Bottles to Bring: Silverado Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Dec 7th 2008 at 5:02PM

We've talked about how the 2005 Bordeaux keeps looking better and better but 2005 was also a good year in Napa Valley bringing both a large quantity of grapes and a high quality. Silverado Vineyards took this as a challenge, making a roughly six percent reduction in the filed and then declassifying another 20% early in the blending. The result is their 25th vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc. It's still young but deliciously drinkable with with notes of plum and earth with a finish that reminds me of the slightly spicy smell of leaves in the hot sun of summer. It's a good wine to bring because it can be opened now or tucked away for a while. At $45 (or in the mid thirties depending on where you shop) it's not so expensive that you'd be mortally crushed if it ends up being opened at the night but it's pricey enough and known enough that it makes a good impression. And on a personal note, it will always have a place in my heart because it's what I opened while watching the 2008 election returns.

Tags: cabernet sauvignon, napa valley, NapaValley, silverado, wine