Silver Mountain Vineyards

Silver Mountain proprietor and winemaker Jerold O’Brien developed his palate on fine French Burgundies and Bordeaux while serving in the Air Force during World War II. A pilot and flight instructor, he has no fear of heights, which explains why his vineyard is among the highest in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation.

He also has no fear of blending, and this lovely collaboration of three Bordeaux grapes bears witness to its clever name: Alloy perfectly describes the fusion of two or more elements to make a seamless new material. He succeeds nicely here, from the deep, berry dark color to the charming nose of strawberries, plums, licorice, sweet tobacco and coriander. There is even a faint hint of Bay Rhum, an exotic men’s aftershave my father and grandfather enjoyed wearing back in the 70s. (That brought back great memories! You never know where a bottle of wine will take you.) On the palate, the elegant dark cherry with cocoa dust envelopes the wonderful acid core, wrapping additional flavors of plum tart, cassis and rose petals around the smooth tannins. On the delicious finish is a hint of lavender.

This totally elegant wine conjures up images of velvet-gowned women with fabulous feather-bedecked hats, waltzing with chintz-waist-coated gentlemen on a gleaming marble dance floor. Close your eyes and you can see their candlelit shadows flirting on the walls. Good wine enhances all your senses.

Reviewed July 20, 2006 by Laura Ness.

Other Awards & Accolades

Silver Medal - 2005 Santa Cruz Mountains Commercial Wine Competition
Bronze Medal - 2006 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Bronze Medal - 2005 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Bronze Medal - 2007 Dallas Morning News Wine Competition