The 2019 Twomey Estate is just dandy for a $25 sauvignon blanc. Both tropical and slightly mineral, creamy but not over-oaked. It doesn’t quite strike my ideal balance, but it’s quaffable enough for a hot day in the next summer or two.
At this stage, a blind taster might note subtle differences, but they would be hard pressed to make the case that the 2016 Alexander Valley, 2016 Napa Valley, and 2017 Timeless should span such a wide price range ($80, $125, and $166 respectively). The power of the word “Napa” in the market is astounding. All three wines are currently a bit thin and heavily oaked, with variations on a distinctly vanilla nose. The Alexander Valley sets itself apart in two ways: its fruit is a little more purple (to the Napa’s red and Timeless’ red and black), and it’s a comparative bargain buy—the perfect gift for somebody who just wants to grill steaks in their backyard and open a decent cab from a name they know. Give it a couple years and drink over the following decade.
Safe and reliable, it’s hard to be mad at a bottle of Silver Oak—unless you’ve paid full price for it. There’s just so much higher quality, more interesting Napa cab available at $125. Cost aside, this is a surprisingly light weight effort with short but supple tannins and a medium finish. Oak flavors (vanilla, coconut, toffee) dominate; cherry, dried herbs, and pepper are present as well. It needs at least a few years to put on weight and could last another 15 or more in the cellar. But if you’re willing to put in that kind of effort, just buy something better.
The 2008 Alexander Valley honestly didn’t present as too different than the 2016. It has evolved with a little more flavor complexity and is now a little softer, but the predominant experience is still of oak. Drink over the next five years or so.
It’s a bit difficult to know what to say about the 2017 inaugural release of Timeless. At our tasting, the bottle had been open for a several hours and sat for another in our glasses, yet the wine remained so closed we could barely detect any nose at all. On the palate, there were blackberries and dark cherries, with oak predominating. Mid-weight with a mid-length finish, the Timeless needs at least 3-5 years to soften and should live on for another 20. But at this price point, we’ll save our cellar space for producers who invest less in marketing and more in the things you can taste: viticulture, winemaking, and people.
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
The 2018 Russian River Valley, like the Dundee Hills, is over-valued by $15-20. Otherwise, it’s a nice enough lightweight pinot with a fruity profile of cherries and raspberries and blood orange-y acids. It won’t likely evolve much: drink over the next five years.
The 2018 Twomey Dundee Hills has a pleasant if light-weight structure and offers flavors of bright raspberry, spice, and earth. It should be a full $15-20 cheaper. At $68, there’s a whole world of Oregon pinot that’s more interesting and better executed—Adelsheim, Bergstrom, Big Table Farm, L’Angolo, Patricia Green, Domaine Serene, and Stoller to name just a few. Drink over the next 5-7 years.
2019 Twomey Sauvignon Blanc 86 Points
USA, California, North Coast
The 2019 Twomey Estate is just dandy for a $25 sauvignon blanc. Both tropical and slightly mineral, creamy but not over-oaked. It doesn’t quite strike my ideal balance, but it’s quaffable enough for a hot day in the next summer or two.
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2016 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
At this stage, a blind taster might note subtle differences, but they would be hard pressed to make the case that the 2016 Alexander Valley, 2016 Napa Valley, and 2017 Timeless should span such a wide price range ($80, $125, and $166 respectively). The power of the word “Napa” in the market is astounding. All three wines are currently a bit thin and heavily oaked, with variations on a distinctly vanilla nose. The Alexander Valley sets itself apart in two ways: its fruit is a little more purple (to the Napa’s red and Timeless’ red and black), and it’s a comparative bargain buy—the perfect gift for somebody who just wants to grill steaks in their backyard and open a decent cab from a name they know. Give it a couple years and drink over the following decade.
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2016 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Safe and reliable, it’s hard to be mad at a bottle of Silver Oak—unless you’ve paid full price for it. There’s just so much higher quality, more interesting Napa cab available at $125. Cost aside, this is a surprisingly light weight effort with short but supple tannins and a medium finish. Oak flavors (vanilla, coconut, toffee) dominate; cherry, dried herbs, and pepper are present as well. It needs at least a few years to put on weight and could last another 15 or more in the cellar. But if you’re willing to put in that kind of effort, just buy something better.
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2008 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
The 2008 Alexander Valley honestly didn’t present as too different than the 2016. It has evolved with a little more flavor complexity and is now a little softer, but the predominant experience is still of oak. Drink over the next five years or so.
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2017 Timeless From the Family of Silver Oak Soda Canyon Ranch Napa Valley 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
It’s a bit difficult to know what to say about the 2017 inaugural release of Timeless. At our tasting, the bottle had been open for a several hours and sat for another in our glasses, yet the wine remained so closed we could barely detect any nose at all. On the palate, there were blackberries and dark cherries, with oak predominating. Mid-weight with a mid-length finish, the Timeless needs at least 3-5 years to soften and should live on for another 20. But at this price point, we’ll save our cellar space for producers who invest less in marketing and more in the things you can taste: viticulture, winemaking, and people.
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2018 Twomey Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 86 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
The 2018 Russian River Valley, like the Dundee Hills, is over-valued by $15-20. Otherwise, it’s a nice enough lightweight pinot with a fruity profile of cherries and raspberries and blood orange-y acids. It won’t likely evolve much: drink over the next five years.
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2018 Twomey Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 87 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
The 2018 Twomey Dundee Hills has a pleasant if light-weight structure and offers flavors of bright raspberry, spice, and earth. It should be a full $15-20 cheaper. At $68, there’s a whole world of Oregon pinot that’s more interesting and better executed—Adelsheim, Bergstrom, Big Table Farm, L’Angolo, Patricia Green, Domaine Serene, and Stoller to name just a few. Drink over the next 5-7 years.
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