Silver Mountain Vineyards

Winemaker and proprietor, Jerold O’Brien, looks for the biggest flavours he can find. His estate Chardonnays are legendary in the mouth-whomping minerality department. And this Bordeaux blend of Cab Sauvignon Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, is no slouch, either. Really well crafted and perfectly balanced, this lovely Bordeaux blend will leave no mouth unserved. The year and a half in tight-grained Hungarian really packs in the spice. From the 40 percent older French oak comes a pleasant roundness making this one a lot easier to drink than many Bordeaux blends from this vintage.

I loved the inviting cherry and cedar aromas of this wine: it promises bright acidity and delivers in spades. The flavours are so delightful, especially cherries, cassis, pine and tar, leading to cinnamon, cedar and hints of coffee. This is a wine that takes no prisoners, and keeps coming at you, right in the jugular. A great balance between acid, tannin and velvet, this wine really makes for a pleasant evening of dining.

This is a wonderful food wine that jut happens to go with what you have in the larder, especially if it is aged cheese, some charcuterie, or perhaps a well-aged rib eye steak topped with caramelized wild mushrooms or blue cheese butter.

Reviewed May 23, 2008 by Laura Ness.