2007 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, I've been somewhat of a slacker for the past couple months, but I finally remembered to Cellar Saturday, that magical first Saturday of the month where I raid the cellar for something interesting to open.  Tonight I've decided to open a nice one, a bottle of 2007 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, so let's see how this one stacks up!

The wine has the deep coloration you'd expect from a nice Cabernet.  The nose is an interesting combination of black fruit and earthy notes, blackberry, plum and prune interlaced with tar, peat and tobacco.  The taste is a rush of bright cherry fruit that envelopes the palate while easily transitioning to some warm spice notes midpalate.  The finish has a note of sweet cherry, as the well structured tannins still provide the backbone for the long, smooth and velvety dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 9, it's a really nice Cabernet and I'm glad I let it develop for the past decade as it was well worth it.  This is also a classic, "big" California Cabernet, so it's practically begging to be paired with a nice steak and tonight is its lucky day!  I'm enjoying this wine with a rare grilled filet mignon along with butter braised Yukon gold potatoes and steamed broccoli.  Cheers!

2006 Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Saturday!  It's officially the first Saturday of May and that means it's time to raid the cellar for something that's been waiting around for a decade or more to be experienced.  Tonight I've decided to open a nice little California Cabernet from the Alexander Valley, the 2006 Geyser Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, so let's see what it has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky purple at the center, with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, plum and cassis overlaid with some earthy notes of leather and tar.  The taste is packed with jammy fruit up front, with blueberry, plum and blackberry, that transition nicely to some notes of black pepper and spice along with some earthy notes of limestone midpalate.  The finish is just lovely, with still well structured tannins providing the foundation for a long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's aged very nicely and is drinking exceptionally well right now.  This wine would be ideal for a big steakhouse sort of meal, and that exactly what I'm going for tonight with a thick Angus New York Strip grilled Pittsburgh style along with some oven roasted potatoes and Vidalia onions and steamed asparagus.  The wine is just a perfect counterbalance to the richness of the steak, cheers!

2010 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Well, 'tis the season to have lots of fun and good food, and since I was good today and went to the gym, I figured I deserved a treat for dinner, so I've opened up a very nice bottle of wine, the 2010 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon!

The wine is an inky black color at the center, leading to some bright ruby along the edges with nice clarity.  The nose is just lovely, with notes of black licorice, tarragon, blueberry and some Asian spice.  The taste is quite refined, with a some subdued flavors of cassis, blueberry and notes of espresso up front which transition to some elegant flavors of pipe tobacco, dusty limestone and white pepper midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with nicely structured and well integrated tannins supporting the long, lush, absolutely bone dry finish that just beckons another sip.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 9, with still more potential to improve with some cellaring over the next decade or so.  This is a perfect steak house sort of wine, with great flavor, nicely structured but not overpowering, the perfect complement to a nice rare steak, with lucky for me I happen to have this evening!  Tonight I'm pairing this wine with a rare grilled cowboy cut ribeye about 3" thick along with a baked potato and some grilled brussels sprouts.  So much meat and rich flavors to make this a bottle well worth the price (I bought this one from Wines Till Sold Out for just $60, about $10 less than the usual price).  But it's the holidays and I think I deserve a nice present to myself!  Cheers!