1999 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Release Day: Saturday, January 31, 2004
Vintage: 1999
Appellation: Napa Valley
Composition: 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot
Bottle Sizes: 750 ml, 1.5 L magnum, 3.0 L double magnums, 6.0 L imperial
Vintage Description:
In 1999, low yields, a cold spring, a cool early summer, and a warm September combined to produce beautifully balanced wines.
A La Nina weather pattern produced a dry, cold winter and a cool spring. Bloomtime weather was dry, but cool, and set was moderate. Low cluster counts, caused by weather conditions of the prior spring, contributed to a small, but even crop.
The early summer was very cool and it appeared that harvest would be very late, until warming in late August and early September began to accelerate grape maturity.
During the picking season, there were rain squalls, a small earthquake and a severe heat spell to add to the excitement. Harvest began with Napa Merlot on September 16 and concluded with Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon on October 18.
Winemaking:
The 1999 wines were fermented in stainless steel tanks at maximum temperatures of 86 degrees. Malolactic fermentations were conducted in tanks. Blends were made and the wine was barreled down in early 2000. The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in 100% new American oak barrels for approximately 24 months. The wine received another eighteen months of bottle age before its release.
Tasting Notes:
The 1999 Silver Oak Napa Valley is a deep, rich Cabernet Sauvignon with a garnet color and a concentrated nose of cocoa, cassis syrup, coffee, and black licorice. It is extremely full-bodied on the palate and has an incredibly long finish of black licorice and vanilla.
2000 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Release Day: July 31, 2004
Vintage: 2000
Appellation: Alexander Valley
Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle Sizes: 750 ml, 1.5 L magnum,
3 L double magnum, 6 L Imperial
Vintage Description:
The 2000 growing season will be remembered for the harvest that wouldn’t end.
Consistent rainfall in February and early March recharged the soil water. A mild
spring induced even flowering and good set. By mid-September it had warmed up
considerably and picking was in full swing when there was a heat wave on
September 18 and 19. The weather then shifted radically and the third week of
September was unseasonably cool. Harvest came to a standstill for two weeks. As
frustrating as this was, the extra time on the vine was beneficial for wine
quality. We resumed picking in early October. The harvest that began on August
30 was finally completed on November 1, the longest in our history.
Winemaking:
The 2000 wines were fermented in stainless steel tanks at maximum temperatures of 86 degrees. Malolactic fermentations were conducted in tanks. Blends were made and the wine was barreled down in early 2001. The Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in 50% new and 50% once-used American oak barrels for approximately 25 months. The wine received another 15 months of bottle age before its release.
Tasting Notes:
The 2000 Silver Oak Alexander Valley is a classic, rich Cabernet Sauvignon with a ruby-red color and an expressive nose of cassis, blueberries, blackberries, soy sauce and vanilla. It is luscious and full-bodied on the palate and has a long finish of ripe berry fruit, vanilla and a hint of dill. It will continue to improve to 2018, given proper cellaring.