Announcing the Release of 2004 Silver Oak AV
Silver Oak (#32 of California's Top 50 Cabernet Producers) will release the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley on August 1st, 2008. Although neighboring Napa and Sonoma properties have shot past S-O in terms of price over the last 2 decades, given the consistent quality and collectable status inherent to this wonderfully American product, Silver Oak remains a relative bargain. 6-Bottle Case - $400.00.
Once again, Silver Oak devotees will gather at the gates of the Alexander Valley facility early on the morning of Saturday, August 2nd in order to stand in line and purchase their 6-bottle allocation of the wonderful 2004 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon. You won't hear me saying that this event isn't a lot of fun...it is. There's a well-established camaraderie among the attendees which involves shared coffee, stories and not a small amount of goofing off (they're there to buy wine, not T-Bills). You, on the other hand, can stay in bed and catch a few more Zs' (or fire up the lawn mower) that morning knowing that YOUR addition to your Silver Oak collection has been pre-purchased and ready for pick-up (or shipping when the weather cools) at Root's Cellar.
The 2004 Vintage ("91" Parker, "85-95" WS) was superb, with a small crop and warm growing conditions producing fruit with intense flavor and concentration. Unfortunately, as a result of lighter yields, availability of S-O's 2004 AV is far more limited than in the past.
Due to higher fuel costs and limited yields, Silver Oak is instituting a modest price increase (their first in seven years) with the 2004 vintage; the retail on the Alexander Valley has a suggested price of $70/Bottle, however we are discounting the wine on a 6-bottle case to $66. and change (still a serious bargain).
The vintage showed up early and went out with a bang...
The 2004 growing season started with popcorn (bud-break) showing earlier than at any other time in S-O's history. Once the shoots started growing, bloom, veraison, (when the grapes turn from green to pink to red) and ripening all occurred nearly three weeks ahead of their normal schedule. This early start coincided with an equally early harvest with over-all tonnage down significantly. Very little morning fog found its way into the valley during late July and early August allowing the fruit to rapidly reach maturity hence picking to begin in mid September. In most years, harvest at S-O takes between 6-8 weeks however in 2004 all the fruit was safely in the tanks in less than 3. Just for laughs a heat wave combined with a large forest fire adjacent to the Miraval Ranch vineyard put an exclamation point on the year and made for an exciting, nerve-wracking, and (very) memorable crush.
The 2004 AV (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is a blend from several outstanding properties in the verdant Alexander Valley. The various lots were folded together in early 2005 and transferred to superb-quality American oak barrels of which 50% were new. The final blend was left in oak for two years prior to bottling. As per S-O's tradition of releasing wine that is both approachable on release as well as extremely age-worthy, the wine was held "in bottle" for an additional 15 months before its (upcoming) August 2nd premiere.
Kind of like Lafitte in a paper cup... (Kind of)
I used to be able to afford and enjoy Silver Oak Cabernets nearly every Thursday evening as a member of the Geyserville Kiwanis Club (I even spent a year as president but the guys from Willits kept stealin' my bell). S-O'S vineyard manager (and helluva nice guy) Dane Petersen was also a member and he'd often grab the near-empty bottles from the tasting room after it closed for the day and share them with us during our weekly meetings. Nothing like cold ham sandy's, homemade potato salad and a splash of Silver Oak Cabernet.
"92"/RC...Dan Baron's (S-O's longtime winemaker) 2004 is a refined and complex wine that combines subtlety and depth. It has a dark purple-ruby color with a deep red-blue edge and displays aromas of fresh blackberries, violets, cola, nutmeg and licorice. When taking your first sip you'll be impressed by this beauty's juicy, berry-infused and lightly spiced introduction. The tannins are there but you have to look for them, the finish is long, sexy and textured with a wonderful aftertaste of ripe and warm Cabernet fruit just plucked off the vine, cassis, Concord grape juice, baking spices, sweet vanillin oak and a hint of coconut (a common component when using American barrels). Silver Oak Cabs generally start off very user-friendly, gain complexity over a 4-6 year period and reach their peak (drink em'!) in 10-12.
What does Parker say about the AV?
"Silver Oak's AV Cabernets are supple, explosively fruity and deliver copious quantities of glycerin, extract and richness wrapped in generous amounts of American Oak. Critics have argued that the wine does not age particularly well, but that has largely been proven a myth. I doubt it will last as long as Montelena, Dunn or other Napa producers with a 30-40 year aging potential, but this wine has a broad window of drink-ability, being delicious at release and able to sustain its fruit and character for 15 or more years".
Of the 2004 in particular, he says "The (excellent) 2004 Alexander Valley cuvee is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in new oak; the well-made wine is herbaceous, with sweet red and black currant fruit, spice box and tell-tale oakiness, this is a wine to drink over the first decade of its life".
Again, the 2004 truly is a restricted commodity however because of our long-standing relationship with S-O I believe we will be able to accommodate all of your needs.
*6 Bottle Case of 2004 Silver Oak Cabernet - $400
*12 Bottle Case - $785.00
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