2003 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (3L - OWC)

2003 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (3L)

Long a symbol of California excellence, Silver Oak makes quintessential Cabernet year in and year out, even in challenging years. The 2003 harvest was plagued by heat spikes that threw harvesters into a tizzy, pulling in about half the fruit in early September. Then a cooling trend complete with foggy mornings settled in, allowing the remaining fruit to hang on the vine a bit longer. Harvest was finally completed at the end of October. This vintage blends small amounts of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot for a more complete, complex wine. Lots were fermented separately and then blended in early 2004 and transferred to 100% new American oak barrels for 25 months. The wine is then aged in bottle for another 20 months before release! All that extra time and care pays off: the 2003 is a concentrated wine that carefully walks the line between intensity and finesse. A nose of blackberry jam, dark chocolate and rose petals evoke Valentine's Day and are supported by hints of cedar and spicy black pepper. Super-sexy on the attack, the wine exhibits hints of brown sugar and nutmeg to complement mid-palate dark fruit and ripe tannins on the finish. Much of the aging has been done for you, but a little air will help this wine open up if you choose to drink it now. With proper cellaring, this beauty should hold on until 2027.