1986 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

Community Tasting Notes (39) Avg Score: 90.7 points

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  11/23/2023 - Sagan99 Likes this wine: 90 Points

  TBD - looks to be a good one!!
  
  Been cellared in place since arrival... (Right there with a few Clos du Val and other old Napa bottles soon to come knocking)
  
  Said by my CT brethren, the color remains and it's just turning to...
  
  Rich
  Elegant
  Dense
  Earth
  Mushrooms
  Cola
  
  Significant characteristics change after 60-120 minutes of air... Mushrooms, earthiness changing to more....
  
  Structure remains for several hours upon opening.
  
  Alcohol
  Acid
  Tannin
  Viscosity
  Finish
  
  CS 100%
  13.2% abv
  
  How long to keep this is always the question... But having held many bottles of not only Naps Cabs too long, there's no time like the present on this wine.
  It's likely not going to improve, but it may be following a very leisurely descent from it's peak to the benefit of us all.
  
  Score
  92 at PnP.
  88 after 20 hours.
  
  It might have some short term ageability IN THE BOTTLE, shown by color and structure and remaining acid, but that tell-tale cola character says it's not long in the cellar either.
  
  As mentioned above, drink up.
  
  
  PS- Drink The Rainbow!!!

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  3/20/2023 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Bottle in great condition, with a fill into the neck and a wonderful cork; unbelievable. I used a Durand but probably needn't have. Poured right after popping, then sat in the glass for over an hour. Remarkably youthful appearance. Still a strong dark ruby with a bit of lightening at the rim, but not orange or brown. Very gentle fruit in the nose; gentle, but also complex and very present for sure. Its all about fruit, nothing else. The only sign of age is in the mouth, where the wine is just a bit hollow in the middle. Over time in the glass, that began to disappear bit by bit, though some hollowness was still there two hours after opening. I plan to put this back in the cellar overnight and see what that does. But beautiful even now. Scoring tonight: 5-14-16-9: 94/100.
  
  New note 20 hours later: Still showing brilliantly. The nose is, if anything, even more impressive with a wealth of aged red fruit. Biggest change is in the mouth, where it now has some herbal elements added for complexity, including hints of dill. A smooth, polished gentlewoman of a wine. A thrill at age 37. I think last night's score was just about right. (BTW, I bought this only weeks ago for $80 from a wine shop in Southern California.)

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  3/20/2022 - 559Cheers Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Beautiful, meaty cabernet nose. Smells exactly like an aged Left Bank Bordeaux. Drinking well, aged bottle, allspice, clove, cherry, graphite pencil, charcuterie, nice acidity and gaining weight with viscosity. Also drinks exactly like a Left Bank Bordeaux. Very decent bottle.
  *4th night beautiful showing fruit has come out more prodigiously. Nice bottle. Still showing strong. Can age more if warranted or wanted. Will get better, life still very much there. Not tired. Still very much fresh, hasn’t gone toward the alkaline side just yet.

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  8/14/2021 - dfcrutcher Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Surprisingly good and even fresh. Black cherry notes, very soft tannins. Still going strong.

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  3/21/2021 - anthozep Likes this wine: 92 Points

  From a 750 that basically had the same fill as a 2016. Cork in great shape. Deep garnet and ruby with dark fruits on the nose, clove, tea, and graphite. Quite light and smooth on the palate, the tannin has totally integrated, but a decent amount of acidity has remained. Very enjoyable side by side with a 2016, and the character seems fairly consistent over 30 years

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