Opened for Brandon's 21st birthday - same birth year. Color was excellent. From the start to finish it was very nice - soft and round mouth feel. Good berry flavors with some sage and other flavors too. Nice but short finish. It was a perfect wine for the night.
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Opened a mag of this which did this wine a favor. Still a bit of structure and fruit, but has softened with notes of cedar and herbs. No need to decant and good to drink now.
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Great coloring, no bricking, dark red. Nose had predominant American oak that dissipated after 30 mins and presented a well-rounded, soft tannin wine. Bell pepper, some spice, Herb notes. Classic cab at its peak. Still a few years of drinking left. Good steak wine.
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Nose of black cherry, black berry, and sage, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, rich fruit, showing it's best so enjoy now, paired with roasted chicken, has a medium/long finish. aftertaste.
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Had with grilled ribeye and roasted potatoes. Not a great bottle but quite nice. Black fruits, cassis, some leather. Limited sediment, no harshness. Great color, no bricking.
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We were concerned that this wine was past its prime but surprisingly it has aged particularly well. With a concentrated ruby black and opaque hue, it offers abundant quantities of spice, vanillin, cedar, herbs, and smoke, soft, round, creamy-textured flavors, good black cherry and currant notes, and a spicy, medium-bodied, easy-going personality. Sadly it was our last bottle.
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Nose of black cherry, black berry, sage, and sliced bell pepper, the same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, rich fruit, at peak-suggest you enjoy now, elegant tasting, at 18 years of age-it is great to sip and savor with Truffle Brie, and medium/long finish and lovely aftertaste.
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Great bottle that evolved nicely over the course of the evening, as the previous review suggests. Still displays a purple red medium/dark color with vibrant signs of life. On the nose, unmistakable California cab: lots of dark fruit, forest floor, sweet cassis, leather. Tannins are a bit on the light side at this point, but still register. A nice laser beam of oak runs right through the nose, to palate to finish, classically styled and definitely to my liking. Drank out of a magnum over about an hour and a half, didn't fade one bit, so probably still has a few years in it. As an aside, this vintage has held up really well with most northern Cal producers, this bottle being no exception.
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Nice nose of dark fruit, forest floor, spice. Took a couple of sips and immediately thought to myself, Hmm, one dimensional. But, as the wine sat in the glass it opened up. Vanilla, blackberry, a touch of cherry. And, a tannic structure that built upon itself following a couple of sips. Still had come chops. Surprisingly long delightful finish. Had to admit, I was surprised.
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Nose of black cherry, bell pepper, and blackberry, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, lovely fruit, at peak-time to enjoy is now, medium/long finish.
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Even though cellar tracker said to drink by 2016, we received as a gift in 2020. we drank last night and we just loved the wine. i decanted. let breathe for a 1/2 hour. jammy. tannins, but did not take away your pallette. loved the wine.
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A very suprising winner tonight.....this had a beautiful floral/cedarwood nose after 2 hours of air. The fruit was a bit red and still very strong. Much better than I thought it would be given the age. I was expecting a washed out mess. Mild tannins/acidity remain as does the slightly elongated finish. To me, this beats any of the newer Silver Oak entries of the last 10 years. This is in a great place and might be for 2-3 more years.
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Nose of black cherry, black berry, and bell pepper, more of the same on the palate, medium body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, at peak so time to enjoy is now, and a medium/long, flavorful finish.
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P: Med, poss MF, body; NICE, almost swtish frt firmed by just a TOUCH of astringency which, without losing the frt, transitions into a LONG finish with a distinct swtness to the dusty tannins. Drinking beautifully right now, & I can see this EASILY making its 20th. IMPRESSIVE! My EXC+/Exceptional-. 90 pts WA, 88 Tanzer, & 86 WS. [Wine-searcher still shows 4 U.S. sources ranging from $99-$120.]
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90 minute decant. Good fruit and mellow tannins. Nose of berries with a hint of vanilla and oak lingering. Probably was better a few years ago, but still drinkable.
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Big and concentrated nose showing creme de cassis, blackberry, mint, green bell pepper and some floral overtones. There's also a lot of toasty oak providing notes of coffee beans, vanilla and dark chocolate. With time it the glass it develops more earthy, sous bois notes.
Full bodied with generous fruit. Silky texture and great concentration of flavors. Inky, black fruit, cassis, black olives and some bitter cacao-like notes from the oak. Long and intensive finish.
Really in it's drinking window but has the fruit to hold for another 5 years or more. Undeniable quality but this style of wine is to me really uninspiring and boring to drink.
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Bought this from the winery in July, so has presumably been perfectly stored, did not seem past its prime. Decanted for 3 hours. Very rich nose of blackberry, with some mild earthiness and mushrooms. Very rich and full bodied, get a lot of fruit at first (blackberry), then some leather, but then the flavor fades to oak. Soft tannins, buttery texture. Very nice and drinkable, but perhaps a little overboard with the oak.
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Very nice, velvety, smooth, and definitely a lasting finish with a bit of earth. Decanted for about an hour and also had this with a 2002 Stags Leap that was almost on par as SO - but still quite different, but the SO gets the nod over the Staggs!
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Violet & Garnett color, nose of plum and juicy black cherry with a touch of mint. Raspberry, blueberry , and plum continue in the flavors. Still has a bright finish.
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Decanted for 2 hours. Nice smell. Velvety and full with a smooth and lasting finish. Berries, a splash of licorice, and some earth too. Pairs wonderfully with dark chocolate truffles. 8/6/16
This was one bottle in a case stored in a garage since purchase and was given to me by a co-worker to try as a guinea pig. If she hadn't told me about the poor storage, I wouldn't have suspected it.
That said, this is a fairly typical Alexander Valley Cab, with dark fruit and a slight whiff of oak and cedar on the nose. Decent length on the palate, with the fruit and oak rather prominent.
I'm not a fan of Silver Oak and this didn't convert me, but it's a decent bottle of wine if you like this style. Drink up because I doubt this will hold much longer even with good storage.
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Classic Silver Oak, Big! Nice nose, dark color and very solid tannins and complexity. A really nice finish but would still like to see a bit more of that velvet mouth feel of a great cab. Enjoy!!
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Couldn't believe my last bottle would still be alive. But after decanting for an hour it was beautiful! Still a strong cab with wonderful cab flavors hanging in there.
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This was a friend's bottle that was not carefully cellared. It endured dry heat in a garage in Silicon Valley California with significant temperature and humidity variations. I'm told temperatures at times approached 90 degrees. I was therefore expecting the worse, possibly even vinegar. On opening the cork disintegrated, but had a nice smell to it. Decanted, but tasted immediately. Vanilla nose, cherry cola and silky smooth on the palate.Tannins fully rounded out. Very impressed that it endured such harsh treatment! Over two hours it continued to evolve with a subtle anise backnote but primarily a creamy vanilla oak.
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Nose of black cherry, saddle leather, bell pepper, and blackberry, more of the same on the palate, medium body, very tasty with the roasted chicken, medium/long finish but flavorful aftertaste.
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Enjoyed this wine with lasagna, nose of mocha, cherry fruit, and hint of bell pepper, more of the same on the palate, medium body, at it's best, easy to sip, savor and enjoy with or without food, long fruity finish.
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I was intrigued by the extreme disparity in the reviews of this vintage. However, I was pleasantly surprised! This wine drank great! Decanted two hours. Dark in color, no visible sign of aging. On the nose it does reveal vanilla as is typical for Silver Oak Cab. On the palate it was silky smooth with a pleasing palate of ripe dark berries and mellow spices. Ready to drink now before fruit starts fading.
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Excellent bottle. I've become a little jaded about Silver Oak over the years, as their success has created a little cult like following, and the visits to the winery have become nearly unwelcome. But this is a very good wine.
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Wow, I knew this would be a nice wine, but was very pleasantly surprised that it is a fine wine. Had a sweet vanilla and a bit of a smoky oak start that lead to a sweet, ripe, cedary wine with an attractive texture and a spicy touch. Decant this one ... as it opens, it comes alive. Wonderful!
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Decanted for about 2 hours. Not much of a nose, a bit thin and watery for California Cab. a bit of fruit left some berries and cinnamon, short finish. Enjoyable but expected more.
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Pnp. Lovely cherry nose and garnet color. Medium bodied on the palate with good balance between fruit and acidity. Lingering aftertase (my wife really liked this) lasting at least 30 seconds. Perhaps not as good as the price but still a very good Cali cab.
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This was good, but bit disappointing. Quite a few better napa cabs out there at this price point. I found it have pretty harsh tannins without enough fruit to balance it out. Not worth $60-70...
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Have to say that for the price point and Vineyard reputation this bottle disappointed. Had interesting notes and an ample finish but not the complexity I was hoping for.
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I drank my last bottle of the '02 Alexander Valley last night. Although the grapes hung on the vines 11 years ago, the wine held up very well. When I opened the bottle I was already amazed in what good shape the cork was. There was no seepage. I decanted the wine for a good 2 hours. There was no wine crystals in the bottle. The wine tasted very good. Lots of different fruits. Typcial CA cab. I was a little disappointed with the finish, which was not as smooth as other Silveroaks before. I would say that the wine could still age for another 2-4 years with appropriate cellaring. Overall a very good bottle of Silveroak, yet I've had better from them.
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The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Cherry, Mineral, Cedar, Black Pepper, Tobacco, Eucalyptus, and Cool/Menthol. It tastes like Black currant (cassis), Cherry, Black Pepper, and Chocolate. The body is Medium. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Short.
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Heavy duty oak when first opened. Restaurant decanted and the tannins and wood burned off half way through the bottle. Smoke, black fruit and raisin, with dusty tannins on long finish.
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Very well balanced wine with integrated tannins and acidity. Typical California cab fruit notes being replaced by a Bordeaux like minerality. Still a lot of life left to this wine.
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Very dark garnet with bright edges. Black fruit and cedar American Cab nose. Full bodied, Black fruit with slightly sweet finish light tannins. Fine American Cab, good fruit and balance
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Flat. No finish. No body or complexity. A very weak cab. Very disappointed. Decanted over an hour. Silver Oak has never been the same since Justin died.
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this was a great wine. Decanted for over an hour... as others have mentioned aromas of: floral or vanilla, maybe even a touch of bark. Great smooth finish... left you wanting more at the end. Great wine from Silver Oak
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a bit surprised by the low scores on this wine. I found it to be a tremendous wine, very unique floral nose, rich silky mouth feel, it just coated my entire mouth....and the finish was very long. Very enjoyable wine.
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Broke this open at Cafe Amano. After decanting about 30 minutes aromas of forest floor, cedar and cocoa powder emanated from the deep purple. Drank very well after 10 years of cellaring with rich cassis and blueberry flavors and a lingering soft tannic finish. Very enjoyable with the grass-fed filet mignon at Cafe Amano.
