Prelude- despite my extreme Francophile tendencies, I have long loved Silver Oak. Up through the 1993 vintage they are marvelous- though I tend to prefer Alexander since with age the Napa to my palate gets a little bit woody. 1994 began a string of very strange vintages with 1995 being particularly odd, until 1998 when the wines shifted to their current state of being quite enjoyable at release, but lacking the character and long term potential of old.
1995 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
bright red color showing some slight signs of age but still very youthful right to the rim, lovely nose of black raspberries and a hint of cassis with a good dose of toasty oak, on the palate it remains unchanged in character since release- black and red raspberry fruit, very buttery texture, but no development after 16 years, the firm structure remains in place but the fruit has started to recede a bit where about 7 years ago it was still up to the level of the structure, a pleasant and supple drink in its way- but that is all, and for we who know what these wines used to be- that is a grave disappointment, this was the end of the road- the last bottle of this vintage in the collective family holdings but I think it definitively answers the question we had when the 1994s and 1995s were first released, oddly enough the new Silver Oak is probably more useful for its intended audience- it will be tasty and consistent and probably not ever shut down, the 1995s certainly never shut down though they were oddly disjointed at release and for a couple of years after, will be interesting to revisit some late 90s vintages in the near future, I expect more of the same but hope for better balance.
**, ready to drink but should continue to hold and mellow for some years.