Silver Oak Alexander Valley 2003

Wine Tasting NotesThe 2003 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant, highly expressive wine that displays great complexity due to the multifaceted climatic conditions of the harvest season. The wine is dark ruby with a purple to red edge. It displays bright aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, black tea, allspice and ginger. In the mouth, it has a full-bodied attack, a round, balanced mid-palate redolent of cherry preserves, brown sugar and caramel and an extremely long finish of savory ripe fruit. Properly cellared, it should give drinking pleasure until 2026.

January 2009

88 pts Robert Parker! "The Alexander Valley cuvee is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in new oak. The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley reveals an exaggerated tannin profile along with sweet plum, cherry, and currant fruit as well as notes of licorice, dried herbs, spice box, and toasty American wood. It could use a bit more flesh and depth, but it is certainly a very good, aromatic, spicy wine to consume during its first 8-9 years of life. (Release date 8/07)" - Wine Advocate Dec 2005 Issue

December 2008

91 Points Robert Parker
The firmly structured, spicy, licorice and herb-tinged, black currant-scented and flavored 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley is medium to full-bodied and ripe.

October 2009

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="7"><tbody><tr><td>Vintage:</td><td>2003</td></tr><tr><td>Appellation:</td><td>Alexander Valley</td></tr><tr><td>Composition:</td><td>100% Cabernet Sauvignon</td></tr><tr><td>Bottle Sizes:</td><td>750 ml Bottle, 1.5 L Magnum, 3 L Double Magnum, 6 L Imperial </td></tr><tr><td>Release Date:</td><td>Saturday, read more...August 4, 2007</td></tr><tr><td>750 ml Price:</td><td>$60</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>Winemakers Tasting Notes</h3>The 2003 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant, highly expressive wine that displays great complexity due to the multifaceted climatic conditions of the harvest season. The wine is dark ruby with a purple to red edge. It has bright aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, black tea, allspice and ginger. In the mouth, it offers a full-bodied attack, a round, balanced mid-palate redolent of cherry preserves, brown sugar and caramel and an extremely long finish of savory ripe fruit. Properly cellared, it should give drinking pleasure through 2026. <h3>Vintage Description</h3>The 2003 harvest had two distinct phases - a hot, compressed first half and a cool, drawn-out second half - resulting in a very complex, layered wine. We received above-average rainfall of 40 inches, with a disproportionate amount in April and May. This created some extra work in the field and resulted in low yields at some vineyards. June and July were mild, and August was cooler than normal. A short heat wave began in mid-September and we brought in the first fruit on September 13th. Temperatures remained warm and built to another heat wave that peaked at 104 degrees. We picked frenetically throughout this heat spell and brought in approximately 60% of the fruit. Then, abruptly on September 23rd, it became cool and foggy and remained so for two weeks. This seemed like a completely different growing season, with foggy mornings and afternoon temperatures in the high 80s. It gradually warmed up, and we were able to complete harvest by October 20th.<h3>Blending and Aging</h3>Our 2003 Alexander Valley, a blend of wine from several different vineyards, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. We blended the vineyard lots in early 2004 and transferred the wine to 50% new and 50% once-used American oak barrels for aging. Blending prior to barreling allows us to achieve a balance of the wines natural elements, such as fruit and tannin, before they are influenced by oak. The wine is then aged in barrel for approximately 25 months and another 15 months in bottle to harmonize its components before release.    (hide)

August 2009

Very mineral wine. Full of black cherry flavors and soft tannins from the oak. Very good. Highly complex with a very very long drying finish on soft oak.

January 2008

The typical pair for a well prepared fillet or chop. Bold bouquet and darker notes balance nicely with peppery foods or fatty cuts of meat.

December 2008

Vintage Description: The 2003 harvest had two distinct phases - a hot, compressed first half and a cool, drawn-out second half - resulting in a very complex, layered wine.We received above-average rainfall of 40 inches, with a disproportionate amount

January 2009

The wine is dark ruby with a purple to red edge. It displays bright aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, black tea, allspice and ginger. In the mouth... a round, balanced mid-palate redolent of cherry preserves, brown sugar and caramel

November 2009

Number 28 on the Wine.com 100 of 2007! The Silver Oak Cellars 2003 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant, highly expressive wine that displays great complexity due to the multifaceted climatic conditions of the harvest season. The wine is dark ruby with a purple to red edge. It displays bright aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, black tea, allspice and ginger. In the mouth, it has a full-bodied attack,a round, balanced mid-palate redolent of cherry preserves, brown sugar and caramel and an extremely long finish of savory ripe fruit. Properly cellared, it should give drinking read more...pleasure until 2026. Our 2003 Alexander Valley, a blend of wine from several different vineyards, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. We blended the vineyard lots in early 2004 and transferred the wine to 50% new and 50% once-used American oak barrels for aging. Blending prior to barreling allows us to achieve a balance of the wine's natural elements, such as fruit and tannin, before they are influenced by oak. The wine is then aged in barrel for approximately 25 months and another 15 months in bottle to harmonize its components before release.    (hide)

