Winemaker Notes
Intense deep garnet in the glass, this Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromas of sweet plum and black cherry, complemented by oak spice notes of nutmeg, anise and vanilla. A smooth entry on the palate builds quickly into lush, ripe, dark cherry and black currants, backed up with sweet oak and an excellent tannin structure.
Certified sustainable through the Napa Green and Fish Friendly Farming.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a mysterious, rather somber wine. Dark fruit, graphite, crushed rocks, lavender, spice, espresso and mocha build nicely in the glass. The ripeness of the vintage is evident, and yet this has aged very well. It’s a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years.
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Wine & Spirits
Groth’s Reserve Block runs north from Oakville Cross Road along the eastern bank of Conn Creek, just under 28 acres replanted in 1999 and 2001. The vines produced a bold, luscious beauty in 2015, defining Oakville in its rich dimensions, held in check by proper harmonies in the tannins (think Presbyterian church music, clear and resolute). The fresh fruit flavors of blueberries and plums have exceptional length, ample and energized, while the warmth of the wine begins to show after several days open. Lovely to drink on release, this should develop well over the next several years.
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Tasting Panel
Smooth and creamy with luscious, tangy style, this is a long, linear wine with subtle elegance and fnesse from a family-owned and -operated winery.
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Wine Enthusiast
Plum, clove and tobacco mark this distinct reserve-worthy red, made from the producer’s own estate-reserve block. Inviting floral aromatics entice equally, underlining its understated elegance and class. Black licorice lines thick, grippy tannin and oak, suggesting ample time for cellaring.
Groth Vineyards & Winery is a family-owned company with deep roots in the Oakville AVA,
home to Napa Valley’s largest concentration of top Cabernet Sauvignon producers.
Dennis and Judy Groth made a life-changing investment in 1981 when they bought a vineyard on Oakville Cross Road, in the heart of Napa Valley, with hopes it would produce wines as special as their favorites from the region. It didn’t take long for their intuition to be proven right. Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate gave the Groth 1985 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon the distinction of being California’s first 100-point wine.
Today, with Dennis and Judy’s daughter, Suzanne Groth, as President & CEO, Groth sustainably farms 165 acres of estate vineyards with the dual goals of producing the highest-quality, most elegant wines we can while caring for our estate for future generations. The winery produces critically acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The 2016 Reserve Cabernet was ranked No. 4 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2019 list.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Home to some of the most sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon in America, Napa Valley’s Oakville district stretches across the center of Napa's valley floor and foothills between the Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. This AVA is home to the legendary To Kalon Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard, as well as many powerhouse wineries including Screaming Eagle, Silver Oak, Robert Mondavi, Opus One, Far Niente and Groth.
The climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle tug of war between warmer inland air and the cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.
Cabernet here is often bottled varietally but is also popular in Bordeaux Blends. Oakville wines are known for their silky, sensual textures, structured tannins, dark and brooding fruit and lovely aromatics. These age-worthy and prestigious wines are favored by collectors throughout the world.