Turned the big 4-0 and opened a few bottles from 1980 during the week. We enjoyed all of them, but this Silver Oak was incredible! Cork was in great shape, and the wine poured a dark crimson without any real bricking at the edges. Tight at pnp but opened up perfectly over the next hour. Beautifully layered with sweet purple fruit, plums, smoke, cassis, a touch of leather, and just a hint of bell pepper which added intrigue. Due to the acidity and excellent storage (thank you whoever owned this originally) this wine was incredibly fresh, and shockingly showing only traces of secondary characteristics. An absolutley outstanding cabernet and the highlight of my 1980 Bday wines, besting an 80 Mouton Rothschild and a Dom Perignon (that had clearly not been stored very well). This wine has many, many more years of prime time drinking left, and I feel very fortunate to have 2 more bottles.....which I plan to drink for my 45th and 50th birthdays :)
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memorial day pool party. from magnum. brick brownish clear color. explosive nose. very mature and integrated, lots of black fruits cedar molasses with medium plus finish. fully mature california cab at its best. glad this held up well for 35 years
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This bottle had a bottom neck fill and the cork was easily removed with an ah so, showing saturation about one third of the way up the cork. Right upon opening, I picked up aromas of spice box, cigar, cedar, old leather, and black fruits. The body was also intriguing, offering up black currants, tobacco leaf, hints of plum, and faint earth and mushroom-like components. The acidity remains prominent and brings the wine together as a whole, making me want to take another sip before the taste has faded. A truly exceptional bottle of wine.
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Cinnamon, Cedar, and Leather on the nose. Initial taste of crushed cherry pits and black pepper. Faint oaky wooden finish with a hint of vanilla. Held out well for hours.
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Stupendous wine. Deep red and surprisingly young looking for a 30+year old bottle. The nose was leathery and cedary along with expected oak/vanilla elements. The tannis were smooth with a great rich mouthfeel. The flavors were dominated by black fruit like dark ripe plum and blackberry with a little tea and coffe on the finish. There was also some chocolate throughout. I've had it for about 27 years and it has aged magnificently. Unfortunately my last bottle. I have found that the Alexander valley bottleing consistently ages better than the Napa.
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Purchased for $30 at The Wine House in February 1988. Drunk with K, Miranda, Dick and Florence at dinner (stew). Very lovely dark, dark ruby color. Gorgeous depth. Really special nose. Very highly extracted. Rich tobacco, very slightly raisiny bouquet. On the palate, it has a lovely rich, yet elegant, flavor. Fine. Excellent wine. Right at the pinnacle of drinkability. Really top notch. Different style. 5-12-17-8: 92/100.
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12/19/2020 - RichEB1 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Turned the big 4-0 and opened a few bottles from 1980 during the week. We enjoyed all of them, but this Silver Oak was incredible! Cork was in great shape, and the wine poured a dark crimson without any real bricking at the edges. Tight at pnp but opened up perfectly over the next hour. Beautifully layered with sweet purple fruit, plums, smoke, cassis, a touch of leather, and just a hint of bell pepper which added intrigue. Due to the acidity and excellent storage (thank you whoever owned this originally) this wine was incredibly fresh, and shockingly showing only traces of secondary characteristics. An absolutley outstanding cabernet and the highlight of my 1980 Bday wines, besting an 80 Mouton Rothschild and a Dom Perignon (that had clearly not been stored very well). This wine has many, many more years of prime time drinking left, and I feel very fortunate to have 2 more bottles.....which I plan to drink for my 45th and 50th birthdays :)
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12/10/2017 - Old Vino Likes this wine: 94 Points
from dbl-mag @ work xmas party
very enjoyable
always a crowd pleaser
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11/27/2015 - Old Vino wrote:
Possibly heat damage. Fatigued maderized. Not rated.
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5/25/2015 - Old Vino Likes this wine: 94 Points
memorial day pool party. from magnum. brick brownish clear color. explosive nose. very mature and integrated, lots of black fruits cedar molasses with medium plus finish. fully mature california cab at its best. glad this held up well for 35 years
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12/31/2013 - prof b Likes this wine: 96 Points
This bottle had a bottom neck fill and the cork was easily removed with an ah so, showing saturation about one third of the way up the cork. Right upon opening, I picked up aromas of spice box, cigar, cedar, old leather, and black fruits. The body was also intriguing, offering up black currants, tobacco leaf, hints of plum, and faint earth and mushroom-like components. The acidity remains prominent and brings the wine together as a whole, making me want to take another sip before the taste has faded. A truly exceptional bottle of wine.
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12/25/2013 - xtype wrote: 93 Points
Cinnamon, Cedar, and Leather on the nose. Initial taste of crushed cherry pits and black pepper. Faint oaky wooden finish with a hint of vanilla. Held out well for hours.
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2/18/2012 - oldwines wrote: 96 Points
Stupendous wine. Deep red and surprisingly young looking for a 30+year old bottle. The nose was leathery and cedary along with expected oak/vanilla elements. The tannis were smooth with a great rich mouthfeel. The flavors were dominated by black fruit like dark ripe plum and blackberry with a little tea and coffe on the finish. There was also some chocolate throughout. I've had it for about 27 years and it has aged magnificently. Unfortunately my last bottle. I have found that the Alexander valley bottleing consistently ages better than the Napa.
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7/28/2007 - mtdv wrote: 95 Points
Excellent, elegant and balanced, with full round tannins, yet velvety on the finished. A great pairing with Tuna steaks.
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12/21/1990 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 92 Points
Purchased for $30 at The Wine House in February 1988. Drunk with K, Miranda, Dick and Florence at dinner (stew). Very lovely dark, dark ruby color. Gorgeous depth. Really special nose. Very highly extracted. Rich tobacco, very slightly raisiny bouquet. On the palate, it has a lovely rich, yet elegant, flavor. Fine. Excellent wine. Right at the pinnacle of drinkability. Really top notch. Different style. 5-12-17-8: 92/100.
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