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A little thinner than expected; but this is the Alexander, not the Napa, so expectations are tempered a bit. Up-front with cherries and fruit; but dragging a little on the back end. Overall a wonderful wine; one left for (much) later.
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Just had a bottle of tonight. Very good bottle that held up through the years. Bought recently but assume storage a had to be fine given its current condition and taste. On the nose fruit and little oak. When tasting a little more jammy dark fruit/ Dark current and oak on the palate. Very silky smooth nice soft finish and enjoyable. Unlike other reviews we found no harsh tannins and overall very well balanced. We decanted the wine for one hour before drinking which might have helped opening it up.
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I am a fan of Silver Oak. This vintage, however, is average. The nose is undistinguished. It is hard to pick out any aroma except earth. The palate is similarly flat. Manure, with little fruit and, even after 10 years, harsh tannins. Not a typical Silver Oak cab.
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After all that's been said about Silver Oak's decline, this 2002 held up wonderfully. Rich, tongue-coating texture, and enough tannin for a mouth watering finish. Not as complex as other premium Cali cabs I've tried, but satisfying nonetheless.
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- Crimsom color with fast forming legs and aromas of black pepper, blackberry, cherry, strawberry and smokey. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Silky texture with a medium finish - Drinking very well. Nice fruit...mostly in the body but a mixed essence in nose. Finish is relatively short as tannins are slight and round now. Some earth but not much. Not as much oak as I recall from Silver Oak.
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Smooth wine soft tannins but surprisingly bland. No great to what you would expect from silver oak. Decanted one hour before tasting would expect more for this price and brand.
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Everything you would expect from SO in 2002. Decanted for 1 hour - should have waited 2 hours as it really opened up in the 2nd glass. Truly lovely with Wagu beef burgers to celebrate a personal milestone.
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A bit green on opening but nice black fruits, some coca, spicy vanilla oak and soft tannins. A bit blowzy but nice fruit, dense mouthfeel and some forward flavours.
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Drank a bottle that my business partner brought over the other night. Even though I have 8 in my cellar i have forgotten how reliable this wine is. Very nice nose and smooth fruit forward flavors. About a glass left from last night and I hope i get to it before my wife does. One of our favorites.
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From a 1.5Ltr. Tons of oak here. A little light on the nose compared to the 06 Pride we drank with this. Notes of leather, tobacco, ash tray. Meduim finish.
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If you like big oaky cabs then you'll love this. Not much fruit here or was hidden by all the oak but overall drank very well for what it is with steaks.
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This wine was tight upon opening. After aeration and sitting for 30 minute, a bouquet of blackberries,dark plum, leather, tobacco, and cedar emerged. Medium plus acidity, alcohol, and body. Medium tannins, and flavors of black cherry, plum, leather, and cocoa. This wine is still a bit rough around the edges, and another year or two in the cellar may bring it into balance. Overall a lovely wine now with aeration, but hopefully will improve with age.
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Drinking well. Nice high toned cab smells overlaid by tobacco and dark chocolate. Still has grip good for a few more years. 35-45 sec. finish. This bottle was properly stored since purchase but judging from the other CT notes, a lot of variation can happen in the almost 4 years since this wine was released.Very good.
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I love SO & this has the same taste profile but a litlle ligher - it has a different afetrtaste, a port like finish to it and the wine seem to me a little ligher then the traditional SO.
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About the same as my last tasting note. Took a while to open up and it was nice, but not to the level of other Silver Oak Alex Valley cabs and this vintage is not worth the price.
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We love Alex Valley Silver Oak overall, but this was probably the least enjoyable wine we've had. Its still young, but has an odd tannin / fruit profile that doesn't seem to be integrated well at this point. We enjoyed it, but just not to level we have with the '99 and '01. We will be tasting this over time to see if it benefits from more aging, which I would recommend at this time.
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Dennis brought this over, and it was a pleasant surprise. Medium bodied but with a lushness I don't remember in the Alexander Valley version. Slight green pepper note, pleasant rather than distracting. Was one of the better wines opened in terms of pairing with food.
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typical California wine but in the good sense - strong oak - but not destroying the cabernet sauvignon touch - ready to drink. I think a strong meat - barbecue would suit perfectly.
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From start to finish is one long delicious, easy-to-drink cabernet that only disappoints in that there are no sensory surprises. I have had this wine before, and tonight I was not as overwhelmed as my last dinner with Silver Oak. Fruit. Oak. Very moderate tannin.
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Crimson color. Notes of red currants, plum, blackberry and red licorice. Well-balanced, with red fruit and spice tones on the palate. Finishes on the short side of medium, but overall it's very nice.
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Huge, rich, oaky This wine was dense and extracked In the mouth I got anise, caramel, candy and hints of jagermeister Yes it was huge please hold to let the fruit settle down
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Drank at Peggy and Gordons in the Woodlands. Weak glass but a very good showing. Dark brooding color with plenty od darl fruit on the nose and palate. Vey pleasant surprise. Good structure and balance. A far cry from the previous bottle. Shouild hold for several years, but doubt much improvement.
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Drank with grilled aged new york steak, decanted 1 hr. dark garnet color, nose of blackberry, floral and fruit and alcohol at first. round on the palate with moderatly dry taniic finish. Probably has a few more years on it. Not nearly as good as the Napa vineyard, but as I picked it up in an end of bin sale a few years ago it was good value for the money, not worth a restaurant purchase though.
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A dark garnet color and a nose of blackberry with some floral notes - violet and rose. A fruit forward wine with a nice full mouth feel. On the palate blueberries and plum with moderate tannins leading to a somewhat dry finish. Wine could still go several more years but for the vintage and price there are a lot better options.
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On first opening: Extracted nose of fresh fruit, with a touch of alcohol and definite oak. Did not decant. Wine is drinking well, now, fruit is fresh but still moderate tannin and acid. Lots of fruit still on the palate, but definitely developing a spicebox character with some toast and just a touch of something earth/leather. Long finish, fruity but more complex than that. Signs of age are staring but fruit is still fresh -- and some nice spiciness on the palate. Perhaps a touch alcoholic.
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I don't drink these typical oaky Cali Cabs often, but when I do, they sure are a treat. Rich tobacco, earth undertones. My wife says she could drink this every night. She's funny.
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little to offer besides a little fruit, of course too much oak and tannins that have not been resolved and most likely won't before all the fruit is gone
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Very dissapointing. Too heavy on the oak and tannins with little more to offer. Not sure if it was a bad bottle or things are really going down hill at a once great vineyard.
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Dark ruby/purple color with a complex nose rich in minerals, leather and that iconic oak nuance that Silver Oak is known for. The palate is full-bodied with flavors of black currants, black berries, chocolate, and tobacco. This carries a certain level of intensity and grip yet delivers a certain elegance in terms of balance, length of finish, and suppleness. Drink from 2007 to 2015.
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I brought this wine to my boss's house for a Christmas Party. We opened the bottle and greatly enjoyed it. Lots of fruit and oak. I'm not sure it lives up to the price, but a solid bottle none the less.
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The best bottle of this vintage we've had yet. Enjoyed with Kim and good friend neighborbill and spouse Debbie before "Santaland Diaries" accompanied by heavy hors d'ouvers. Just an absolutely outstanding cab, not decanted but opened up three hours prior to drinking and this is really drinking prime right now. Very good, well balanced, smooth and somewhat muted elegant and complex Sonoma cab with at least 5 years more cellaring potential left. This vintage keeps getting better and better with every bottle we have. Very dark purple, good mouth feel, pleasant 30 - 45 second aftertaste. Nose surprisingly floral with hints of vanilla and muted oak. Primary flavors include balanced and not overpowering oak, terroir, tar, cassis and blueberry with hints of vanilla, smoke and black pepper developing on palate as wine opened up in glass. Too expensive to be a good QPR but as noted above just very good, highly recommend this.
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Solid, but I think I enjoyed the 2001 a bit better. This wine is very representative of Alexander Valley cab in my experience. The tannins are big enough that they really should be paired with marbled beef (ribeye, prime, etc.).
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Enjoyed with Kim earlier tonight after finishing decorating the Christmas tree and putting out the other Christmas decorations. Outstanding cab, not decanted but opened up two hours prior to drinking and this bottle is really drinking prime right now. Very good, well balanced, smooth and somewhat muted elegant and complex Sonoma cab with at least 5-10 years more cellaring potential left. This vintage keeps getting better and better with every bottle we have. Very dark purple, good mouth feel, pleasant 30 - 45 second aftertaste. Nose surprisingly floral with hints of vanilla and muted oak. Primary flavors include balanced and not overpowering oak, terroir, tar, cassis and blueberry with hints of vanilla, smoke and black pepper developing on palate as wine opened up in glass. Too expensive to be a good QPR but as noted above just very good, highly recommend this.
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Magnum review: Very beautiful and complex nose. Really pleasant, integrated oak and ripe dark berry flavors. A hint of barnyard (I mean that in the positive Ch. Montelena sort of way) with casis, vanilla and sweet tar flavors and a long, very smooth finish. Definetly NOT overoaked. This is one of the best I've had. I purchased pre-arrival for $55 (120 for Mag) and definetly worth the price. This wine will hold 1-2 years but I'm going to drink this year.
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Enjoyed 2 bottles last night with Kim and good friends at a dinner party at our house. Very good, well balanced, smooth and somewhat muted elegant and complex Sonoma cab, drinking very prime right now but has at least 5-10 years more cellaring potential left. Very dark purple, good mouth feel, pleasant 30 - 45 second aftertaste. Nose surprisingly floral with hints of vanilla and muted oak. Primary flavors include balanced and not overpowering oak, terroir, tar, cassis and blueberry with hints of vanilla, smoke and black pepper developing on palate as wine opened up in glass. Too expensive to be a good QPR but very good, drinking very well and highly recommend this.
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Still young and cellaring well. Hints of butterscotch on the nose followed later by thin smoke/tobacco. Tannins are mellowing ever so slightly.. A delightful wine.
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Very disappointing. Almost no fruit. Oak and tannins and not much else. Dinner guests agreed. Not worth its reputation. Many killer cabs of various styles out there at a lot less $.
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Pleasing nose of strawberry and raspberry, embellished with hints of toast and oak and perfumy violets, yet the palate was surprisingly thin and resembled a pinot noir, which is what our blind tasting group assumed this may have been.
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Nose was ripe raspberry, bit of oak. Taste was nice raspberry, hint of strawberry, slight vanilla, finish was hot though and flat. Ok wine but at this price point this is a major pass.
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Drinks great now! Toasty cocconut oak flavors and complex dark berry fruit. Very harmonious and balanced for an expressive, oak driven wine. Long, complex finish. Does not need decanting but the 1st glass of sweet cocoa oak is fun but it expands to a beautiful wine for the rest of the bottle. This Silver Oaks is a winner.
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After 20 minutes in the decanter the first glass was rich, a bit of grit and lots of toasted oak. The tannins were integrated. The oakiness went away with time and the wine paired perfectly with a massive pan seared T-Bone. Eighteen hours later with the second half still in the decanter in the cellar the wine did not improve, but is still very drinkable. No complaints here.
