Silver Oak's 2011 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was carefully and selectively harvested over more than a month at the end of the cool 2011 growing season. Blended with 14.5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 0.5% Malbec, the varietal composition was determined early in the aging process and the blended lots were then aged in new American oak barrels for two full years. In keeping with Silver Oak's practice of releasing the wine only when it is ready to drink, the bottles were then aged an additional two years before release. Silver Oak describes: "It presents an opaque garnet hue in the glass and reveals aromas of sandalwood and roasted meats. Flavors of vanilla, coffee beans and raspberries are buttressed by dusty tannins, firm acidity and a mouth-coating texture."