Wine Notes and Food Pairing

2005 Silverado Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

A delightful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (87 %), Merlot (8%), Petit Verdot (3%) and Cabernet Franc (2%) primarily from our Stags Leap and Mt. George vineyards, our 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon will stand the test of time. Though young, this wine is highly structured and boasts firm tannins, so it will gradually evolve into a classic Napa Valley Cab. The Stags Leap fruit provides delicious black cherry and ripe plum flavors along with a velvety texture, while the Mt. George grapes lend licorice notes and great balance. This wine also boasts a medium to full body, with hints of cedar, earth and dried herbs.

Food pairing: Cabernet Sauvignon is a natural match for beef, so be sure to serve this with your favorite grilled steaks, especially if they’ve been marinated in an herb-laden concoction or are topped with an herb-infused butter or sauce. It’s also dynamite with beef tenderloin that’s been flavored with rosemary and garlic. During the summer months, we like to put together cheese platters for casual get-togethers, and Cabernet Sauvignon is a great match for mellow cheeses such as Dry Jack, Manchego and Parmigiano-Reggiano.
 

2005 Silverado Vineyards Napa Valley Sangiovese

Sangiovese can be a tough grape to grow, which is one of the reasons why we’re one of the few Napa Valley wineries still producing this wine. To achieve the flavor maturity necessary for a delicious Sangiovese, we allow the grapes to linger on the vine longer than our other red grapes, so that they are “riper” at harvest. We blended in a bit of Zinfandel (2%) to help balance the flavors of our 2005 Sangiovese. The result is a wine that is filled with bright berry and ripe cherry aromas and flavors. It displays the classic Sangiovese acidity that make this varietal such a versatile food wine.

Food pairing: Since it’s an Italian varietal, Sangiovese pairs beautifully with all sorts of Italian fare – think grilled sausages and peppers, pasta with fresh tomatoes and basil, beef brasciole, pepperoni pizza, eggplant Parmigiana, cioppino. We also like to serve it with grilled meats, from butterflied leg of lamb to barbecued ribs. You’ll love the fact that its high acidity makes Sangiovese a great match for such a wide array of foods.
 

2006 Silverado Vineyards Mt. George Napa Valley Merlot

Our winemaker, Jon Emmerich, is fond of crafting small quantities of wine from very special vineyard blocks, and this wine is one of them – we bottled fewer than 400 cases. Available exclusively for the enjoyment of our Silverado Vineyards wine club members, our Mt. George Merlot was first introduced in 2004 and it quickly became a club favorite. If you enjoyed the 2004, you’re going to love this wine! It showcases the magnificent qualities of grapes grown in our highly esteemed Mt. George vineyard: power, spice, structure and balance. In spite of its pedigree, this is a very quaffable wine, with ripe berry aromas and flavors, hints of dried herbs and a lush density in the mid-palate. 

Food pairing: It’s grilling season, so we can’t help but suggest that you pair this delicious wine with your favorite fare from the grill – maybe filet mignon topped with sautéed mushrooms or steak au poivre. This flavorful Merlot will also stand up to barbecued chicken, grilled gourmet sausages, pork tenderloin, baby back ribs slathered with a cherry glaze and other flavorful summer fare.