Self Isolation : Day # 21

2005 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Alexander Valley’

The end-all-be-all of corporate gifting, Silver Oak Cellars is one of the most polarizing brands on the market today. You either love it or hate it. Typically I’m not a fan of the heavily-oaked, richly-fruited style of their Cabernet upon release but this ‘05, with fifteen-years of age, surprised me. The oak has had time to become well-integrated and didn’t overshadow the ripe red fruit flavors. The tannins were definitely present but more on the ripe side and were quite pleasant, as was the level of acidity that provided just the right amount of salivation to keep me coming back for more in between mouthfuls of lamb. This was a great lesson to always be tasting and not to discount wines or styles that you typically don’t gravitate towards.