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This is a GOOD wine, but that's it. This is the first time I've had the '02. Fruit is very muted to start. Some oakiness. Soft tannins. Finally, after about 2 hours the fruit starts to come through. But considering we decanted for 2 hours... that's too long.
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Wasn't sure what to expect, the ratings are all over the place on this one. I don't see why some rated this so low, this is a wonderful wine in my opinion. This wine has a great nose of black currant, plum, vanilla, blackberry. On the palate is a beautiful integration of dark fruits and vanilla/cigar box and smooth tannin and finish. This is a much more fruit forward wine than any Silver Oak I can remember and perhaps this is the basis of most complaints. Definitely not a collectable wine, if you've got a lot of it, start drinking it because it's peaking. Reminds me a lot of some of the better Karl Lawrence cabernets.
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For some reason I prefer the Alexander Valley to the Napa when it comes to Silver Oak. Full of fruit and a well balanced wine. I think that this wine is drinking well at this time.
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Drank at a restaurant in the Outer Banks (with lamb). Nose: Not much coming through. my notes are limited since it was a dinner. Taste: Cedar, oak, vanilla, cherries. Good mouthfeel. Solid finish. Firm tannins. Poor QPR at $120 at the restaurant (even at $60 retail it's not as good as many $30 Napa/Sonoma Cabs).
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Dark ruby wine, with a warm nose of crushed berries, vanilla and chocolate. Medium to full body with a supple texture and a medium-to-long finish. A little bit warm and showing its alcohol. Good, but not the best vintage of this wine. From now until 2011.
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I was disappointed with this wine. Very oaky and tannic. Not a good value for the money. I have 3 bottles left; I'll give them another year before I try another.
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My first Silver Oak. I was a tad underwhelmed. Decanted and drank over 4 hours. The nose was not as expressive as I thought it would be. Definitely lots of oak. Dominated by vegetal aromas. Some tobacco and bell pepper, then chocolate later. On the palate, no where near as heavy as I thought it would be, but still nice creamy mouthfeel. Still fairly vegetal with some dark cherry flavors dancing in there. Nice finish. Good wine but definitely not blowing me away.
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With little experience of higher priced wines, I'm inclined to rate it higher than most other reviewers. Chalk it up to being easily impressed by overpriced wine.
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Dark purple color and a crisp nose of currents, dark berries with a tad of a blueberry highlight and some heat on the back end. Firm from beginning to end with a framework that almost overwhelmed the fruit...did not decant...and it was finished to quick...I think this needs a little time in the bottle as well as the decanter. Substance not revealed, but I did get a sense that it was there non the less...
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Drank during a blind tasting. Rated it 3rd best of 8 wines behind a Kilicanoon Shiraz and BV Georges Latour. Well structured, a lot to like, but a little disappointing on the finish.
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On the nose there was lots of black fruit, black currant, plum, cherries, rich earthy soil, mushrooms, mold. Very dry, with soft, velvety tannins, med plus acidity with a long finish, first fruit and spices upfront then dust, earth, with a mineraly or tinny end. Very good quality, pre-phylloxera ungrafted vines.
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I've had some older SO's that I've enjoyed, but the recent releases almost always disappoint. I have found SO to be consistently over-oaked, over-hyped and over-priced. But alot of folks are happily buying and consuming them. No right or wrong ... To each their own
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Drank 2 bottles over dinner at a friend's house. Eminently forgettable. Opened and drank almost straight from the wine cellar but I don't think this was the problem. The second bottle took us through the cheese and it still left almost no mark on us. A shame because I've enjoyed this much more in the past.
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Bought at Boccaccio in Baltimore with dinner for $130. Nice balance with restrained vanilla, oak and red fruit on the palate. Short finish and ultimately not enough fruit to be interesting. Why on earth is this so popular? There are MANY better wines available for less than half the price. The guys who rated this 95-96 points need to get out more often.
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The last time I had this wine was in January of 2006 and it seemed just 'ok' back then. Quite a different experience this time around. This bottle had a nice nose of dark fruits mixed with vanilla. Very smooth on the palate and brings in a silky finish at the end. Very nice.
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Drank at Hula Grill in Maui. Nose of black currant, dark ripe cherries and blackberries. Flavours of dark fruit with some spice. Basic and one dimensional. Palate coating mouth feel. Few tannins. Heat on the short boozy finish.
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Unfortunately my wife likes Silver Oak and it is now going to cost me because she said "isn't this the one I liked before, you should buy more. Oh well, there goes early retirement.
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Pretty solid cabernet - wasnt over-oaked and didnt have any dill notes. Dry and austere on the finish, this cab sports some solid Cali typicity of currant and dark red fruit. Would buy more if sub-$30/35 - alas, this is a $50-60 wine.
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Not a fan. I guess it seems more of style thing since there is quite a bit to the wine and other here clearly enjoyed it but just not my style of cabernet.
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Had at a Silver Oak/Twomey tasting at the Wineyard in Thousand Oaks.
Typical Silver Oak Alexander Valley - very good overall, with that nose and finish indicitive of Silver Oak. Only very, very tannic, to the point where it nips your taste buds. Finish not all that long. Somewhat disappointed, really. For the price I would be in a world of pain...many many wines at this price point that I would rather have.
40+5+4+16+17+7=89
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Forward, spicy, buttery oak over black currant fruit with a slight mushroom note. Ripe and dry, creamy and glycerined palate with firm, spicy tannins and a long, toasty finish. 5/5
Dark ruby color. I didn't want to like this wine, but it had everything one should expect - good black fruit, nice structure, and medium length finish. There is a little too much oak for me, but it isn't overextracted or over-ripe. If this was available for ~$40, I would buy it for myself.
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Absolutely fantastic. Tons of structure, very intricate and balanced with a small nose. Tastes like it's been aged much longer than the two weeks since purchase. It'll be interesting to see how this ages though it's so open that it'll be tough to hold out.
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Deep color. Delicious fragrance and luscious taste that exhibits balance, depth and finesse. Seems to be a step or two above the 2001 which was also an excellent Cab. Would definitely purchase again (particularly as an expense account or special occassion item).
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I tasted my first bottle of Silver Oak probably two years ago. So this is not the first having it but rather the first time reviewing it. Ever since that first taste I have fallen in love with this wine. Between its vibrant nose, hidden complexities, and amazingly well balanced palate this wine ranks itself among the best year after year. The nose alone on this wine can keep you tranfexed for hours. It is big with ripe fruits of plums, cherries, and blackberries all the while have a perfect lace of old world oak (subtle sents of chocolate and tobacco can be noticed in the background). Being a big bodied red Cabernet Sauvignon the palate fills the mouth but yet at the same time does not overwhelm. The oak through the nose is not over powered, like a lot of california wines often have, but instead causes the wine to have a great balanced fiance. The fruit comes and goes with hints of spices between the waves of flavor. The finish is long and smooth with a decent amount of tannins that are not tight but rather show that the wine could age in a cellar if wished. This wine is great either drank on its own or can handle up to some big dishes like prime rib, herb encrusted lamb, or a hearty beef stew. I have found this wine also can pair wonderfully with wild game like elk, buffalo, or bear. Remember the wine is both big with a smooth palate giving it some great versatility. With my budget this wine tends to be a celebration or special occasion wine but is well worth the price. Personally, this 2002 vintage is one of my favorites that I have experienced from Silver Oak.
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As expected. It had all the pieces there and was well made and tasted great. for one of our companions it was an epiphany. I thought it excellently made but had hoped for a bit of extraordinary and special.
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Blackberries and cassis bouquet. Cherry, chewy, elegant, complex, dry, and a long finish . Spectacular flavors - I envisioned a great steak to be paired with this. Worth every penny that I paid for this wine. Decanted less than an hour at my party - glad to share with my friends as some had tasted this wine for the very first time - it was a great intro to Silver Oak.
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Pop & pour. Wine is open & ready to drink. Aromas of nice soft oak & fruit fills the glass. On the palate, black fruit (blackberry, blueberry), ripe cassis, cedar, and hint of vanilla & spice on the finish. Very elegant and smooth, bordeaux like. Extremely satisfying. Quite enjoyable. Nice CA Cab at reasonable pricing.
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Drank at Devon with pepper crusted ahi tuna and vegetable risotto. This is drinking beautifully even for a young cab. Start to finish it's velvety smooth with black fruit. Tannins are fine but it finishes a little short. Should continue to age beautifully.
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Dark ruby color. Aromas of berries with vanilla and hay. Jammy flavors of cherries, blackberries and cassis, medium body, slightly chewy tannins, toasty flavors on the finish: vanilla and mocha. Very, very enjoyable. Wants simple food, not heavy or pungent.
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Tasted at the winery. Dark cherry nose. On the palate, this wine exhibits notes of blackberry jam and milk chocolate. Rich and creamy texture. Medium-full body. Some tannin on the finish. My one complaint is that the wine did not seem to improve in the glass; over a period of 15 minutes or so, the wine started to shut down and I began to detect some stemmy favors. Quite honestly, the first sip was the best, which is what the score is based upon.
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Dark ruby color. Big fruit nose with a hint of cedar. Ripe, rich and deep flavors in the mouth with a lush mouthfeel. Young tannins create expansive mouthfeel. Long, lingering finish.
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A friend from a local wine shop brought over a bottle on pre-release. So it was a touch young, but totally drinkable. Some fruit but more rich, slightly-chewy earthy flavors. Tasted a touch of cocoa in there. My wife said it tasted of trees and mulch.
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12/29/2023 - ejmwine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Thought it was drinking very nicely. Fruit was very evident and the taste was smooth.
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11/26/2023 - bryon m Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened for Brandon's 21st birthday - same birth year. Color was excellent. From the start to finish it was very nice - soft and round mouth feel. Good berry flavors with some sage and other flavors too. Nice but short finish. It was a perfect wine for the night.
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8/19/2023 - Wine Kat Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened a mag of this which did this wine a favor. Still a bit of structure and fruit, but has softened with notes of cedar and herbs. No need to decant and good to drink now.
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5/26/2022 - prv530 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great coloring, no bricking, dark red. Nose had predominant American oak that dissipated after 30 mins and presented a well-rounded, soft tannin wine. Bell pepper, some spice, Herb notes. Classic cab at its peak. Still a few years of drinking left. Good steak wine.
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4/25/2022 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose of black cherry, black berry, and sage, same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, rich fruit, showing it's best so enjoy now, paired with roasted chicken, has a medium/long finish. aftertaste.
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1/25/2022 - crewald wrote:
Had with grilled ribeye and roasted potatoes. Not a great bottle but quite nice. Black fruits, cassis, some leather. Limited sediment, no harshness. Great color, no bricking.
