Groth Oakville-Napa Valley 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, $84.99-$99.99, 96 points, poured an opaque deep red with flashes of maroon trending rosewood-red toward the broad clear wine ring with heavy sheeting at the glass edge.
The wonderfully complex aroma profile wafted mulling spices, roses, sandalwood, and toasty ripe blackberry.
Borderline full-body, good acidity, supple and appropriate tannins carried flavors reflective of the nose and a touch of sassafras with building warm spices which accelerated into the forever finish of bourbon notes, mint, and a warm well-integrated 14.5% alcohol.
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Groth did a superb job with a difficult vintage...other 2011 Cabs weren't so drinkable.
ReplyDeleteVG: Thank you for pointing that out (I hadn't thought about the difficult 2011 vintage), but upon reviewing my tasting notes on Napa Cabs, I can see that you are right (of course you're right;-)), as was demonstrated several times by comparing 2011 vs. other Napa vintages, but especially with the 2012 vintage; here is just one example:
DeleteChateau Montelena Napa Valley 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, $52.99 (gift) but found for $44.99, 90 points
Chateau Montelena Napa Valley 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, $37.99-$47.99, 94 points.
What else is interesting was my first impressions on the Groth 2011 Res., which at first struck me as being somewhat inferior to the other two vintages I've tasted, but as hours turned into the next day, the wine both improved and so did its favorability due to a wonderful complexity; first impressions gave way to a magical sophistication!
Thanks again for urging me on to a greater explanation of what was going on, that in the body of the post would have been TMI!
"Magical sophistication", I like that.
ReplyDelete