Private Collection: Mondavi and Silver Oak 1991-2008
10/30/2024
Few names are as ubiquitous in the California wine world as Robert Mondavi, and Silver Oak has carved out its own legacy as a benchmark producer in Napa and Alexander Valley over the past 50 years. When it comes to California Cabernet Sauvignon, these are classics. While they may not ring as particularly "cool" or "trendy" wines, having a bottle of old-school Cali Cab with some age always feels like a special treat. In doing our due diligence we opened a 1996 and 1993 Silver Oak Alexander Valley to check in - both were showing beautifully, the '96 with a bit more heft while the '93 was particularly enticing with its litheness and lift. Upon opening you get a big whiff of plum and dark cherry fruit that jumps from the glass, with hints of vanilla, spice and cooling herbs along with a mélange of leather, tobacco and cedar. The '93 shows some bricking around the edges but the color is still vibrant and deep, while the '96 is a deep purple/ruby in the glass. The palate of the '93 is silky yet taut with waves of cherry and cracked black pepper, with integrated but persistent tannins and great acidity. The long, mouthwatering finish begs for steak although it's elegant enough in its age to provide an ethereal experience on its own - and at 13% abv it's not a particularly heavy wine, showing remarkable restraint while harnessing tremendous power. The '96 had a bit more ripe fruit, forward in style but still thoroughly enjoyable. On day two both were rock solid with even more integration, showing they could still have room to evolve in the cellar. Tasting these wines at 25-30 years old opened some eyes and brought back some memories, and today we are thrilled to be able to offer a collection of these classic California Cabs from two iconic producers across a number of vintages from 1991 to 2008, all of which should be entering or firmly in their prime drinking window. -Jeff DiLorenzo