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3/29/2021 - jaypowell Likes this wine: 89 Points
We were concerned that this wine was past its prime but surprisingly it has aged particularly well. With a concentrated ruby black and opaque hue, it offers abundant quantities of spice, vanillin, cedar, herbs, and smoke, soft, round, creamy-textured flavors, good black cherry and currant notes, and a spicy, medium-bodied, easy-going personality. Sadly it was our last bottle.
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12/21/2020 - Zoenhank wrote:
Cork was sawdust but wine was pleasant and enjoyable.
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12/21/2020 - Colameco3rd wrote:
Paul Bernardo
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12/13/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose of black cherry, black berry, sage, and sliced bell pepper, the same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, rich fruit, at peak-suggest you enjoy now, elegant tasting, at 18 years of age-it is great to sip and savor with Truffle Brie, and medium/long finish and lovely aftertaste.
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11/9/2020 - hrazdiiv Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great bottle that evolved nicely over the course of the evening, as the previous review suggests. Still displays a purple red medium/dark color with vibrant signs of life. On the nose, unmistakable California cab: lots of dark fruit, forest floor, sweet cassis, leather. Tannins are a bit on the light side at this point, but still register. A nice laser beam of oak runs right through the nose, to palate to finish, classically styled and definitely to my liking. Drank out of a magnum over about an hour and a half, didn't fade one bit, so probably still has a few years in it. As an aside, this vintage has held up really well with most northern Cal producers, this bottle being no exception.
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9/14/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice nose of dark fruit, forest floor, spice. Took a couple of sips and immediately thought to myself, Hmm, one dimensional. But, as the wine sat in the glass it opened up. Vanilla, blackberry, a touch of cherry. And, a tannic structure that built upon itself following a couple of sips. Still had come chops. Surprisingly long delightful finish. Had to admit, I was surprised.
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6/3/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose of black cherry, bell pepper, and blackberry, more of the same on the palate, medium/big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, lovely fruit, at peak-time to enjoy is now, medium/long finish.
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5/24/2020 - joelbkaplan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Even though cellar tracker said to drink by 2016, we received as a gift in 2020. we drank last night and we just loved the wine. i decanted. let breathe for a 1/2 hour. jammy. tannins, but did not take away your pallette. loved the wine.
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4/25/2020 - TGOT Likes this wine: 94 Points
Thought Mark1npt nailed it on this one. Very much surprised to the upside.
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2/19/2020 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 94 Points
A very suprising winner tonight.....this had a beautiful floral/cedarwood nose after 2 hours of air. The fruit was a bit red and still very strong. Much better than I thought it would be given the age. I was expecting a washed out mess. Mild tannins/acidity remain as does the slightly elongated finish. To me, this beats any of the newer Silver Oak entries of the last 10 years. This is in a great place and might be for 2-3 more years.
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10/26/2019 - Gladstone Lake Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank along side a 1996 Silver Oak Napa and a 2001 Silver Oak Alexander.
Cork was shot but wine was still fine. Drinking well. Probably the best of the three.
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5/26/2019 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose of black cherry, black berry, and bell pepper, more of the same on the palate, medium body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, at peak so time to enjoy is now, and a medium/long, flavorful finish.
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4/21/2019 - Winokdub wrote: 93 Points
Tasting excellent from a magnum. Perfect drinking window. Amazing nose. Great mouth and long finish.
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10/27/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 12 *shared*, VERY impressive bottles] from 10/26/18 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): THANK you for sharing this *great* choice, Dan! :)
N: BARNYRD, though spice/earth with time
P: Med, poss MF, body; NICE, almost swtish frt firmed by just a TOUCH of astringency which, without losing the frt, transitions into a LONG finish with a distinct swtness to the dusty tannins. Drinking beautifully right now, & I can see this EASILY making its 20th. IMPRESSIVE! My EXC+/Exceptional-. 90 pts WA, 88 Tanzer, & 86 WS. [Wine-searcher still shows 4 U.S. sources ranging from $99-$120.]
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8/26/2018 - Mark V Likes this wine: 93 Points
Good valley floor CS fruit
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7/5/2018 - FGS Likes this wine: 90 Points
90 minute decant. Good fruit and mellow tannins. Nose of berries with a hint of vanilla and oak lingering. Probably was better a few years ago, but still drinkable.
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4/19/2018 - karl.1480 wrote: 91 Points
BYOB 2018-04-19 - Blind tasting (Göteborgs Vinkällare): Medium garnet color with some fine sediment in the bottle.
Big and concentrated nose showing creme de cassis, blackberry, mint, green bell pepper and some floral overtones. There's also a lot of toasty oak providing notes of coffee beans, vanilla and dark chocolate. With time it the glass it develops more earthy, sous bois notes.
Full bodied with generous fruit. Silky texture and great concentration of flavors. Inky, black fruit, cassis, black olives and some bitter cacao-like notes from the oak. Long and intensive finish.
Really in it's drinking window but has the fruit to hold for another 5 years or more. Undeniable quality but this style of wine is to me really uninspiring and boring to drink.
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4/19/2018 - appel54 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tät kärna, mörkröd färg
Mycket körsbär, svarta vinbär, maxad frukt, grönt, efterhand mindre grönt och mer cabbighet
Torrt, strävt, lakrits, fruktigt i munnen, finkorninga, oerhört bra längd
En väldigt härlig cab från USA.
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4/4/2018 - We Can Share the Wine wrote: 96 Points
Just getting better!
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4/1/2018 - Winward wrote:
Delicious as always. Quite unmistakeable. Deep, purple oak. Rich and a little burnt. Sad to see this one go
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3/23/2018 - campbone wrote:
Watson
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12/28/2017 - Teaky Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bought this from the winery in July, so has presumably been perfectly stored, did not seem past its prime. Decanted for 3 hours. Very rich nose of blackberry, with some mild earthiness and mushrooms. Very rich and full bodied, get a lot of fruit at first (blackberry), then some leather, but then the flavor fades to oak. Soft tannins, buttery texture. Very nice and drinkable, but perhaps a little overboard with the oak.
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12/2/2017 - Winokdub wrote: 92 Points
Solid overall but maybe past its prime. Nice nose. Decent finish.
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11/3/2017 - thelostverse wrote: 90 Points
Opened by Bob P at Anvil. General impression only.
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8/26/2017 - Colorado3G Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice, velvety, smooth, and definitely a lasting finish with a bit of earth. Decanted for about an hour and also had this with a 2002 Stags Leap that was almost on par as SO - but still quite different, but the SO gets the nod over the Staggs!
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2/27/2017 - We Can Share the Wine wrote: 95 Points
Showing fantastic length. Just starting to find secondary oak notes of redwood, eucalyptus and granite. Great years ahead!
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1/28/2017 - leachriscellar wrote: 94 Points
Violet & Garnett color, nose of plum and juicy black cherry with a touch of mint. Raspberry, blueberry , and plum continue in the flavors. Still has a bright finish.
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1/10/2017 - Dmax808 wrote: 91 Points
Still nice fruit but that's pretty much it. Very one note.
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8/6/2016 - Kdavies123 wrote:
Decanted for 2 hours. Nice smell. Velvety and full with a smooth and lasting finish. Berries, a splash of licorice, and some earth too. Pairs wonderfully with dark chocolate truffles. 8/6/16
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7/9/2016 - kkleg Likes this wine: 87 Points
This was one bottle in a case stored in a garage since purchase and was given to me by a co-worker to try as a guinea pig. If she hadn't told me about the poor storage, I wouldn't have suspected it.
That said, this is a fairly typical Alexander Valley Cab, with dark fruit and a slight whiff of oak and cedar on the nose. Decent length on the palate, with the fruit and oak rather prominent.
I'm not a fan of Silver Oak and this didn't convert me, but it's a decent bottle of wine if you like this style. Drink up because I doubt this will hold much longer even with good storage.
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7/2/2016 - danscellar wrote: 91 Points
Classic Silver Oak, Big! Nice nose, dark color and very solid tannins and complexity. A really nice finish but would still like to see a bit more of that velvet mouth feel of a great cab. Enjoy!!
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6/20/2016 - Pinot Nut Likes this wine: 95 Points
Couldn't believe my last bottle would still be alive. But after decanting for an hour it was beautiful! Still a strong cab with wonderful cab flavors hanging in there.
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5/31/2016 - MillerRoad Likes this wine: 89 Points
If you still have one, drink it.
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5/11/2016 - amflinn wrote: 91 Points
This was a friend's bottle that was not carefully cellared. It endured dry heat in a garage in Silicon Valley California with significant temperature and humidity variations. I'm told temperatures at times approached 90 degrees. I was therefore expecting the worse, possibly even vinegar. On opening the cork disintegrated, but had a nice smell to it. Decanted, but tasted immediately. Vanilla nose, cherry cola and silky smooth on the palate.Tannins fully rounded out. Very impressed that it endured such harsh treatment! Over two hours it continued to evolve with a subtle anise backnote but primarily a creamy vanilla oak.
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4/27/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose of black cherry, saddle leather, bell pepper, and blackberry, more of the same on the palate, medium body, very tasty with the roasted chicken, medium/long finish but flavorful aftertaste.
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4/26/2016 - KZB Likes this wine:
Smooth and mild
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2/14/2016 - Vegas dog Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent flavoring. Cork fell apart upon opening. Wine had been stored at 56 degrees since 2002 and never moved. Deep dark flavor. What a treat.
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1/10/2016 - EricDilda wrote: 89 Points
Crowd pleaser
Drinking well- could go much longer actually
Not mega complex but beautiful round finish
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12/27/2015 - MTatarian wrote: 91 Points
Showed well. Dark cherry fruit forward with subtle leather and wood finish. Tannins still very present
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12/14/2015 - mblazis wrote:
Drinking well. Has another year or two at its peak.
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11/3/2015 - xuaeinw wrote: 94 Points
Opened an hour before. Had with steak dinner. Great from start to finish.
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10/22/2015 - MartyVT wrote:
Smooth. Had for my birthday with comers and greystmyers
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10/12/2015 - Pvinbrock Likes this wine: 89 Points
Was over powered by a 2000 Brown Estate. Wine was a little flat
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10/10/2015 - EvanRose Likes this wine: 91 Points
I was surprised how austere the tannins were at first but when it opened up an hour later, it revealed wild sweet cherry, medium finish
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10/7/2015 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Enjoyed this wine with lasagna, nose of mocha, cherry fruit, and hint of bell pepper, more of the same on the palate, medium body, at it's best, easy to sip, savor and enjoy with or without food, long fruity finish.
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9/26/2015 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Solid 90 pt wine with cedar, herb, dark fruit and a hint of vanilla and smoke flavors. Smooth texture, medium bodied and drinking nicely.
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7/28/2015 - fritza Likes this wine: 92 Points
I was intrigued by the extreme disparity in the reviews of this vintage. However, I was pleasantly surprised! This wine drank great! Decanted two hours. Dark in color, no visible sign of aging. On the nose it does reveal vanilla as is typical for Silver Oak Cab. On the palate it was silky smooth with a pleasing palate of ripe dark berries and mellow spices. Ready to drink now before fruit starts fading.
