purple in color. It had an almost metallic quality to its appearance.
It’s a leggy Cabernet that produced two waves of legs in our glasses.
The first wave was quick to fall with thin drips. And the second was slow to fall with thicker drips.
Aroma
This part of the experience was my favorite!
Silver Oak’s aroma burst from the glass immediately after pouring.
We both noted wonderful aromas of silky vanilla and black cherry.
I picked up on something subtle I couldn’t quite place, similar to the aroma you’d get from black olives at a distance.
I gave up and had to cheat and look at the tasting notes. Turns out, Silver Oak describes it as Hoisin sauce!
2014 Silver Oak Cab Rating
I happened to have a bottle of Hoisin sauce in the fridge, so of course I had to compare it to what I was smelling.
Sure enough… That was it!
Aside from all that, we both loved the fact that there was little to no burn of alcohol in the aroma.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon alcohol content 14.4% by volume per the tasting notes.
Taste
Together, Al and I noted non-complex flavors of cherry and black cherry.
Craps winning stories. While there may have been a hint of something like nutmeg, the taste was predominately fruit.
We also noted a bit of a loss of flavor as the wine had a chance to breathe.
A fresh pour brought back the essence of the flavors.
Mouthfeel and Tannins
The wine’s mouthfeel was silky and you really needed to coat your mouth to notice the well-restrained tannins.
We enjoyed the fact that the the tannins didn’t compete with the flavor.
Finish
Silver Oak’s finish was long lasting (Al counted 12 seconds) and enjoyable.
As expected from the well-restrained tannins, the finish was dominated by the wine’s flavors.
Silver Oak Cabernet Overall Opinion
Overall, while we certainly enjoyed this wine, we had high expectations that weren’t quite met.
While this Cab was certainly tasty and had an excellent aroma, tannin structure and finish, we were hoping for more complexity and variation of flavor.
We were also hoping the flavors would evolve more on the palate than they did.
I argued at the time that we should be expecting what we were getting from a pure Cabernet.
2006 Silver Oak Ratings
But… it wasn’t a pure Cabernet, only 80% with a 20% blend of other varietals. At the time of tasting the wine, we thought it was 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Often times it’s those other varietals that bring the complexity.
However, flavor complexity is what this wine was lacking, given the price and reputation.
Silver Oak Ratings By Year
So bottom line, very enjoyable but didn’t meet the very high bar we had set for this wine.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon price $119.99.
Suggested Food Pairing
Silver Oak suggests serving their Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with an Herb Roasted Prime Rib.
They have other suggestions as well, however I like the idea of pairing a straightforward Cabernet with a straightforward red meat dish.
I think this pairing would work quite well!
Thoughts on this wine or this review?
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