TN: 2004 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvigno Napa

[mike_pobega]

In all the gems I tasted yesterday, there surely was a few duds. I don’t want to reopen the can 'o worms that is Silver Oak, just add my latest impressions.

All vanilla oak ridden and candied. There I said it.

Ok here’s a bit more: The nose is all vanilla and cola. The palate has some real nice red and black fruits in there…somewhere. This unique polarizing style is surely a head turner or attention getter. It has some nice componenets, but that oak, oh that oak. Now, anyone that know me knows I can deal with some oak, just as I can some heat, but this one boggles even my mind, and thats difficult to do. 86/100

I gave the 2005 twomey an 85. It was bland and uneventful. Some decent fruits of red cherries and red plums, but avoid of all else and a bit angular to my palate. I was not ready to be tired to that level yet as I was only at the S’s…

My full report can be found :budbreak: Taste Napa Valley- New York

[Jorge_Henriquez]

@mike pobega

It has some nice componenets, but that oak, oh that oak.

No silver lining there huh? [taunt.gif]

[zachary_l_a_n_g]

Mike, I tasted both of these wines as well and my thoughts were on par with yours. In all that day, I tasted probably 60-80 wines and the silver oak was the most oaky of them all. Like chewing on wood chips with vanilla icing!

[Bill_Tex_Landreth]

Was this tasted on a dare?

[mike_pobega]

And to prove this ‘style’ can be pulled off, try the ZD Abacus. Here’s my notes from a CLONYC from a year or so ago…
ZD Abacus- Along with the Vnyd 29, this was overshadowed, but awesome. Great American oak(?) is the frontispiece. This was purple in color. Currant, cocoa, vanilla, dark berries, and some tar & leather. I really enjoyed this, but again, it was in a tough crowd. I wish I wrote which Abacus it was!

[zachary_l_a_n_g]

@Bill Tex Landreth

Was this tasted on a dare?

Boston Wine Expo

[Gordon_Fitz]

Mike; I agree with your verbal assessment of the Silver Oak. Is this going to be the new house style of Silver Oak Oak Oak Oak?

It’s the point system I disagree with! Plain and uneventful is not a 85 by definition.I recently read an Editorial by a college prof that was complaining about students believing they deserved a B for just showing up to Class! No work required, just show up! She disappointed them and received the harsh criticism of not only the students but also some of her peers.

The point is the 04 SS being plain and uneventful(at best) is not a 85. I struggled giving it a 74. The wine is a C- effort at best. Let’s stop inflating it by calling it a solid B.

[mike_pobega]

@Gordon Fitz

Mike; I agree with your verbal assessment of the Silver Oak. Is this going to be the new house style of Silver Oak Oak Oak Oak?

It’s the point system I disagree with! Plain and uneventful is not a 85 by definition.I recently read an Editorial by a college prof that was complaining about students believing they deserved a B for just showing up to Class! No work required, just show up! She disappointed them and received the harsh criticism of not only the students but also some of her peers.

The point is the 04 SS being plain and uneventful(at best) is not a 85. I struggled giving it a 74. The wine is a C- effort at best. Let’s stop inflating it by calling it a solid B.

Well understood. I should have gone n/a.

Here’s my ‘elitist’ moment. I dont drink 85s so I should most defineatly not score 'em.