Twice with different results

In the past couple weeks I have had opportunity to try 1997 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet on two occasions.  One bottle had been stored in my dark cool basement for the past eight years. The other spent six years in that climate and the past two on the shelves at Glen Lake Wine and Spirits. I decided to pull and drink the store bottle with a wine-drinking buddy who loves to stop by the store to try and discuss wines. The second bottle I tried with a good customer, who also makes wine, whom I look to for an opinion whenever we are trying wine in the store. I initially decided to pull the wine based on my ten year California rule: I believe that most California Cabernets are best consumed within ten years. The 1997's, which I had in good supply, were dwindling and it is time to finish them. 

The 1997 Alexander Valley Silver Oak is comprised of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. According to the folks at Silver Oak the wine should drink until 2022 with proper cellaring. I still have a couple bottles left and will certainly wait to see what happens thirteen years from now. In the mean time, I'm glad I tried a couple in 2009. 

 The first bottle coming from the basement cellar was old and a bit tired in my opinion. The other gentlemen tasting with me appreciated it much more than I and thought it was quite decent considering its age. Another reason I believe in drinking California Cabernets in ten years or less is: Why would you want to make excuses for wine that was once great? i.e. "it's still holding up well." This particular wine was absolutely delicious five years ago; perhaps we should have drunk it all up in its prime. The second bottle coming from store display was much better, ironic considering both came from the same case and the one stored improperly for the past couple years fared much better.  The store bottle still had fruit flavors and showed cassis, cocoa and coffee. It still had life, although I contend it still would have been better a couple years earlier. Perhaps that is why we save wine, because no one really knows what will happen to the bottle over time. I hope I'm still doing this in 2022 and I'll let you know how the 1997 is holding up.