Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Silver Oak Cellars was founded in 1972 by Raymond Duncan after visiting the Napa Valley in the late 1960s. The rugged beauty of the place and the fledgling wine industry led him to buy acres and acres of orchards, pastures and vineyards throughout the Napa and Alexander Valleys. He became partners with winemaker Justin Meyer and Silver Oak was born. Like a fine European house, Silver Oak further ages their wines in bottle at the winery after aging them in oak, in order to make the wines more ideal for drinking upon release. As far as food pairing, think great American steakhouse fare; or for a decadent treat, grill up hand packed Kobe beef burgers and top them with melted Truffle cheese from Italy.

Typically made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Silver Oak Alexander Valley is was first produced in 1972, and was the winery's first Cabernet Sauvignon, even before they made a Napa version. Seven years later, they harvested the grapes for their first Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon which is now produced as a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals.

Silver Oak Alexander Cabernet has aromas of blackberries, violets, cedar, nutmeg and licorice. In the mouth, the wine has a big attack and offers full-bodied expression of fruit and spices on the mid-palate. Its tannin-packed finish is long yet elegant; after tasting this vintage, we determined that this is certainly a wine for the long haul.