The 1987 Napa Valley Cabernet offers more of a black fruit character in the nose and less of the herbaceous, spicy component found in the Alexander Valley. It is also a bit denser, more tannic, and slightly deeper and more ageworthy than the Alexander Valley. Irresistibly precocious, it can now be guzzled with great pleasure, but it could be cellared for at least a decade.
Silver Oak's 1987s do not have the weight, richness, and multi-dimensional character of the 1984s, 1985s, and 1986s. But do not expect them to gather much dust on retailers' shelves.