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5/21/2015 - lachord Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fruit is no longer strong, but still noticeable with stronger hints of vanilla. Good complement to grilled meats.
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2/6/2015 - danscellar wrote: 90 Points
typical 'Silver Oak"!! good not great.
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11/29/2014 - csklsc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Classic Silver Oak. A little diminished fruit but still good. Better on 2nd day.
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11/27/2014 - geneburrus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent bottle. I've become a little jaded about Silver Oak over the years, as their success has created a little cult like following, and the visits to the winery have become nearly unwelcome. But this is a very good wine.
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11/23/2014 - jon_goodman1 wrote: 90 Points
good balance. Tanins and strong vanilla have fallen away. very good time to drink
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11/7/2014 - Cliftonian Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wow, I knew this would be a nice wine, but was very pleasantly surprised that it is a fine wine. Had a sweet vanilla and a bit of a smoky oak start that lead to a sweet, ripe, cedary wine with an attractive texture and a
spicy touch. Decant this one ... as it opens, it comes alive. Wonderful!
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9/10/2014 - WalZie Likes this wine: 92 Points
It was a pleasure to uncork and drink with friends, very pleasing on the palate, not sure how it could of been any better
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6/20/2014 - ifishtoo wrote: 91 Points
Last one. Wish these wines were as good as they were back in the early nineties but still drink well.
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6/18/2014 - Harddriv Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth and delicious!
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5/26/2014 - RLP805 wrote: 88 Points
Decanted for about 2 hours. Not much of a nose, a bit thin and watery for California Cab. a bit of fruit left some berries and cinnamon, short finish. Enjoyable but expected more.
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5/4/2014 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Typical Rutherford red-brown in color. Smooth, good fruit, tannins still firm with dry mouth feel.
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4/16/2014 - sajc wrote:
so much better than their Napa Valley!
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2/9/2014 - ghobby wrote: 90 Points
Very nice for Barbs birthday
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1/11/2014 - Enrique Zarate wrote: 90 Points
- Crimsom color - Bueno! Lo tomamos ene 2014
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1/3/2014 - BentonWine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for several hours, with time, it smoothed out and was a nice wine. At first taste, the tannins were astringent and harsh.
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12/31/2013 - Lanceamoore wrote: 91 Points
We'll rounded, smooth. Silver oak. Little sediment.
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12/31/2013 - gbpecknold wrote: 89 Points
Tannins on the soft side, mild nose and slight berry flavor . Expected to be a little bolder for 2002
Let it sit and opened up a little more
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12/31/2013 - ifishtoo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pnp. Lovely cherry nose and garnet color. Medium bodied on the palate with good balance between fruit and acidity. Lingering aftertase (my wife really liked this) lasting at least 30 seconds. Perhaps not as good as the price but still a very good Cali cab.
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11/30/2013 - Volunteers76 wrote: 89 Points
It's typical Silver Oak. A big crowd pleaser but does not stand up to other better wines in it's price range. I prefer a Chappellet over Silver Oak.
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11/23/2013 - Smiths22 wrote: 94 Points
Drinking beautifully but drink soon!
Smooth elegant
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11/8/2013 - dlstrauss wrote: 91 Points
Like the last bottle, this one seemed too thin and devoid of the fruit and complexity it once had. Still, perfectly solid, just not special.
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10/26/2013 - ghobby wrote: 91 Points
Still in decent shape. Not much longer though.
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10/13/2013 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was good, but bit disappointing. Quite a few better napa cabs out there at this price point. I found it have pretty harsh tannins without enough fruit to balance it out. Not worth $60-70...
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10/11/2013 - clio_wine Likes this wine:
Very Good. Incredibly dry -- almost granular. Currants, earth, hints of spice. Very nice, but not a show stopper. <Wow/Very Good/Good/Fair/Plonk>
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9/30/2013 - redbrix wrote: 94 Points
One of the best wines we’ve had perfect balance. Outrageously smooth.
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8/6/2013 - difran wrote: 91 Points
Very drinkable now. Will lay down the final bottle of 2002 until maybe 2015 to see how it changes. Still has enough structure to survive.
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6/9/2013 - sqn19 wrote: 90 Points
Good, but bricking and losing fruit. A bit thin mid-palate. A fully mature Alexander Valley cab, now on the downslope.
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5/19/2013 - Winecat Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep rich color with a complex yet bright taste. Lush deep berries. Hints of tobacco and spice.
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4/28/2013 - BSchrag wrote: 87 Points
Have to say that for the price point and Vineyard reputation this bottle disappointed. Had interesting notes and an ample finish but not the complexity I was hoping for.
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4/14/2013 - rremiker wrote: 90 Points
Classic Silver Oak
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4/12/2013 - PinotPaul wrote: 90 Points
Very decent. Rich nose of cassis and red currants with overtones of oak. Very smooth. Tannin is almost gone. Delightful. Drink now.
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4/5/2013 - nschmidt wrote: 90 Points
Same note as before. Pleasant enough but not worth the price. Adrianne did not like it.
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3/24/2013 - Fünfer Likes this wine: 89 Points
I drank my last bottle of the '02 Alexander Valley last night. Although the grapes hung on the vines 11 years ago, the wine held up very well. When I opened the bottle I was already amazed in what good shape the cork was. There was no seepage. I decanted the wine for a good 2 hours. There was no wine crystals in the bottle. The wine tasted very good. Lots of different fruits. Typcial CA cab. I was a little disappointed with the finish, which was not as smooth as other Silveroaks before. I would say that the wine could still age for another 2-4 years with appropriate cellaring. Overall a very good bottle of Silveroak, yet I've had better from them.
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3/10/2013 - MOCGator wrote: 93 Points
This is the last really good Silver Oak. A solid cab. As good as it will ever get. Drink it now and enjoy.
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2/16/2013 - tgkswine wrote: 90 Points
Drinking well at this stage. Tannins integrated into the dark fruit wih a medium smooth finish.
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1/15/2013 - rtd3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Slow. It smells like Cherry, Mineral, Cedar, Black Pepper, Tobacco, Eucalyptus, and Cool/Menthol. It tastes like Black currant (cassis), Cherry, Black Pepper, and Chocolate. The body is Medium. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Short.
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1/2/2013 - Dbsnyder wrote: 91 Points
New Years at the Alley Rose, drank with Howes, Swansons, Farrell's and Hamiks
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12/27/2012 - raydawgone wrote: 90 Points
Heavy duty oak when first opened. Restaurant decanted and the tannins and wood burned off half way through the bottle. Smoke, black fruit and raisin, with dusty tannins on long finish.
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12/8/2012 - xuaeinw wrote: 93 Points
Very well balanced wine with integrated tannins and acidity. Typical California cab fruit notes being replaced by a Bordeaux like minerality. Still a lot of life left to this wine.
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11/19/2012 - Delmargal Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great bottle. Dart color, decanted for an hour and tannins settled. Some fruit upfront with nice finish-typical Silver Oak wine.
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11/9/2012 - gdbarton1@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Very dark garnet with bright edges. Black fruit and cedar American Cab nose. Full bodied, Black fruit with slightly sweet finish light tannins. Fine American Cab, good fruit and balance
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10/20/2012 - Kdad wrote: 85 Points
Flat. No finish. No body or complexity. A very weak cab. Very disappointed. Decanted over an hour. Silver Oak has never been the same since Justin died.
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10/3/2012 - Aspenhawk wrote: 92 Points
this was a great wine. Decanted for over an hour... as others have mentioned aromas of: floral or vanilla, maybe even a touch of bark. Great smooth finish... left you wanting more at the end. Great wine from Silver Oak
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9/17/2012 - wineguy1968 wrote: 94 Points
a bit surprised by the low scores on this wine. I found it to be a tremendous wine, very unique floral nose, rich silky mouth feel, it just coated my entire mouth....and the finish was very long. Very enjoyable wine.
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7/2/2012 - gmat5497 wrote: 90 Points
Liked a lot. Fruit forward.
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5/26/2012 - bilnjil wrote: 91 Points
Broke this open at Cafe Amano. After decanting about 30 minutes aromas of forest floor, cedar and cocoa powder emanated from the deep purple. Drank very well after 10 years of cellaring with rich cassis and blueberry flavors and a lingering soft tannic finish. Very enjoyable with the grass-fed filet mignon at Cafe Amano.
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4/21/2012 - ersmith Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still drinking great. Smooth and light with a couple of grilled sirloins. Excellent balance and medium long finish.
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4/8/2012 - gmat5497 wrote: 88 Points
Just average. Loosing some of its luster.
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4/4/2012 - saxual wrote: 92 Points
A little thinner than expected; but this is the Alexander, not the Napa, so expectations are tempered a bit. Up-front with cherries and fruit; but dragging a little on the back end. Overall a wonderful wine; one left for (much) later.
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3/26/2012 - Sailingsimon wrote: 92 Points
Just had a bottle of tonight. Very good bottle that held up through the years. Bought recently but assume storage a had to be fine given its current condition and taste. On the nose fruit and little oak. When tasting a little more jammy dark fruit/ Dark current and oak on the palate. Very silky smooth nice soft finish and enjoyable. Unlike other reviews we found no harsh tannins and overall very well balanced. We decanted the wine for one hour before drinking which might have helped opening it up.
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3/10/2012 - Montana wrote: 88 Points
Wine was OK but I'm thinking that a 2002 Silver Oak is past its prime.
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2/9/2012 - TDud wrote: 88 Points
I am a fan of Silver Oak. This vintage, however, is average. The nose is undistinguished. It is hard to pick out any aroma except earth. The palate is similarly flat. Manure, with little fruit and, even after 10 years, harsh tannins. Not a typical Silver Oak cab.
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1/18/2012 - Bluffan wrote: 92 Points
After all that's been said about Silver Oak's decline, this 2002 held up wonderfully. Rich, tongue-coating texture, and enough tannin for a mouth watering finish. Not as complex as other premium Cali cabs I've tried, but satisfying nonetheless.
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1/2/2012 - Rick 4 Wine wrote: 91 Points
- Crimsom color with fast forming legs and aromas of black pepper, blackberry, cherry, strawberry and smokey. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Silky texture with a medium finish - Drinking very well. Nice fruit...mostly in the body but a mixed essence in nose. Finish is relatively short as tannins are slight and round now. Some earth but not much. Not as much oak as I recall from Silver Oak.
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1/1/2012 - Brett wrote: 90 Points
Nice bottle...last bottle.
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12/27/2011 - Wolfgang wrote: 92 Points
Vanilla and strawberries on the nose, well balanced and smooth.
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12/25/2011 - CP4 wrote: 86 Points
Smooth wine soft tannins but surprisingly bland. No great to what you would expect from silver oak. Decanted one hour before tasting would expect more for this price and brand.
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10/31/2011 - dlstrauss wrote: 92 Points
Needed a good hour of decanting to open up. Even then, not as good as I remember.
