Fodor's Expert Review Silver Oak

The first review of this winery's Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon declared the debut 1972 vintage not all that good and overpriced at $6 a bottle. Oops. The now-celebrated Bordeaux-style blend, still the only Napa Valley Cab bearing the winery's label each year, evolved into a cult favorite, and founders Ray Duncan and Justin Meyer received worldwide recognition for their signature use of exclusively American oak to age the wines. Tastings take place in a hospitality center constructed out of reclaimed stone and other materials from a 19th-century Kansas flour mill. The standard session includes sips of the current Napa Valley vintage, its counterpart from Silver Oak's Alexander Valley operation in Sonoma County, and a library wine. Hosts of vertical tastings pour six Cabernet vintages. All visits require an appointment.