2019 Silenus Cabernet Estate
2019 Silenus Cabernet Estate Our Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep ruby color with bright aromas of black cherries, red plum and hints of dark rose petals and vanilla spice. The wine is elegant and balanced with rich flavors of pomegranate, plum and deeply ripened wild berries followed by lingering notes of French oak and soft, supple tannins. The finish is lush, silky and smooth while maintaining its balanced red fruit and soft tannins to the very end. This is a youthful yet classically well-balanced Oak Knoll District Cabernet Sauvignon that can be enjoyed and appreciated now but will continue to carry on and mature throughout the next 10-15 years.
This was a great find. This artisanal produce r is a pioneer in Napa. This is only the second time we have been able to a tiny allocation of this wine. All the wine are sold direct from the winery or to top restaurants in New York and Napa. I have been trying to get some of their wine for some time. In 1968 a walnut orchard in the Southwestern corner of Napa Valley, in what is now the AVA of the Oak Knoll District, was converted to Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards by Bruce Newlan, a rocket scientist from San Jose who vacationed in Napa Valley. The roots of Silenus Winery were firmly established. This is the southern end of the Napa Valley where the growing season is longer, providing early bud break and a long, leisurely growing season for optimal, balanced ripeness. Throughout the years the grapes from this vineyard were sold to Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, and Inglenook wineries and consistently ended up in their reserve wines. During the phyloxera outbreak of 1992, Robert Mondavi so loved the grapes from this vineyard that, at his expense, he offered his crew to assess the vineyard and help establish a replanting plan that would include the most appropriate rootstocks for the soils and the best Cabernet Sauvignon clones for the wine. Newlan obtained a winery permit in 1978 and began producing his own award-winning wines. In 2008 the ownership changed and the first vintage of Silenus Wines were introduced. Silenua has some hard core Cab neighbors including Araujo, Fisher and Venge. Winemaker is long time Napa veteran Eiji Daniel Akaboshi, who made for Peju, Green and Red and Medlock Ames. We have a tiny amount of their 2019 (great Napa vintage) Silenus Estate Cabernet to offer. This wine drinks like its double to triple the price. Drinks like a great Pauillac and it will blow you away!