If you make the trek to the Silver Oak tasting room in Napa Valley, you will have the ability to try a flight of least 3 Cabs, the current releases of the Napa Valley and the Alexander Valley and then an older vintage Cab.  For any Cab lover, it is a real treat.

This Saturday, you won’t have to go to Napa!  At TasteVin, we are having a side-by-side flight of the current releases of the Napa Valley and Alexander Valley Cabs.

Below are the winemaker notes for each wine.  The current release of the Alexander Valley is a 2013 vintage whereas the current release of the Napa Valley is 2012.  This is typical since the bigger Napa Valley Cab needs another year before release.

As you can see in the notes below, these wines can age for over 20 years.  I recently opened up a 1997 Alexander Valley Cab and it was absolutely incredible.  It was soft and texturally supple and silky, with savory aromas and flavors (black truffle, soy sauce) that are the result of aging, aka tertiary flavors.  If you do get a bottle, it’s worth cellaring, if you can wait that long!

2013 Silver Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, CA – (95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec)  Our 2013 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is garnet in color with a ruby red rim. It has an alluring nose of blackberry bramble, baking spices and black olive. Aromas of vanilla, cassis and sage fill the glass, revealing the influence of American oak barrel aging. On the palate, notes of raspberry are complemented with lingering acidity and a finish of dusty, silky tannins. Given proper cellaring, this wine will provide drinking pleasure through 2036.  13.9% Alcohol.  Release date: 8/5/2017

2012 Silver Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA – (80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot) Our 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon artfully combines the classic elegance of the old world and the ripe fruit of California. It displays an opaque garnet color with a bouquet driven by fruity aromas of blackberry liqueur. It also offers the savory components of sage and molasses. These complex aromatics are complemented by sandalwood and nutmeg characteristics indicative of American oak aging. This is a well-structured wine with a compact and rich mid-palate buttressed by silky tannins and generous acidity. Given proper cellaring, this wine will provide drinking pleasure through 2037.  14.4% Alcohol.  Release date: 2/4/2017.

To learn more about Saturdays at TasteVin and upcoming and past tastings, please click here.