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10/22/2011 - shiel wrote: 90 Points
still holding up strong
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10/15/2011 - xwine wrote:
Enough American oak to knock an elephant over. Yuck!
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10/6/2011 - East of Napa wrote: 94 Points
great time to drink this wine. Full bodied but smooth.
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9/23/2011 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark fruit, spice, pepper, charcoal and smokey oak. B+/A-
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8/25/2011 - Brett wrote: 90 Points
Consumed at a party.
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7/27/2011 - Brett wrote: 90 Points
Nice bottle of wine.
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6/12/2011 - East of Napa wrote: 90 Points
old dependable, very nice wine and never lets us down.
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5/21/2011 - East of Napa wrote: 91 Points
wonderful. Celebrated new home and Meghan with Brian and Beth Donelan.
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4/28/2011 - Brett wrote: 90 Points
Nice wine.
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4/23/2011 - zullo517 wrote: 85 Points
Just "okay"
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4/16/2011 - ghobby wrote: 88 Points
Bottle was a little flat; had fruit up front, but lost something as the bottle was open;
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3/20/2011 - BMG Wine wrote: 90 Points
Classic Cali cab for the wife's birthday. Quite tasty. No detailed notes taken.
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3/15/2011 - timdrex wrote: 91 Points
Age must be working in this wine's favor. The last bottle I had was overly oaked and quite tannic. This one was very enjoyable.
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2/5/2011 - ScubaSommelier wrote: 92 Points
This bottle drank very well tonight. Attractive structure with caramel and vanilla highlights. Sad it is my last one.
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2/2/2011 - Mark Brandon wrote: 91 Points
Everything you would expect from SO in 2002. Decanted for 1 hour - should have waited 2 hours as it really opened up in the 2nd glass. Truly lovely with Wagu beef burgers to celebrate a personal milestone.
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2/2/2011 - Laughs and Juice wrote: 91 Points
this isn't my style of wine, but I have to say the american wood has mellowed enough and it is rather complex
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1/20/2011 - chadneel wrote: 90 Points
Excellent wine.
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1/16/2011 - tyvoodoo wrote: 90 Points
A bit green on opening but nice black fruits, some coca, spicy vanilla oak and soft tannins. A bit blowzy but nice fruit, dense mouthfeel and some forward flavours.
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1/11/2011 - tsfab wrote: 88 Points
Still plenty of fruit. Missouri oak still evident but well balanced.
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12/2/2010 - East of Napa wrote: 92 Points
Drank a bottle that my business partner brought over the other night. Even though I have 8 in my cellar i have forgotten how reliable this wine is. Very nice nose and smooth fruit forward flavors. About a glass left from last night and I hope i get to it before my wife does. One of our favorites.
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11/26/2010 - 4wdave Likes this wine: 96 Points
Thanksgiving with family; this was a gift from Kristi S. Unbelievable flavor, aroma, balance. Deserves its reputation!
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11/21/2010 - ghobby wrote: 92 Points
Rich, fruity, still tasting great
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11/21/2010 - Kemo Sabe wrote: 91 Points
From a 1.5Ltr. Tons of oak here. A little light on the nose compared to the 06 Pride we drank with this. Notes of leather, tobacco, ash tray. Meduim finish.
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9/12/2010 - shiel wrote: 94 Points
Drank this on Rosh Hashana following a mag of 01 Silver Oak Alexander. This wine was sweeter and had a bigger mouth feel. Great juice.
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9/7/2010 - twelch wrote: 87 Points
If you like big oaky cabs then you'll love this. Not much fruit here or was hidden by all the oak but overall drank very well for what it is with steaks.
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8/22/2010 - Serge Birbrair wrote:
The harsh finish in the beginning was replaced by "greeny-meany" by the end, the wine just fell apart with air. I couldn't finish the glass.
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8/1/2010 - Harborhounds wrote: 91 Points
Nice
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7/3/2010 - difran wrote: 89 Points
Green, but I like it that way. Keep next bottle till 2012 at 10 year mark.
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5/26/2010 - steady wrote: 88 Points
This wine was tight upon opening. After aeration and sitting for 30 minute, a bouquet of blackberries,dark plum, leather, tobacco, and cedar emerged. Medium plus acidity, alcohol, and body. Medium tannins, and flavors of black cherry, plum, leather, and cocoa. This wine is still a bit rough around the edges, and another year or two in the cellar may bring it into balance. Overall a lovely wine now with aeration, but hopefully will improve with age.
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5/21/2010 - Nico P. wrote:
Drinking well. Nice high toned cab smells overlaid by tobacco and dark chocolate. Still has grip good for a few more years. 35-45 sec. finish. This bottle was properly stored since purchase but judging from the other CT notes, a lot of variation can happen in the almost 4 years since this wine was released.Very good.
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5/12/2010 - sgamiz wrote: 89 Points
I love SO & this has the same taste profile but a litlle ligher - it has a different afetrtaste, a port like finish to it and the wine seem to me a little ligher then the traditional SO.
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5/10/2010 - dstraub wrote: 88 Points
About the same as my last tasting note. Took a while to open up and it was nice, but not to the level of other Silver Oak Alex Valley cabs and this vintage is not worth the price.
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5/9/2010 - depdoc wrote: 89 Points
After two bottle in a row that were not drinkable, we got a good one! Still, this was not up to Silver Oak's usual standard.
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5/9/2010 - depdoc wrote: flawed
Holy smoke-the second bottle in a row with no fruit and totally flat.
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5/9/2010 - depdoc wrote: flawed
Not obviously corked, but flat with no fruit.
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4/4/2010 - hamiltoncd wrote: 88 Points
Very nice but not spectacular.
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3/13/2010 - Marc S wrote: 89 Points
Always a wonderful bottle of wine. Then Napa is more tanic and powerful then the Alex Valley. Nice oak and medium bodied. This wine is ready to drink.
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3/2/2010 - depdoc wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful fruity nose typical of Silver Oak. My palate was treated well with dark cherry and blackberries. Good effort.
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2/23/2010 - dstraub wrote: 87 Points
We love Alex Valley Silver Oak overall, but this was probably the least enjoyable wine we've had. Its still young, but has an odd tannin / fruit profile that doesn't seem to be integrated well at this point. We enjoyed it, but just not to level we have with the '99 and '01. We will be tasting this over time to see if it benefits from more aging, which I would recommend at this time.
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1/30/2010 - vanpe003 wrote:
Dennis brought this over, and it was a pleasant surprise. Medium bodied but with a lushness I don't remember in the Alexander Valley version. Slight green pepper note, pleasant rather than distracting. Was one of the better wines opened in terms of pairing with food.
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1/14/2010 - apmarques wrote: 89 Points
typical California wine but in the good sense - strong oak - but not destroying the cabernet sauvignon touch - ready to drink. I think a strong meat - barbecue would suit perfectly.
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1/2/2010 - willthethrill wrote: 92 Points
From start to finish is one long delicious, easy-to-drink cabernet that only disappoints in that there are no sensory surprises. I have had this wine before, and tonight I was not as overwhelmed as my last dinner with Silver Oak. Fruit. Oak. Very moderate tannin.
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12/3/2009 - spretzer wrote: 91 Points
drank on the boat for gene's 40th out of a magnum something about the magnum or the boat but it was quite nice, velvety this evening.
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11/8/2009 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Crimson color. Notes of red currants, plum, blackberry and red licorice. Well-balanced, with red fruit and spice tones on the palate. Finishes on the short side of medium, but overall it's very nice.
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11/4/2009 - quagland wrote:
Huge, rich, oaky
This wine was dense and extracked
In the mouth I got anise, caramel, candy and hints of jagermeister
Yes it was huge please hold to let the fruit settle down
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10/4/2009 - elbosco wrote: 90 Points
Pleasingly sweet aromatics. Vanilla, plums and slippery elm. Not profound but highly enjoyable. Ready for consumption.
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8/23/2009 - vintage61 wrote: 92 Points
Drank at Peggy and Gordons in the Woodlands. Weak glass but a very good showing. Dark brooding color with plenty od darl fruit on the nose and palate. Vey pleasant surprise. Good structure and balance. A far cry from the previous bottle. Shouild hold for several years, but doubt much improvement.
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8/21/2009 - wyno wrote: 88 Points
Drank with grilled aged new york steak, decanted 1 hr. dark garnet color, nose of blackberry, floral and fruit and alcohol at first. round on the palate with moderatly dry taniic finish. Probably has a few more years on it. Not nearly as good as the Napa vineyard, but as I picked it up in an end of bin sale a few years ago it was good value for the money, not worth a restaurant purchase though.
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8/20/2009 - Istaples wrote: 89 Points
A dark garnet color and a nose of blackberry with some floral notes - violet and rose. A fruit forward wine with a nice full mouth feel. On the palate blueberries and plum with moderate tannins leading to a somewhat dry finish. Wine could still go several more years but for the vintage and price there are a lot better options.
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7/8/2009 - difran wrote: 90 Points
Not as good as the 02 drank last year, but still classic napa cab.
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7/7/2009 - jdoakpark wrote: 89 Points
disappointment...not much of anyhtingn to rave about...good mouthfeel
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7/6/2009 - walkers wrote: 90 Points
On first opening: Extracted nose of fresh fruit, with a touch of alcohol and definite oak. Did not decant. Wine is drinking well, now, fruit is fresh but still moderate tannin and acid. Lots of fruit still on the palate, but definitely developing a spicebox character with some toast and just a touch of something earth/leather. Long finish, fruity but more complex than that. Signs of age are staring but fruit is still fresh -- and some nice spiciness on the palate. Perhaps a touch alcoholic.
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5/13/2009 - Maverick wrote: 89 Points
much improved. oak has settled. nice fruit that isn't as overbearing. not overly complex but seems to be drinking well.
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5/9/2009 - spretzer wrote: 90 Points
served all three bottles at wine dinner crowd pleasing and no complaints but just ok, not incredible
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3/31/2009 - MyCrush wrote: 92 Points
Great wine. Drank with friends the same night as a Caymus 2005 Cabernet. We all loved the Silver Oak, but rated the Caymus a bit higher.
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3/11/2009 - hammie1234 wrote: 92 Points
I don't drink these typical oaky Cali Cabs often, but when I do, they sure are a treat. Rich tobacco, earth undertones. My wife says she could drink this every night. She's funny.
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2/21/2009 - twelch wrote: 86 Points
little to offer besides a little fruit, of course too much oak and tannins that have not been resolved and most likely won't before all the fruit is gone
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2/8/2009 - brentandalex wrote: 93 Points
Great with spicy ribs....I love this wine
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1/10/2009 - RCarlyleParker wrote:
6 liter bottle for 50th-party of 20 and all thoroughly enjoyed
excellent pairing with lamb and a later course of tenderloin
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1/2/2009 - pbaek wrote:
A disaster of a wine. Fluid oak with dark berries and sugar. From magnum. This has nothing to do with wine.
