How much is a 1992 Napa Valley Silver Oak Cab worth?

[niccole]

hello all

my sister got a bottle of 92 silver oak from a friend and im being nosy and want to know how much its worth...

[Missmoo]

Just drank mine on my anniversary! It was very good. Now for the rest of the vertical. But I agree with rtmonty, the nineties are the last years I bought.

[DonnyMac]

I'd trade that bottle for 6-12 bottles of more interesting, less overoaked wine any day of the week.

[howboy]

I'd slap my mother twice to have that bottle.
My all time favorite red.

[MightyMac]

Silver Oak is generally overpriced, but agree. Worth Drinking. Go Napa vs. Alexander Valley.

[rtmonty]

Actually in recent years I think the Alexander has been the better of the two wines. Something happened when Justin sold Silver Oak and it's never been the same as far as I'm concerned. I live 40 miles from it so can get it with no problem but really don't bother anymore. I think there are any number of far better cabs in Napa these days and many of them a much lower price.

[MMRuth]

I am the husband of MMRuth

1. Could you please recommend a good wine store that specializes in California wines? Would like to learn more about the non traditional California wines 2. What are those other cabs that are better than Silver Oak (which I love) and for less money?

[rtmonty]

As I mentioned, live in the bay area, actually Alameda. We have a wonderful wine store here that carries all kinds of CA wines. As far as other less expensive cabs, I like Frank Family Cab, Arger-Martucchi Cab, Cliff Lede Cabs (there are 2 or 3), Artesa Cab, Laird Family, Rutherford Grove, Miner Family Oakville Cab and there are a number of others. The best way is to go to Napa (for Cabs I think Napa is superior to Sonoma) and just taste. Stay away from the big wineries (Mondavi, Beringer, etc) and seek out the little ones.

There are also several really good small wine stores in SF that carry CA wines exclusively, one on Jones St off Union Sq. and one on Chestnut, just can't remember either name right now.

If you need any more info I'll be glad to help. There's no doubt Silver Oak has a following but I quit following it several years ago. The Napa at over $100/bottle which I feel is way out of line for the quality. That's why I mentioned the Alexander Valley, at least it's only about $60 these days.

Now, as far as "non-traditional" if you mean wines like Zin, Pinot, etc. there are also a ton of those around. The Meritages (blends) can also be excellent. A number of wineries have those. BTW, the word "Meritage" is a made up word. You will also see words such as "red table wine," claret, and others. These wines are usually blends of cab, merlot, cab franc, petit verdot and malbec.

[MMRuth]

A belated thank you - my husband said he used some of your suggestions when he ordered wine for our vacation next week - but don't know yet which ones!

[Bill Hunt]

One of the things that changed in the Napa SO was the source of the grapes. When Justin Meyer was at the helm, a block of the Milat vineyard (just across 29 from the Oakville Cut) went into the wine. After Justin departed, Milat quit sourcing to SO. The eucalyptus/mint character Cab was from that block. I find it missing now, though still perfer the Napa to the AV SO. If you can find it at retail, the Milat Napa Cab is excellent. It is available at the winery, along with some other excellent wines, Merlot and Zinfandel. A side-note: David Duckhorn (Dan Duckhorn's son) married into the Milat family and is (or atleast was) the director of marketing and often staffs the tasting room at Milat.

Hunt

[rtmonty]

We have visited the Milat winery, a small little place but lots of fun and good wines. Did purchase some of their cab and you are correct, it's very nice. Just another of the "little" places that it really pays to seek out when you have the time and can visit the valley often. There are so many well crafted wines that people never see or sample just because they are too busy hitting the "big boys."

[Bill Hunt]

Yes, too many great little places (with great wines) and too little time. We stumbled upon Milat, while gathering a picnic lunch for the Diamond Creek "Open House" some years ago. They were very new, and happened to be the only winery open at that time of the morning. They were just putting out their sign. We immediately crossed the hwy. and spent a few fascinating hours there, arriving late for the Diamond Creek event. I always stop into Milat and highly recommend them to others traveling to Napa. In all of my years going there, I have missed the "big boys," as you call them. Some day (maybe on a rainy Fed morning) I'll have to go, just to say that I've been there. Of my "standards," Joseph Phelps is probably the biggest, though not as mainstream as Beringer, Mondavi, and the rest. Tour busses and I do not mix well.

Hunt

[jan262]

I agree with you rtmonty, there are many better cabs in the Napa Valley.

[sfsand]

It's worth drinking :)

[LVI]

As above poster suggested, Wine Searcher is a good site and also check Wine COmmune. It is the best auction site out there. As far as price is concerned, look to get $75-$100 a bottle, probably not worth the hassle of selling.

[ecustard]

Wine-searcher.com or winezap.com are two websites that will give you prices for most wines currently available at retail.

[Gail]

On line the price goes from $75-$130 (Alexander Valley)
$90-$140 (Napa)

To satisfy your curiosity, I'd figure somewhere in the middle as a good guess.

[Darren72]

Go to an auction website and see what price they have traded for. There are many. See http://www.wineloverspage.com/cgi-bin...