I attended a vertical tasting of Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet
Sauvignon. This was a sit down tasting at a retailer, and the wines had
been poured about 30 minutes before the tasting started, so the wines
had some time to open up.

1995 Silver Oak, Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark, garnet, brackish around the edges. Open nose with cherry, plums
and earthy aromas. Fruit flavors of red cherry, plums, and raspberries,
with hints of chocolate and spices on the palate, high acid, moderate
tannins, and a long fruity finish. Drinking beautifully and should
continue to hold. My favorite of this vertical. Rated 95.

1996 Silver Oak, Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark, garnet. Nose had cherry and currents with hints of licorice. Big
black cherry fruit flavors on the palate with hints of chocolate, high
acid, hard tannins, and a long fruity finish. A big wine that still
needs some time to soften out the tannins. Rated 93.

1997 Silver Oak, Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark, garnet. Tight nose with cherry and chassis. On the palate it had
big black cherry flavors with spices and chocolate, high acid, high
tannins, and a long fruity finish. This is a big wine that needs more
time. Rated 94.

1998 Silver Oak, Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark, garnet. Tight nose with herbal and cherry aromas. Black cherry
fruit flavors with hints of licorice, high acid, moderate tannins, and
a long fruity finish. This is a very good wine. Rated 89.

2000 Silver Oak, Alexander Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon
Medium, garnet. Open nose with earthy and current aromas. Palate had
earthy, spicy dill flavors with hints of plums and chocolate, moderate
acid, moderate tannins, and a long fruity finish. This is a very good
wine, but the fruit flavors are quite different from other vintages.
Rated 90.

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Mike's Wine Blog
http://mikeswinecellar.blogspot.com