Dried chili pepper, fresh cracked black pepper, dried tobacco, menthol, prunes and raisins on the nose. Medium + intensity of aromas, which change to high intensity after an hour in the glass. This smells like everything I look for in aged Califronia CS. The palate adds smokd meat and tomato leaf, and brings the fruits back to life a bit. They're fresher, and black cherry and blueberry flavors are added. Medium + intensity of flavors. Even so, the nose is the best thing about this. Medium length of finish
Medium + body with low acid and some medium + tannins still present. Clearly in the second half of its life; but not without charms...especially olfactory ones.
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Tasted thin and acidic when opened. Decanted, finished half at supper, closed and left overnight. At supper the next day, absolutely delicious. Soft, some tannin remaining, superb with grilled steak.
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dark garnet color. Nose herbal ... perhaps a bit green ... but also showing dark fruit. Medium body, showing more acid than tannin. Suspect it might have been acidified back in the day given the texture. Drinkable, but not particularly attractive. I like old Napa cabs, but this one is drinkable but not memorable.
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An experiment... Brownish purple and perhaps a touch murky. Nose dominated by Madiera aromas, orange peel and walnuts. But still sweet and soft, enjoyable to drink. This bottle had a very dry cork and perhaps air got in. 87 if one wanted to score it.
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From a 750 ml bottle, the last one of the case I purchased when released. Deep garnet color with some amber at the edge; evaluated using Riedel Vinum Bordeaux and Impitoyable No. 3 glassware. Medium bodied with aromas of black cherries, toast, and pepper with a slight herbaceous streak that has finally integrated into the other aromas after nearly two decades, but lowered my overall score. From my earlier notes, this wine had a worrisome vegetal streak upon release and was very tannic. Mature, but with some gentle tannins suggesting that this wine will certainly hold in a cold cellar. Flavors on the palate are black cherry, menthol, thyme, dill, and wood smoke. Tasted before the 1986 Groth Reserve Cabernet.
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Fully mature and ready to drink. A garnet color with a hint of amber on the edge; Still structured with no obvious tannins; Flavors included some blackberry, cassis, mint, pepper, leather and tobacco. Another example that California cabs can age, or at least those made in the mid '80's can and have!
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Nice garnet color. Nose of peppe, leather, tobacco cassis and black fruits. Good body, with tannins diissipated. Close to its peak but not over the hill.
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Opened to a mature, brickish, red color. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, pepper, leather, tobacco and vanilla were evident. The pepper seemed more pronounced than the 15% merlot the label indicates this bottling contains. (85% cab. sauv.) The acidity was good and the wine kept its structure through the evening. This was only the 5th year from Groth and while slightly past its prime, a mature, very good cab. Drink now!
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BLACK CHERRY, MINT, CHOCOALTE, OAK, BLACKBERRIES, CINNOMON, AND HERBALNESS IN THE NOSE. DEEP FRUIT, BLACKBERRIES AND CURRENTS IN THE FLAVOR. NICE LEGS AND A MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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4/13/2024 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dried chili pepper, fresh cracked black pepper, dried tobacco, menthol, prunes and raisins on the nose. Medium + intensity of aromas, which change to high intensity after an hour in the glass. This smells like everything I look for in aged Califronia CS. The palate adds smokd meat and tomato leaf, and brings the fruits back to life a bit. They're fresher, and black cherry and blueberry flavors are added. Medium + intensity of flavors. Even so, the nose is the best thing about this. Medium length of finish
Medium + body with low acid and some medium + tannins still present. Clearly in the second half of its life; but not without charms...especially olfactory ones.
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6/30/2022 - rjt1111 wrote:
Tasted thin and acidic when opened. Decanted, finished half at supper, closed and left overnight. At supper the next day, absolutely delicious. Soft, some tannin remaining, superb with grilled steak.
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8/30/2020 - RusisWine wrote: 95 Points
No early decanting. Beautiful balance and ample fruit still evident. Black cherries and cassis. Drinking wonderfully.
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7/24/2018 - Matthesen wrote: 88 Points
dark garnet color. Nose herbal ... perhaps a bit green ... but also showing dark fruit. Medium body, showing more acid than tannin. Suspect it might have been acidified back in the day given the texture. Drinkable, but not particularly attractive. I like old Napa cabs, but this one is drinkable but not memorable.
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9/12/2017 - Burgnick wrote: 86 Points
Over the peak. Very green on the nose. Palate is very sweet but lacks acidity. One dimensional.
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5/18/2015 - KPB wrote: flawed
An experiment... Brownish purple and perhaps a touch murky. Nose dominated by Madiera aromas, orange peel and walnuts. But still sweet and soft, enjoyable to drink. This bottle had a very dry cork and perhaps air got in. 87 if one wanted to score it.
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5/28/2009 - plitton wrote:
Too old--2 bottles
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5/4/2008 - vinpre wrote: 91 Points
From a 750 ml bottle, the last one of the case I purchased when released. Deep garnet color with some amber at the edge; evaluated using Riedel Vinum Bordeaux and Impitoyable No. 3 glassware. Medium bodied with aromas of black cherries, toast, and pepper with a slight herbaceous streak that has finally integrated into the other aromas after nearly two decades, but lowered my overall score. From my earlier notes, this wine had a worrisome vegetal streak upon release and was very tannic. Mature, but with some gentle tannins suggesting that this wine will certainly hold in a cold cellar. Flavors on the palate are black cherry, menthol, thyme, dill, and wood smoke. Tasted before the 1986 Groth Reserve Cabernet.
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1/13/2007 - vinolovers wrote: 92 Points
Fully mature and ready to drink. A garnet color with a hint of amber on the edge; Still structured with no obvious tannins; Flavors included some blackberry, cassis, mint, pepper, leather and tobacco. Another example that California cabs can age, or at least those made in the mid '80's can and have!
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4/29/2006 - vinolovers wrote: 90 Points
Nice garnet color. Nose of peppe, leather, tobacco cassis and black fruits. Good body, with tannins diissipated. Close to its peak but not over the hill.
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7/3/2005 - vinolovers wrote: 91 Points
Opened to a mature, brickish, red color. Aromas of blackberry, cassis, pepper, leather, tobacco and vanilla were evident. The pepper seemed more pronounced than the 15% merlot the label indicates this bottling contains. (85% cab. sauv.) The acidity was good and the wine kept its structure through the evening. This was only the 5th year from Groth and while slightly past its prime, a mature, very good cab. Drink now!
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6/11/2001 - buckeye76 wrote: 92 Points
BLACK CHERRY, MINT, CHOCOALTE, OAK, BLACKBERRIES, CINNOMON, AND HERBALNESS IN THE NOSE. DEEP FRUIT, BLACKBERRIES AND CURRENTS IN THE FLAVOR. NICE LEGS AND A MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
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1/16/1991 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 84 Points
GROTH, GROTH RESERVE, FENESTRA, AND DUNN (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Rich, berry nose, slightly watery, nice berry fruit, lots of acid.
Group #8.
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