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="7"><tbody><tr><td>Vintage:</td><td>2003</td></tr><tr><td>Appellation:</td><td>Alexander Valley</td></tr><tr><td>Composition:</td><td>100% Cabernet Sauvignon</td></tr><tr><td>Bottle Sizes:</td><td>750 ml Bottle, 1.5 L Magnum, 3 L Double Magnum, 6 L Imperial </td></tr><tr><td>Release Date:</td><td>Saturday, read more...August 4, 2007</td></tr><tr><td>750 ml Price:</td><td>$60</td></tr></tbody></table><h3>Winemaker&#39;s Tasting Notes</h3>The 2003 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant, highly expressive wine that displays great complexity due to the multifaceted climatic conditions of the harvest season. The wine is dark ruby with a purple to red edge. It has bright aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, black tea, allspice and ginger. In the mouth, it offers a full-bodied attack, a round, balanced mid-palate redolent of cherry preserves, brown sugar and caramel and an extremely long finish of savory ripe fruit. Properly cellared, it should give drinking pleasure through 2026. <h3>Vintage Description</h3>The 2003 harvest had two distinct phases - a hot, compressed first half and a cool, drawn-out second half - resulting in a very complex, layered wine. We received above-average rainfall of 40 inches, with a disproportionate amount in April and May. This created some extra work in the field and resulted in low yields at some vineyards. June and July were mild, and August was cooler than normal. A short heat wave began in mid-September and we brought in the first fruit on September 13th. Temperatures remained warm and built to another heat wave that peaked at 104 degrees. We picked frenetically throughout this heat spell and brought in approximately 60% of the fruit. Then, abruptly on September 23rd, it became cool and foggy and remained so for two weeks. This seemed like a completely different growing season, with foggy mornings and afternoon temperatures in the high 80s. It gradually warmed up, and we were able to complete harvest by October 20th.<h3>Blending and Aging</h3>Our 2003 Alexander Valley, a blend of wine from several different vineyards, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. We blended the vineyard lots in early 2004 and transferred the wine to 50% new and 50% once-used American oak barrels for aging. Blending prior to barreling allows us to achieve a balance of the wine&#39;s natural elements, such as fruit and tannin, before they are influenced by oak. The wine is then aged in barrel for approximately 25 months and another 15 months in bottle to harmonize its components before release.    (hide)

October 2008

Vintage: 2003 Appellation: Alexander Valley Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Bottle Sizes: 750 ml Bottle, 1.5 L Magnum, 3 L Double Magnum, 6 L Imperial Release Date: Saturday, August 4, 2007 750 ml Price: $60 Winemakers Tasting Notes The 2003 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant, highly expressive wine that displays great complexity due to the multifaceted climatic conditions of the harvest season. The wine is dark ruby with a purple to red edge. It has bright aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, black tea, allspice and ginger. In the mouth, it offers a full-bodied attack, read more...a round, balanced mid-palate redolent of cherry preserves, brown sugar and caramel and an extremely long finish of savory ripe fruit. Properly cellared, it should give drinking pleasure through 2026. Vintage Description The 2003 harvest had two distinct phases - a hot, compressed first half and a cool, drawn-out second half - resulting in a very complex, layered wine. We received above-average rainfall of 40 inches, with a disproportionate amount in April and May. This created some extra work in the field and resulted in low yields at some vineyards. June and July were mild, and August was cooler than normal. A short heat wave began in mid-September and we brought in the first fruit on September 13th. Temperatures remained warm and built to another heat wave that peaked at 104 degrees. We picked frenetically throughout this heat spell and brought in approximately 60% of the fruit. Then, abruptly on September 23rd, it became cool and foggy and remained so for two weeks. This seemed like a completely different growing season, with foggy mornings and afternoon temperatures in the high 80s. It gradually warmed up, and we were able to complete harvest by October 20th. Blending and Aging Our 2003 Alexander Valley, a blend of wine from several different vineyards, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. We blended the vineyard lots in early 2004 and transferred the wine to 50% new and 50% once-used American oak barrels for aging. Blending prior to barreling allows us to achieve a balance of the wines natural elements, such as fruit and tannin, before they are influenced by oak. The wine is then aged in barrel for approximately 25 months and another 15 months in bottle to harmonize its components before release.    (hide)

September 2009

The Wine News rating: 90

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February 2009

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July 2007

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May 2009

Rating: (89-91) - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 157 on Feb-05

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February 2009

Rating: 90/100 - As reviewed by Wine Spectator

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December 2007

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January 2009

Rating: 88/100 - As reviewed in Wine Advocate # 162 on Dec-05

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January 2009