2013 Silver Oak Cellars Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 750 ml

As Classic As California Cabernet Gets’

Are there two words that better embody the cult of California Cabernet than Silver Oak? For the first time ever at Wine Access, we are offering the wine that has defined “must-have” on steakhouse lists and in Cabernet-lovers’ cellars for four decades. The 2013 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon not only comes from the winery known worldwide for delivering consistent out-of-the-bottle opulence, but from the historic vintage that Robert Parker called a “game-changer.” With gorgeous, plush fruit and signature oak elegance imparted by barrels from Silver Oak’s own cooperage, this wine is responsible for producing an army of California Cabernet converts. Many of our clients are going straight to the “buy” button after reading this email’s subject line. Our 20 cases will not last long.

Premier Napa Valley is basically the California wine country equivalent to the Super Bowl or Oscars, so we can’t say it was a chance meeting when we ran into Matt Duncan of Silver Oak at Greystone Mansion. Matt is from one of the First Families of California wine. His grandfather, Raymond, founded Silver Oak with Justin Meyer in 1972, and his family assumed full control of the winery in 2001. Since then, the Duncans have run one of the country’s most successful wine brands as one of the most hands-on families in Napa.

We try not to talk too much business at Premiere, but we owed due diligence to the Wine Access clients who have been chomping at the bit for Silver Oak for years. If Matt ever wanted to sell a lot of wine quickly, we gently reminded him, our Cabernet fan base would gladly take all he could supply. He smiled and told us, in the politest way possible, to get in line.

Fast forward to last week, when the phone rang. It was Matt Duncan. Turns out that someone in line in front of us — way in front of us — had dropped the ball on 20 cases of current vintage Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet. Were we interested?

We would have said yes under any circumstances. But Silver Oak’s patient bottle-ageing regimen puts them a vintage or two behind most California Cabernet producers, which means their current release is from 2013 — the stellar year that Robert Parker called a “game-changer” in Northern California.

Needless to say, those 20 cases are now earmarked for the Wine Access clients who see this email first and don’t hesitate. Our good luck put us in the right place at the right time to secure a blockbuster vintage of one of California’s most celebrated wines. Unfortunately, our luck couldn’t increase our small allocation, which pales in comparison to the demand that Silver Oak has earned over the years.

Jonathan Cristaldi

Editor-in-Chief, Wine Acces