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12/30/2008 - spretzer wrote: 90 Points
thanksgiving, solid not great
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12/28/2008 - smoyles wrote: 80 Points
Very dissapointing. Too heavy on the oak and tannins with little more to offer. Not sure if it was a bad bottle or things are really going down hill at a once great vineyard.
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12/18/2008 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby/purple color with a complex nose rich in minerals, leather and that iconic oak nuance that Silver Oak is known for. The palate is full-bodied with flavors of black currants, black berries, chocolate, and tobacco. This carries a certain level of intensity and grip yet delivers a certain elegance in terms of balance, length of finish, and suppleness. Drink from 2007 to 2015.
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12/15/2008 - bryanjmatthews Likes this wine: 89 Points
I brought this wine to my boss's house for a Christmas Party. We opened the bottle and greatly enjoyed it. Lots of fruit and oak. I'm not sure it lives up to the price, but a solid bottle none the less.
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12/14/2008 - ikkaariainen wrote: 92 Points
The best bottle of this vintage we've had yet. Enjoyed with Kim and good friend neighborbill and spouse Debbie before "Santaland Diaries" accompanied by heavy hors d'ouvers. Just an absolutely outstanding cab, not decanted but opened up three hours prior to drinking and this is really drinking prime right now. Very good, well balanced, smooth and somewhat muted elegant and complex Sonoma cab with at least 5 years more cellaring potential left. This vintage keeps getting better and better with every bottle we have. Very dark purple, good mouth feel, pleasant 30 - 45 second aftertaste. Nose surprisingly floral with hints of vanilla and muted oak. Primary flavors include balanced and not overpowering oak, terroir, tar, cassis and blueberry with hints of vanilla, smoke and black pepper developing on palate as wine opened up in glass. Too expensive to be a good QPR but as noted above just very good, highly recommend this.
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12/13/2008 - ScubaSommelier wrote: 90 Points
Solid, but I think I enjoyed the 2001 a bit better. This wine is very representative of Alexander Valley cab in my experience. The tannins are big enough that they really should be paired with marbled beef (ribeye, prime, etc.).
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11/30/2008 - The Thirsty Dog wrote: 85 Points
Poseur wine.
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11/29/2008 - ikkaariainen wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed with Kim earlier tonight after finishing decorating the Christmas tree and putting out the other Christmas decorations. Outstanding cab, not decanted but opened up two hours prior to drinking and this bottle is really drinking prime right now. Very good, well balanced, smooth and somewhat muted elegant and complex Sonoma cab with at least 5-10 years more cellaring potential left. This vintage keeps getting better and better with every bottle we have. Very dark purple, good mouth feel, pleasant 30 - 45 second aftertaste. Nose surprisingly floral with hints of vanilla and muted oak. Primary flavors include balanced and not overpowering oak, terroir, tar, cassis and blueberry with hints of vanilla, smoke and black pepper developing on palate as wine opened up in glass. Too expensive to be a good QPR but as noted above just very good, highly recommend this.
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11/24/2008 - dino_mike wrote: 94 Points
Magnum review: Very beautiful and complex nose. Really pleasant, integrated oak and ripe dark berry flavors. A hint of barnyard (I mean that in the positive Ch. Montelena sort of way) with casis, vanilla and sweet tar flavors and a long, very smooth finish. Definetly NOT overoaked. This is one of the best I've had. I purchased pre-arrival for $55 (120 for Mag) and definetly worth the price. This wine will hold 1-2 years but I'm going to drink this year.
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11/2/2008 - vintage61 wrote: 79 Points
IMHO, totally undrinkable. I have always enjoyed SO before but this has little to no nose, no distinguishable fruit, all tannin and oak.
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10/26/2008 - Minnie Mouse wrote: 90 Points
had it with steak. very soft
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10/26/2008 - ikkaariainen wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyed 2 bottles last night with Kim and good friends at a dinner party at our house. Very good, well balanced, smooth and somewhat muted elegant and complex Sonoma cab, drinking very prime right now but has at least 5-10 years more cellaring potential left. Very dark purple, good mouth feel, pleasant 30 - 45 second aftertaste. Nose surprisingly floral with hints of vanilla and muted oak. Primary flavors include balanced and not overpowering oak, terroir, tar, cassis and blueberry with hints of vanilla, smoke and black pepper developing on palate as wine opened up in glass. Too expensive to be a good QPR but very good, drinking very well and highly recommend this.
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9/28/2008 - rjonas wrote: 90 Points
Still young and cellaring well. Hints of butterscotch on the nose followed later by thin smoke/tobacco. Tannins are mellowing ever so slightly.. A delightful wine.
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9/16/2008 - jvalanti wrote: 88 Points
Pretty decent - big and oaky - but not so impressive for the price.
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9/13/2008 - goofy Yno wrote: 78 Points
nose of cassias, cherry. mouth very thin, without complexity,
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8/9/2008 - Black Mikan wrote: 87 Points
Very disappointing. Almost no fruit. Oak and tannins and not much else. Dinner guests agreed. Not worth its reputation. Many killer cabs of various styles out there at a lot less $.
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7/11/2008 - spretzer wrote: 89 Points
not bad, hoped for better
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7/4/2008 - soyhead wrote: 90 Points
nose- dark fruit
mouth - dark fruit with an impressive and very discernible mint burst. Good structure. Still tannic.
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7/4/2008 - pgb67 wrote: 88 Points
Pleasing nose of strawberry and raspberry, embellished with hints of toast and oak and perfumy violets, yet the palate was surprisingly thin and resembled a pinot noir, which is what our blind tasting group assumed this may have been.
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6/21/2008 - Vino Uomo wrote: 89 Points
Nose was ripe raspberry, bit of oak. Taste was nice raspberry, hint of strawberry, slight vanilla, finish was hot though and flat. Ok wine but at this price point this is a major pass.
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5/8/2008 - Pablo T wrote: 90 Points
Drank this right after a bottle of 2004 Lynch Bages. The Silver Oak showed much better - much more approchable with good fruit and silky tannins.
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5/5/2008 - dino_mike wrote: 91 Points
Drinks great now! Toasty cocconut oak flavors and complex dark berry fruit. Very harmonious and balanced for an expressive, oak driven wine. Long, complex finish. Does not need decanting but the 1st glass of sweet cocoa oak is fun but it expands to a beautiful wine for the rest of the bottle. This Silver Oaks is a winner.
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4/11/2008 - nschmidt wrote: 90 Points
Good, smooth but not worth the price.
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4/9/2008 - Black Mikan wrote: 88 Points
Never got past the oak. Good wine but not worth the $ for the Alexander Valley. Too many other fantastic cabs out there for less.
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3/22/2008 - snipes wrote:
After 20 minutes in the decanter the first glass was rich, a bit of grit and lots of toasted oak. The tannins were integrated. The oakiness went away with time and the wine paired perfectly with a massive pan seared T-Bone. Eighteen hours later with the second half still in the decanter in the cellar the wine did not improve, but is still very drinkable. No complaints here.
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3/2/2008 - Brett wrote: 91 Points
Very nice bottle. We consumed with some great wine, and the 02 Silver Oak held up well.
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3/1/2008 - Marc S wrote:
Deep red ruby in color. Does not need that much decanting. A wonderful bottle of Silver Oak. I prefer the Alexander Valley to the Napa.
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2/24/2008 - jwsmith wrote: 89 Points
Too much oak....and vanilla not as enjoyable as ten years ago from Silver oak.
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2/23/2008 - pkbackman wrote: 85 Points
This is a GOOD wine, but that's it. This is the first time I've had the '02. Fruit is very muted to start. Some oakiness. Soft tannins. Finally, after about 2 hours the fruit starts to come through. But considering we decanted for 2 hours... that's too long.
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2/14/2008 - boxwine_in_hell wrote: 93 Points
Wasn't sure what to expect, the ratings are all over the place on this one. I don't see why some rated this so low, this is a wonderful wine in my opinion. This wine has a great nose of black currant, plum, vanilla, blackberry. On the palate is a beautiful integration of dark fruits and vanilla/cigar box and smooth tannin and finish. This is a much more fruit forward wine than any Silver Oak I can remember and perhaps this is the basis of most complaints. Definitely not a collectable wine, if you've got a lot of it, start drinking it because it's peaking. Reminds me a lot of some of the better Karl Lawrence cabernets.
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2/13/2008 - Marc S wrote: 92 Points
For some reason I prefer the Alexander Valley to the Napa when it comes to Silver Oak. Full of fruit and a well balanced wine. I think that this wine is drinking well at this time.
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2/12/2008 - thetong wrote: 89 Points
Drank at a restaurant in the Outer Banks (with lamb). Nose: Not much coming through. my notes are limited since it was a dinner. Taste: Cedar, oak, vanilla, cherries. Good mouthfeel. Solid finish. Firm tannins. Poor QPR at $120 at the restaurant (even at $60 retail it's not as good as many $30 Napa/Sonoma Cabs).
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2/8/2008 - rjonas wrote: 90 Points
Aging well.. Definitely more fruit and broader nose than last year.. Should continue to cellar well and improve over the next several years.
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2/4/2008 - golfhawk wrote: 91 Points
Very smooth and approachable. Could last a couple more years.
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1/19/2008 - twelch wrote: 89 Points
Typical Silver Oak, familiar flavors but remarkably much better than the last bottle we opened.
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1/18/2008 - EMichels wrote: 85 Points
Red Carpet Wine Tasting: Round but thin; No noticable nose; Needs something
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1/12/2008 - Maestro wrote: 88 Points
Dark ruby wine, with a warm nose of crushed berries, vanilla and chocolate. Medium to full body with a supple texture and a medium-to-long finish. A little bit warm and showing its alcohol. Good, but not the best vintage of this wine. From now until 2011.
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12/25/2007 - timdrex wrote: 84 Points
I was disappointed with this wine. Very oaky and tannic. Not a good value for the money. I have 3 bottles left; I'll give them another year before I try another.
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12/22/2007 - jahlove wrote: 90 Points
My first Silver Oak. I was a tad underwhelmed. Decanted and drank over 4 hours. The nose was not as expressive as I thought it would be. Definitely lots of oak. Dominated by vegetal aromas. Some tobacco and bell pepper, then chocolate later. On the palate, no where near as heavy as I thought it would be, but still nice creamy mouthfeel. Still fairly vegetal with some dark cherry flavors dancing in there. Nice finish. Good wine but definitely not blowing me away.
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12/10/2007 - CRoame wrote: 90 Points
Alexander Valley Cabernet sauvignon. Less exciting than others.
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11/2/2007 - Drugstore Cowboy wrote: 95 Points
With little experience of higher priced wines, I'm inclined to rate it higher than most other reviewers. Chalk it up to being easily impressed by overpriced wine.
