Cork was healthy and this poured red but more translucent than I was expecting. The nose and pallet were pretty closed and I was nervous it was done. As it opened I found myself enjoying it very much but not in any way reminded of Silver Oak. Not that I am any sort of Silver Oak expert. This just felt different.
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At twenty six years, this was showing its age in the rust brickish color showing on the edges. Muted upon opening, the expressive signature layers of 'silver' oak emerged and amplified over the course of the evening. The slightly astringent acidic black berry fruit was punctuated by a layer of leather, earthy tobacco leaf and black tea before giving way to the layer of oak that permeated the finish. This was a special bottle that showed its heritage and terroir well.
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Have cellared these since mid 90's purchase. Cork was perfect. Good colour, pale at the rim Wine has plenty of yummy blackcurrant / cassis flavour. Tannin firm but in balance - plenty of clean fruit and really a nice bottle of wine.
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Finally broke down and opened the last of these bottles of 1989 Silver Oak, Alexander Valley, that I have held since they were released. I was certain it would be maderized, but that was not the case. Fruit is mostly gone, just a very light nose and initial casis flavors, somewhat tannic midrange, and moderately long, non descript finish. Not unpleasant, somewhat interesting, and worth the effort to open the difficult cork which required some effort to remove. Only about 10 years past its prime.
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Plenty of fruit left in this but not much backbone. Was pleasantly surprised that this was still in OK shape. Medium purple color showed no signs of age. Took about an hour after decanting for the nose to reveal perfume and floral notes. Reminiscent of cherry and raspberry on the palate with a touch of oak but the tannins are gone, making this a bit thin.
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I'm guessing I waited a couple years too long to enjoy this wine. Cork was excellent and decanted for 45 minutes but color, nose and taste were all beyond their prime. Not horrible and not the wine's fault but still disappointing. Darn!
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- Brick color with a light/medium body with a short finish - Drank over Thanksgiving. Lost all tannin. Slight raisin flavor. Short finish. Improved over two to three hours. Should have consumed five rears ago.
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Very nice wine that is still drinking well. looking at color does not reveal significant bricking and illustrates a garnet red. The nose reveals cherry, pepper and other spice fragrances. The taste offers licorice, cherry, and chocolate and very little tannin. Drink now score 91.
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Not sure sometimes how to rate these older California cabernets; may explain why the other ratings are all over the map. This bottle is about 4-6 years past its prime, but has a lovely older cabernet nose. Color has considerable browning on the edge, but still maintains dark red color in the middle. Flavors are beginning to fade, but has a older casis initial flavor, slight sweeness in the mid-range, and a very good finish with a light cedar finish. Very enjoyable older wine to be served wtih a grilled porterhouse steak. Much older than the 1984 and 1985 Montelena's I still have. The 1985 Montelena estate appears to be only 6 or 8 years old. May also open a 2002 Silver Oak Napa to better compliment the meal.
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What a perfect wine to celebrate my 60th. It was exceptional. Decanted for 30 min. Cherry/berry start with balanced acids. Very smooth! Cork was in good condition. Two bottles left and looking forward to revisiting then in a couple more years.
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Cork broke apart while trying to open this bottle so I was somewhat concerned about the quality of the wine, particularly given its age. Noticeable bricking on the edge, lovely casis and cherries on the nose and initial flavors, moderate length. A lovely older Silver Oak Alexander Valley that is still relatively intact, has lost much of its younger exuberance but is still lovely in its age, and still worth enjoying. Still have a couple of bottles, so it will be interesting to try again in a year or so. Hope they are as good.
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Gerry and Brenda Schwartz dinner party in Santa Monica. Well, it's time to drink this wine pronto if you're still cellaring it. Rather dried out, very oaky, fruit is disappearing. You can tell it DID have something to it a few years ago, but I've waited too long.
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Tasting. Moderate and mature black fruit aromas. Moderate fruit as well on palate with slightly more dominant structural elements. Not nearly as good as the 1986 vintage also just tasted.
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15 BOTTLES OF SILVER OAK 1986 TO 1992 (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Silver Oak Tasting of 15 wines. Very rich, intense, herbal nose with lots of dust and a touch of heat, on the palate, very rich, intense fruit, super concentration, lovely, rich finish, needs lots of cellar time as its long lived wine. My #10 of 15.
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Hi-Time Cellars Tasting 10 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignons, tight berry fruit on the nose, lovely taste, very rich, ripe fruit, rich, briary fruit, stems on the finish.
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1/6/2018 - RK1 Likes this wine:
Coravin: cherry, pepper. On its way out but still drinkable!
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1/5/2018 - docjer Likes this wine: 87 Points
beautiful color, legs, nose, some sediment. The bottle had beautiful etching of grapes set around the label.
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12/4/2016 - mapleleafzzz Likes this wine: 88 Points
Cork was healthy and this poured red but more translucent than I was expecting. The nose and pallet were pretty closed and I was nervous it was done. As it opened I found myself enjoying it very much but not in any way reminded of Silver Oak. Not that I am any sort of Silver Oak expert. This just felt different.
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8/1/2015 - rmcnees wrote: 88 Points
At twenty six years, this was showing its age in the rust brickish color showing on the edges. Muted upon opening, the expressive signature layers of 'silver' oak emerged and amplified over the course of the evening. The slightly astringent acidic black berry fruit was punctuated by a layer of leather, earthy tobacco leaf and black tea before giving way to the layer of oak that permeated the finish. This was a special bottle that showed its heritage and terroir well.
