Silver Oak 2013 Cabernet Sauvginon, Napa Valley

Silver Oak is the standard bearer for Napa Valley Cab and has been for decades. For this, their Napa Valley bottling they source grapes from throughout the Valley. The 2013 vintage was perhaps the best in Napa Valley history. A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Silver Oak takes two unique steps in their wine making process that make this wine different and exceptional every vintage. First, they blend the different vineyard lots before the wine goes into barrels for aging. This lets the fruit expression stand out with the natural elements coming into balance before the influence of oak. Then the wine is transferred to 100% new American oak barrels for 24 months of aging. The second unique step they take is after bottling they age the wine in bottle for a full 21 months allowing the flavors to fully integrate and the tannins to soften so upon release it's already nicely developed and you can clearly see the path it will take to maturity. This 2013 shows dark ruby in color and entices you with a nose of raspberry, cassis and loose pipe tobacco. This full-bodied wine has an assertively silky structure and is notably spicy on the palate. Flavors of sage and blackberry mark the wine’s entry. The strong acidity in the mid-palate is followed by a lingering finish. Given proper cellaring, this wine will provide drinking pleasure through 2038.