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10/22/2007 - Tejano wrote:
Dark purple color and a crisp nose of currents, dark berries with a tad of a blueberry highlight and some heat on the back end. Firm from beginning to end with a framework that almost overwhelmed the fruit...did not decant...and it was finished to quick...I think this needs a little time in the bottle as well as the decanter. Substance not revealed, but I did get a sense that it was there non the less...
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10/11/2007 - 17seconds wrote: 91 Points
Drank during a blind tasting. Rated it 3rd best of 8 wines behind a Kilicanoon Shiraz and BV Georges Latour. Well structured, a lot to like, but a little disappointing on the finish.
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10/3/2007 - xksrx wrote: 93 Points
On the nose there was lots of black fruit, black currant, plum, cherries, rich earthy soil, mushrooms, mold. Very dry, with soft, velvety tannins, med plus acidity with a long finish, first fruit and spices upfront then dust, earth, with a mineraly or tinny end. Very good quality, pre-phylloxera ungrafted vines.
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9/16/2007 - Giladog wrote: 91 Points
Good cab. Compared to the Montelena Estate 2002 it falls short. Solid performer, but defintely carries that big bold California Cab stigma.
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8/25/2007 - SeaBud wrote: 88 Points
Dark fruit, vanilla and over oaked. Little nuance and not much body. Poor qpr. On the positive side it is smooth and the fruit is clear and bright.
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8/24/2007 - HTSwindell wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes...an early open but still drank phenomenally...medium to heavy bodied with a ton of layers.
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7/14/2007 - EMichels wrote: 89 Points
Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant: Dark nose of fruit; Chocolate; Strong tannins; This needs a lot more time; Adds notes of herbs in the glass
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7/8/2007 - lorenzo wrote: 85 Points
I've had some older SO's that I've enjoyed, but the recent releases almost always disappoint. I have found SO to be consistently over-oaked, over-hyped and over-priced. But alot of folks are happily buying and consuming them. No right or wrong ... To each their own
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7/6/2007 - campbellb5 wrote: 85 Points
Nice nose at the start, ripe berries, strong tannins, mot much body and little finish.
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6/28/2007 - Goldstone wrote: 85 Points
Drank 2 bottles over dinner at a friend's house. Eminently forgettable. Opened and drank almost straight from the wine cellar but I don't think this was the problem. The second bottle took us through the cheese and it still left almost no mark on us. A shame because I've enjoyed this much more in the past.
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6/20/2007 - Magnolian wrote: 88 Points
Bought at Boccaccio in Baltimore with dinner for $130. Nice balance with restrained vanilla, oak and red fruit on the palate. Short finish and ultimately not enough fruit to be interesting. Why on earth is this so popular? There are MANY better wines available for less than half the price. The guys who rated this 95-96 points need to get out more often.
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6/19/2007 - chrisraub wrote: 89 Points
Good, but nothing remarkable.
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5/25/2007 - Rob MacKay wrote: 91 Points
The last time I had this wine was in January of 2006 and it seemed just 'ok' back then. Quite a different experience this time around. This bottle had a nice nose of dark fruits mixed with vanilla. Very smooth on the palate and brings in a silky finish at the end. Very nice.
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5/20/2007 - cck wrote: 87 Points
Ho hum. Enough said about this winery and the following they have. 13.6% alc was a pleasant surprise, however.
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4/28/2007 - godx wrote: 85 Points
Drank at Hula Grill in Maui. Nose of black currant, dark ripe cherries and blackberries. Flavours of dark fruit with some spice. Basic and one dimensional. Palate coating mouth feel. Few tannins. Heat on the short boozy finish.
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4/15/2007 - zeke26 wrote: 89 Points
Big cab with lots of fruit though not the longest finish. A solid California cab; enjoyed it.
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4/8/2007 - chicagobagley wrote: 92 Points
Unfortunately my wife likes Silver Oak and it is now going to cost me because she said "isn't this the one I liked before, you should buy more. Oh well, there goes early retirement.
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4/8/2007 - spacewrangler wrote: 87 Points
Pretty solid cabernet - wasnt over-oaked and didnt have any dill notes. Dry and austere on the finish, this cab sports some solid Cali typicity of currant and dark red fruit. Would buy more if sub-$30/35 - alas, this is a $50-60 wine.
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4/2/2007 - Maverick wrote: 86 Points
Not a fan. I guess it seems more of style thing since there is quite a bit to the wine and other here clearly enjoyed it but just not my style of cabernet.
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3/15/2007 - old tractor wrote: 89 Points
Typical Siver Oak style, though a bit weak in fruit driven flavors. Taste fades quickly.
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3/10/2007 - dannyk8232 wrote: 89 Points
Had at a Silver Oak/Twomey tasting at the Wineyard in Thousand Oaks.
Typical Silver Oak Alexander Valley - very good overall, with that nose and finish indicitive of Silver Oak. Only very, very tannic, to the point where it nips your taste buds. Finish not all that long. Somewhat disappointed, really. For the price I would be in a world of pain...many many wines at this price point that I would rather have.
40+5+4+16+17+7=89
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3/8/2007 - Brett wrote: 89 Points
Nice flavor, but the structure was a bit weak. It almost had a watered down structure.
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3/6/2007 - Double-A Likes this wine: 95 Points
Forward, spicy, buttery oak over black currant fruit with a slight mushroom note. Ripe and dry, creamy and glycerined palate with firm, spicy tannins and a long, toasty finish.
5/5
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2/10/2007 - nomadfromcincy wrote:
Dark ruby color. I didn't want to like this wine, but it had everything one should expect - good black fruit, nice structure, and medium length finish. There is a little too much oak for me, but it isn't overextracted or over-ripe. If this was available for ~$40, I would buy it for myself.
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1/3/2007 - jeffmaurone wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely fantastic. Tons of structure, very intricate and balanced with a small nose. Tastes like it's been aged much longer than the two weeks since purchase. It'll be interesting to see how this ages though it's so open that it'll be tough to hold out.
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12/31/2006 - bruceb wrote: 92 Points
Deep color. Delicious fragrance and luscious taste that exhibits balance, depth and finesse. Seems to be a step or two above the 2001 which was also an excellent Cab. Would definitely purchase again (particularly as an expense account or special occassion item).
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12/30/2006 - TOJW wrote: 89 Points
Excellent bottle; everything you'd expect, nothing more.
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12/25/2006 - snolette wrote: 94 Points
I tasted my first bottle of Silver Oak probably two years ago. So this is not the first having it but rather the first time reviewing it. Ever since that first taste I have fallen in love with this wine. Between its vibrant nose, hidden complexities, and amazingly well balanced palate this wine ranks itself among the best year after year. The nose alone on this wine can keep you tranfexed for hours. It is big with ripe fruits of plums, cherries, and blackberries all the while have a perfect lace of old world oak (subtle sents of chocolate and tobacco can be noticed in the background). Being a big bodied red Cabernet Sauvignon the palate fills the mouth but yet at the same time does not overwhelm. The oak through the nose is not over powered, like a lot of california wines often have, but instead causes the wine to have a great balanced fiance. The fruit comes and goes with hints of spices between the waves of flavor. The finish is long and smooth with a decent amount of tannins that are not tight but rather show that the wine could age in a cellar if wished. This wine is great either drank on its own or can handle up to some big dishes like prime rib, herb encrusted lamb, or a hearty beef stew. I have found this wine also can pair wonderfully with wild game like elk, buffalo, or bear. Remember the wine is both big with a smooth palate giving it some great versatility. With my budget this wine tends to be a celebration or special occasion wine but is well worth the price. Personally, this 2002 vintage is one of my favorites that I have experienced from Silver Oak.
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12/24/2006 - TonyH wrote: 90 Points
As expected. It had all the pieces there and was well made and tasted great. for one of our companions it was an epiphany. I thought it excellently made but had hoped for a bit of extraordinary and special.
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12/23/2006 - tmay wrote: 92 Points
Black berry and spice. Balanced.
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12/10/2006 - jsapping wrote: 92 Points
Outstanding. A few more years and this wine will be unbelievable.
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12/1/2006 - Pierre Lim wrote: 94 Points
Blackberries and cassis bouquet. Cherry, chewy, elegant, complex, dry, and a long finish . Spectacular flavors - I envisioned a great steak to be paired with this. Worth every penny that I paid for this wine. Decanted less than an hour at my party - glad to share with my friends as some had tasted this wine for the very first time - it was a great intro to Silver Oak.
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11/22/2006 - Cynthia wrote: 92 Points
Pop & pour. Wine is open & ready to drink. Aromas of nice soft oak & fruit fills the glass. On the palate, black fruit (blackberry, blueberry), ripe cassis, cedar, and hint of vanilla & spice on the finish. Very elegant and smooth, bordeaux like. Extremely satisfying. Quite enjoyable. Nice CA Cab at reasonable pricing.
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10/28/2006 - plitton wrote: 91 Points
Drank at Devon with pepper crusted ahi tuna and vegetable risotto. This is drinking beautifully even for a young cab. Start to finish it's velvety smooth with black fruit. Tannins are fine but it finishes a little short. Should continue to age beautifully.
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10/21/2006 - tthorn wrote: 92 Points
Delicious and already drinkable. A sweet berry nose with some spice. Moderate tannins for a young cab. Nice finish, again of blueberry/blackberry.
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10/19/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 92 Points
Wine Spectator Grand Tasting (Marriott Hotel, San Francisco, CA): Drinking well now. Aromas/flavors of blueberry, blackberry, cedar and spice. Sweet fruit and supple tannins with medium finish. Maybe their best effort in years.
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10/6/2006 - jpiscioneri wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby color. Aromas of berries with vanilla and hay. Jammy flavors of cherries, blackberries and cassis, medium body, slightly chewy tannins, toasty flavors on the finish: vanilla and mocha. Very, very enjoyable. Wants simple food, not heavy or pungent.
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9/24/2006 - annsalisbury wrote:
Quite good. Decanted for 30 minutes. Smooth and easy drinking. Lots of fruit, not much bite.
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9/1/2006 - Paul Lin wrote: 90 Points
Tasted at the winery. Dark cherry nose. On the palate, this wine exhibits notes of blackberry jam and milk chocolate. Rich and creamy texture. Medium-full body. Some tannin on the finish. My one complaint is that the wine did not seem to improve in the glass; over a period of 15 minutes or so, the wine started to shut down and I began to detect some stemmy favors. Quite honestly, the first sip was the best, which is what the score is based upon.
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5/23/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 91 Points
Dark ruby color. Big fruit nose with a hint of cedar. Ripe, rich and deep flavors in the mouth with a lush mouthfeel. Young tannins create expansive mouthfeel. Long, lingering finish.
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5/22/2006 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 89 Points
A friend from a local wine shop brought over a bottle on pre-release. So it was a touch young, but totally drinkable. Some fruit but more rich, slightly-chewy earthy flavors. Tasted a touch of cocoa in there. My wife said it tasted of trees and mulch.
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5/11/2006 - Wex wrote: 90 Points
great wine with a very smooth finish and great aromas.
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