Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018

Producer history

Silver Oak Cellars was co-founded in 1972 by Colorado entrepreneur Ray Duncan and Christian Brothers-trained winemaker Justin Meyer, launching from a converted Napa Valley dairy barn with its debut vintage (case counts vary by source, roughly 1,000-1,600 cases). The winery, named for its location between Oakville and the Silverado Trail, focused all its resources on a single wine: Cabernet Sauvignon. Daniel Baron succeeded Meyer as winemaker in 1994; Meyer sold his stake to the Duncan family in January 2001, and Ray's sons David and Tim Duncan have owned and operated Silver Oak since, now across two estates in Oakville (Napa Valley) and Healdsburg (Alexander Valley).

Signature pairings

• Grilled ribeye steak — Silver Oak's classic pairing — the wine's structure and dark fruit stand up to a well-marbled ribeye's char and fat.
• Herb-crusted rack of lamb — Lamb's richness and herbal crust echo the wine's black pepper and vanilla notes while its tannin cuts through the fat.
• Massaman beef curry (แกงมัสมั่นเนื้อ) — The warm spice, sweetness, and slow-braised beef in massaman echo the Cabernet's vanilla-oak and dark fruit while its mild heat is tame enough not to clash with the wine's tannin.