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9/23/2014 - neildb Likes this wine: 91 Points
Have cellared these since mid 90's purchase. Cork was perfect. Good colour, pale at the rim Wine has plenty of yummy blackcurrant / cassis flavour. Tannin firm but in balance - plenty of clean fruit and really a nice bottle of wine.
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7/7/2014 - Sunny67 wrote: flawed
- Crimsom color - Bad cork, bottle was like vinegar
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7/6/2014 - Ken332 wrote:
Finally broke down and opened the last of these bottles of 1989 Silver Oak, Alexander Valley, that I have held since they were released. I was certain it would be maderized, but that was not the case. Fruit is mostly gone, just a very light nose and initial casis flavors, somewhat tannic midrange, and moderately long, non descript finish. Not unpleasant, somewhat interesting, and worth the effort to open the difficult cork which required some effort to remove. Only about 10 years past its prime.
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5/10/2014 - docscottgs Does not like this wine: 85 Points
structure falling apart. still a hint of what it was in it's prime, but I'm enjoying what it had been rather than what it was.
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2/11/2014 - wconnolly Likes this wine: 86 Points
Plenty of fruit left in this but not much backbone. Was pleasantly surprised that this was still in OK shape. Medium purple color showed no signs of age. Took about an hour after decanting for the nose to reveal perfume and floral notes. Reminiscent of cherry and raspberry on the palate with a touch of oak but the tannins are gone, making this a bit thin.
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12/22/2013 - Rotten Cork wrote: 72 Points
I'm guessing I waited a couple years too long to enjoy this wine. Cork was excellent and decanted for 45 minutes but color, nose and taste were all beyond their prime. Not horrible and not the wine's fault but still disappointing. Darn!
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12/22/2012 - Bkossler wrote:
- Brick color with a light/medium body with a short finish - Drank over Thanksgiving. Lost all tannin. Slight raisin flavor. Short finish. Improved over two to three hours. Should have consumed five rears ago.
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5/28/2012 - wineman73 wrote: 91 Points
Very nice wine that is still drinking well. looking at color does not reveal significant bricking and illustrates a garnet red. The nose reveals cherry, pepper and other spice fragrances. The taste offers licorice, cherry, and chocolate and very little tannin. Drink now score 91.
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4/6/2012 - Ken332 wrote: 91 Points
Not sure sometimes how to rate these older California cabernets; may explain why the other ratings are all over the map. This bottle is about 4-6 years past its prime, but has a lovely older cabernet nose. Color has considerable browning on the edge, but still maintains dark red color in the middle. Flavors are beginning to fade, but has a older casis initial flavor, slight sweeness in the mid-range, and a very good finish with a light cedar finish. Very enjoyable older wine to be served wtih a grilled porterhouse steak. Much older than the 1984 and 1985 Montelena's I still have. The 1985 Montelena estate appears to be only 6 or 8 years old. May also open a 2002 Silver Oak Napa to better compliment the meal.
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12/30/2011 - Scotty51 wrote: 98 Points
Excellent! Still nice fruit and balanced acidity. Cork was in good condition. Looking forward to a couple more bottles.
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12/22/2011 - Scotty51 wrote: 97 Points
What a perfect wine to celebrate my 60th. It was exceptional. Decanted for 30 min. Cherry/berry start with balanced acids. Very smooth! Cork was in good condition. Two bottles left and looking forward to revisiting then in a couple more years.
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11/27/2011 - Ken332 wrote: 90 Points
Cork broke apart while trying to open this bottle so I was somewhat concerned about the quality of the wine, particularly given its age. Noticeable bricking on the edge, lovely casis and cherries on the nose and initial flavors, moderate length. A lovely older Silver Oak Alexander Valley that is still relatively intact, has lost much of its younger exuberance but is still lovely in its age, and still worth enjoying. Still have a couple of bottles, so it will be interesting to try again in a year or so. Hope they are as good.
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1/19/2009 - WHODGES2 wrote: 84 Points
Past its prime, but still very pleasant after about 30 minutes.
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1/17/2009 - mtdv wrote: 90 Points
Classic Silver Oak, with velvety leather, stone fruit and a hint of cocoa.
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11/21/2007 - DJenkins wrote: 94 Points
Still pretty oaky, but beautiful fruit balances this nicely. Very long finish. Excellent
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2/26/2005 - G SQUARED wrote: 87 Points
Gerry and Brenda Schwartz dinner party in Santa Monica. Well, it's time to drink this wine pronto if you're still cellaring it. Rather dried out, very oaky, fruit is disappearing. You can tell it DID have something to it a few years ago, but I've waited too long.
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3/22/2003 - Burgundy Al wrote: 86 Points
Tasting. Moderate and mature black fruit aromas. Moderate fruit as well on palate with slightly more dominant structural elements. Not nearly as good as the 1986 vintage also just tasted.
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9/22/2002 - buckeye76 wrote: 90 Points
LICORICE, GREEN PEPPER, AND BLACK CHERRIES IN THE NOSE. FLAVOR LIKE THE NOSE WITH BLACK CHERRIES. MEDIUM LENGTH FINISH.
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10/26/2000 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
15 BOTTLES OF SILVER OAK 1986 TO 1992 (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Silver Oak Tasting of 15 wines. Very rich, intense, herbal nose with lots of dust and a touch of heat, on the palate, very rich, intense fruit, super concentration, lovely, rich finish, needs lots of cellar time as its long lived wine. My #10 of 15.
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8/18/1993 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Hi-Time Cellars Tasting 10 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignons, tight berry fruit on the nose, lovely taste, very rich, ripe fruit, rich, briary fruit, stems on the finish.
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