Silver Oak 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 3000ml Double Magnum

Silver Oak was founded in 1972 and has built its reputation on one wine, a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon aged in American oak. The Duncan family owns the winery and makes the barrels, having owned the Oak Cooperage in Higbee, Missouri outright since 2015. The 2018 is aged in about 85% new American oak, and James Suckling reported that David Duncan explained the winery now sources 100% of its American oak from its own barrel-making facilities, which "tones down the vanilla character in the wine."

The fruit is hand-picked from within Napa Valley. The winery says it has used 100% Napa fruit for nearly 30 years, with Soda Canyon Ranch as "the backbone of our Napa Cab." The 2018 blend is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.2% Merlot, 5.1% Cabernet Franc, 3.2% Petit Verdot, and 0.5% Malbec, with Atlas Peak and Oak Knoll District vineyards also playing important roles. The vintage was calm and abundant, with long hang time and what the winery calls "amazing fruit quality across all our properties." Merlot came in first, on September 10, and the last mountain Cabernet crossed the crush pad on October 16.

The winemaker's notes describe a ruby wine with "notes of strawberry, fresh carnation, black pepper and vanilla" that "builds in strength and body across the mid-palate with a blackberry character on the finish and bright cherry return," with "integrated tannins" and a wine that "will continue to improve through 2043" with proper cellaring.

James Suckling scored it 97 Points, calling it "structured and concentrated" and "spot on for the vintage," and expecting it to be approachable by 2028 and best from 2033. An earlier Suckling note described "a big upgrade in finesse and clarity," with "blackberry, tar, cedar and oak-tree aromas" and "a full yet toned palate of fine, integrated tannins and a vivid finish." Decanter scored it 95, noting "one of the more restrained and pretty bouquets of Silver Oak's Napa Cabernet in my memory," with "lovely cranberry fruit, plums, and currants" and "sculpted tannins." Natalie MacLean gave 94, describing "cassis, dark cherry, earthy cedar brush and toasty oak spice." Not every critic was as enthusiastic: Wine Spectator's James Molesworth scored it 89, calling it "gentle for an '18," with "mulled plum and black cherry fruit" and some maturity on the finish.

The scores above are for the 2018 vintage in standard bottles. A 3-liter double magnum holds four bottles' worth of wine, and larger formats are widely believed to age more gracefully. It's a striking centerpiece for a special dinner, a gift, or a long-term cellar.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Silver Oak 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is produced by Silver Oak, founded in 1972 and owned by the Duncan family. The wine is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15.2% Merlot, 5.1% Cabernet Franc, 3.2% Petit Verdot, and 0.5% Malbec, hand-picked from vineyards across Napa Valley, including Soda Canyon Ranch, Atlas Peak, and the Oak Knoll District.

It is aged in approximately 85% new American oak from the Duncan family's own cooperage. Bottled at 14.5% ABV, presented here in a 3000ml double magnum, equal to four standard bottles.

Critics Reviews

Scores are for the 2018 vintage in standard bottles; the double magnum contains the same wine.

James Suckling — 97 Points:
"This structured and concentrated wine is spot on for the vintage. Aged in 85 to 90 percent new American oak barrels, the wine should be approachable by 2028 and best from 2033."

James Suckling (earlier review):
"This is a big upgrade in finesse and clarity to such a popular, premium cabernet from Napa. It shows lots of blackberry, tar, cedar and oak-tree aromas that follow through to a full yet toned palate of fine, integrated tannins and a vivid finish."

Decanter — 95 Points:
"The lovely ruby red colour is translucent, revealing a heady wine of blackberry, liquorice, vanillin, spicebush, and dried floral notes with savoury, toasty oak spices. This 2018 offers one of the more restrained and pretty bouquets of Silver Oak's Napa Cabernet in my memory. Very elegant on the entry, revealing a medium-bodied red wine with lovely cranberry fruit, plums, and currants, with real depth to those fruit qualities framed by sculpted tannins."

Natalie MacLean — 94 Points:
"A dry, full-bodied and characterful red, rich with cassis, dark cherry, earthy cedar brush and toasty oak spice with a kiss of smoky vanilla, creamy and fresh on the palate. Tannins are well-integrated and velvety."

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator — 89 Points:
"Gentle for an '18, with mulled plum and black cherry fruit held together by dried violet and sweet bay threads. Offers an ever-so-slight touch of grain through the finish, which shows some maturity now. Drink now through 2030."

Silver Oak (official winemaker's notes):
"The 2018 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is ruby in color with notes of strawberry, fresh carnation, black pepper and vanilla. This wine builds in strength and body across the mid-palate with a blackberry character on the finish and bright cherry return. With integrated tannins, it's expressive yet luxurious with an even, balanced finish. Given proper cellaring conditions, this wine will continue to improve through 2043."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Ruby in color. Strawberry, fresh carnation, black pepper, and vanilla lead, with blackberry, cassis, cedar, licorice, and toasty oak spice.

Palate
Medium- to full-bodied and elegant, with cranberry, plum, and currant fruit carrying the entry, building across the mid-palate with blackberry, framed by integrated, sculpted tannin.

Finish
Balanced and even, with blackberry and a bright cherry return, and a hint of mint.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Grilled lamb chops
• Herb-roasted prime rib
• Grilled steak
• Aged Gouda and Manchego

Serving Note

Decant for an hour or more to open the fruit and soften the oak; serve at around 60°F.