Ratings & Tasting Notes:

93 points Decanter
Review Date: 09/2024
The 2014 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet reveals a vividly herbaceous nose of dill, fennel, and coriander seed alongside dark cherry fruit. Medium-bodied, it is framed by a plethora of crunchy, crisp, and firm tannins, supporting ripe, vibrant red fruits reminiscent of plums, Cortland apples, and pomegranate seeds. White pepper and graphite emerge on the extended finish. The blend includes 2.1% Petit Verdot and 1.6% Malbec. (JC)

92 points Wine Spectator
Review Date: 08/2019
Distinctive, with lots of singed sage, sassafras, black tea and bay leaf notes out front, giving this aromatic distinction while the core of gently mulled plum, black cherry and raspberry fruit is carried by lightly dusty tannins. Shows a lingering perfume of singed alder at the very end. (JM)

Cult Wines International Notes:

The Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an internationally recognized benchmark of American winemaking, known for its bold, accessible style and consistent quality. Unlike some other Napa wineries that strive for ultra-dense, brooding wines, Silver Oak deliberately crafts a highly approachable, fruit-forward expression of Cabernet that is ready to drink upon release while still possessing long-term aging potential.

This wine is typically a blend sourced from multiple vineyards across the Napa Valley, giving it complexity and consistency across vintages. It is known for its intense, rich flavor profile:

• Aromas & Flavors: Dominated by dark, ripe fruit notes like blackcurrant, cassis, and blackberry, often layered with vanilla, mocha, and baking spices.
• Structure: While full-bodied, it is characterized by exceptionally soft, integrated tannins and a generous, smooth finish.

The defining feature of Silver Oak’s winemaking is its commitment to American oak barrels—a rare choice for top-tier Napa Cabernet, which usually opts for French oak. Silver Oak ages its wine extensively (around $24$ months) in new American oak, which imparts its signature flavor profile: strong notes of coconut, dill, and sweet vanilla. This aging philosophy results in a wine that is noticeably polished and mellowed even before it leaves the winery.

While the wine is enjoyable immediately after its release, its structure and richness allow it to evolve for $15$ to $25$ years in the cellar, where the primary fruit integrates further with the oak spice, developing tertiary notes of tobacco and leather. The Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is widely celebrated as an accessible yet luxurious standard for American Cabernet.

Bottle Size:

750 mL

Storage History:

Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.

Condition:

Please note: The bottle shown is the exact bottle being sold.

Outstanding condition.