Mission Codename Trailblazer
Happy 2021!
Visit any savvy collector’s cellar and you’ll find the classics rack, with Opus One, Phelps Insignia, Caymus Special Selection, and last but not least, some Groth Reserve, guaranteed.
Somehow we were able to snag a few more cases from the library AND keep this unbelievable best price in the world deal intact. This deserves a WIA primarily because Cab is King, and Groth Reserve is the King of Cabs.
Groth Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Big points, bigger pedigree. Starting the New Year with a BANG to get in on the last bit of an ultimate special occasion collectible.
Groth is, of course, the very first 100-point California wine, earning that title 3 decades ago.
This stuff is still young but shaping up to become a serious contender as it ages. And has some time before it really hits its stride but man, it’s so good right now. Deep, powerful, and BIG, it’s a no holds barred powerhouse. Here’s how to get maximum enjoyment from this bottle:
• Open this bad boy around noon and let it slowly decant in the bottle.
• Secure yourself a pair of thick 2” tomahawk steaks. Reverse sear those with a little herbed butter… and BAM!
• Consume both in an alternating fashion until you enter some sort of heaven on earth.
Galloni says, “fabulous…what a beautiful wine this is.” Indeed, Groth always kept a loyal following and this neoclassic sure drinks like the return to glory days.
See for yourselves…
95 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous
“Director of Winemaking Cameron Parry has done a tremendous job at Groth since moving over from Montelena a few years ago. The 2015 Cabernets are both terrific and very much worth seeking out. The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is fabulous. Rich and unctuous in the glass, but without losing its classic feel, the Reserve conveys the richness of the vintage nicely. Black cherry, crème de cassis, smoke, licorice and sweet spice infuse the resonant, super-inviting finish. What a beautiful wine this is. Drink 2023-2035.”
94 Points – 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”.
93 Points, Cellar Selection – 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.”
What the Winery Says
2015 Oakville Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
- Winemaker
- Cameron Parry
- Varietals
- 99% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Merlot
- Vintage
- 2015
- Appellation
- Oakville, Napa Valley
- Vineyard
- Estate Reserve Block
- Alcohol
- 14.9%
- Soils
- Yolo loam, gravel strata
- Rootstock
- 039–16 and SO4
- Clones
- 7, 15 and 337
- Night harvested
- September 7 – September 22
- Aging
- 22 months
- Barrels
- 100% new French oak