I Love California

Silver Oak

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Somm David T
8.9

It has been 15 years or so since I’ve had a Silver Oak. Thought I check in. Nothing has changed, every vintage basically tastes the same. It almost like they add flavoring. 🤷‍♂️ One red you could not fool me blind. Short Rib was excellent.

At Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

The ticket to this event has a pretty big price tag. But when you consider what a Napa etc. tasting or two and lunch would cost you, you are pretty much there and there is so much more than that. It ends up having great value. It’s wine, spirits and food candy land.
— 14 days ago

Jay, Tom and 6 others liked this

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Ron R
8.9

I can’t remember the last time I tasted this brand, and while it’s very approachable, it’s a total construction site. Vanilla and over-sweet brown sugar with resolved tannins. Not my cup-of-tea, but will be enjoyed by others. — 22 days ago

Andrew MooreRick K
with Andrew and Rick
Tom, Jay and 22 others liked this
Jay Kline

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🇺🇸 🪵 💣
Ron R

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@Jay Kline, I have older vintages of Napa and Alexander Valley, and they are nothing like what I tasted here. Just so you know, the 94 Silver Oak Napa cab was the wine that actually helped to create my current, measly credit score… Silver Oak has certainly sh!t the bed (in my opinion) since the late 90’s.
Jay Kline

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@Ron R I agree. I’ve had some vintages from the early 80’s that were really good but man…the oak has been overbearing for probably 20 years

Joseph Phelps Vineyards

Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2002

Somm David T
9.5

The last of the 2002 in mags brought from the property. Delicious. I would have thought these would have been saved for their member parties. So, a nice surprise.

From The Cellar event at Pebble Beach Food & Wine.
— 20 days ago

Jay, Neil and 17 others liked this
Ron R

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Looks like fun! Hope you had a great time.
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

@Ron R it’s a good event even worth the effort to travel from the other coast. Cheers! 🍷

Ridge Vineyards

Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend 2006

Cork giving out but why not after 19 years! Wine is escaping to fresh beauty with a little wet dog age that I like.
Holding her space in 2025
80% Zin, 16% Petite Syrah, 4% Carignane
14.7% is reigning it in on this varietal and well done! Doesn’t feel fire breathing at all 👏
— 10 days ago

See TaleggioErika Turner
with See and Erika
Joe and Laura liked this

Joel Gott Wines

815 California Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Deep ruby in color; cherries, blackberries, and cassis on the nose; medium acidity; medium plus tannins; tastes like plums, black currants, vanilla, and graphite with a long finish. — 16 days ago

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Notes of leather and dark fruits on the nose, very smooth on the palette. A lovely cab I can drink all day long. — 12 days ago

DAD liked this

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019

From MAG

2 hour decant. A striking purplish dark garnet color. On the nose: beautiful notes of dark fruit, pencil shavings, herbaceous, vanilla, cloves. Taste: creamy, polished, structured wine with blackberry, dark chocolate, minerals, bell pepper, leather, and a decent herbal/potting soil finish. Drinks surprisingly well with the decant at this age, and of course a few more years it will improve. YUM!
— 5 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Tom and 16 others liked this
Paul T HB

Paul T HB

Only about 10-15 years too soon

Faust

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Fourth best wine in 2024 according to WS exquisitely paired with Sharp Cheddar over dark chocolate. Cheers to that. — 9 days ago

Tom, Andrew and 5 others liked this

Kosta Browne

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2021

2021 vintage. Pleasant throughout and hit plenty of notes without screeching. The KB style has changed in the last few years. Gone are the mega-extracted pinots altho those are still around and holding up in the cellars/secondary market. Those older wines were a 10 on the volume scale. The last few vintages are closer to a 5. That said, this should hold up and develop nicely for a decade+ without issues. Those that don't think you can drink CA pinot noir over 4-5 years old are in for quite the surprise with quality producers. 04.18.25. — 14 days ago

Ted, David and 12 others liked this