Community Tasting Note

S-F wrote:

Monday, January 17, 2022 - Wanted to try this, as it's on paper the very opposite of what I tend to enjoy. And also, Silver Oak has this polarizing figurehead in the wine nerd community, where those in the know holds it up as an example of everything that's wrong with modern winemaking, the over-extraction and the use of American Oak etc, and at the same time on the other end, it's still one of the best-selling producers and a highly appreciated wine by its fans. I wanted to see for myself where I'd fall in this spectrum (never having had one).

On the nose, rather woodsy. But also dark fruits. A classic Napa-style nose (although this is Sonoma) that I've smelt many times before. Can't really tell by the smell that it's American Oak, it just smells like any oak. On to palate: It's certainly nowhere near as over-extracted and oaky as the critics say - yes, there is a prominent oak note, but it it's on level with the majority of Napa cabs. And speaking of oak - it does not scream out in a typically American Oak way either. Perhaps a bit of dill, but none of the coconut notes. Honestly, to me, this could have been French, Hungarian, Austrian oak (not Schwarzenegger in speedos, you sicko!). Maybe the slight sweetness that AO tends to impart, would have been the only real giveaway. Further on palate; dark warm deep colored fruits that have been sitting out a bit on a hot summer day and kind of shrunk a bit. Pretty firm tannin structure. And at 14.2% ABV, not at all as large as many other cabs. It doesn't show a Gauss-curve, or inverse, in its mouthfeel - pretty linear and rather well balanced. In the end I get a slight metallic or bitter note that stops it from getting a point or so more. This might go away with age or more decanting (I didn't really decant very long). I have to say, I'm slightly surprised - in no way is this supposed to be held up as a horror example of what not to do.

Is it worth $80 to me personally? No, it's not. I'm probably not its intended market anyway, but I would say it's in the general price range of what a Sonoma/Napa cab is these days, so can't really argue with that. I'd have it again with the right meal and crowd.

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