Aroma was soft and pretty--reminded me of ripe cherries and purple flowers. Fruit on the palate was primarily very ripe red cherry with some blackberry. Cedar and tobacco notes. Med- acidity and medium- tannins. An enjoyable aged Napa cab which went well with prime rib sub sandwiches. Drink up now--may be a bit past its peak.
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I really wasn’t going to enter a tasting note but after reading some comments that it is past it’s prime and not so good anymore, I just had to respond. If this is that bad then you have not cellared properly. This is a beautiful wine that has resolved most of its tannins but is still going strong. It is soft but well structured and is beautiful in the glass. Pair with some dry aged steaks as we have, and it was awesome.
If you have cellared this properly, don’t worry about being late drinking. This will easily go another 3-4 years. Boo to people that think this was past its prime. Sorry, just telling it as I taste it.
This is an old school wine. It's not the modern day Cabernet that is fruit forward that verges on being over extracted. This has some leather and cigar box flavors to it. Dark fruit that takes a backseat to secondary flavors. Good wine but I think it might be on the downward side at this point. Drink it if you have it; as it's not getting any better.
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One of the better 2011 Napa Cabs i've tasted in awhile. Still plenty of life. Has a distinct forest floor nose, with solid dark fruit on the pallate. Good structure and mouth feel.
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This cab from Napa gets an extra point for the tremendous terroir in the nose and mouth feel. It is as solid a cab as you will find in Napa, but has that extra because of the wonderful earthiness.
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I've got a soft spot in my heart for Groth cabs, but this wine didn't remind me why. Overall kind of short on flavor, length and substance. Not a good vintage for them.
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Meh, not worth the money. You can buy plenty of $20-25 cabs for the same quality. This had a nice nose of black fruits, but was thin on the palate, slightly green. Not much finish at all, left me underwhelmed.
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Flash note. A flash note is one that I distinctly remember the quality/overall rating of a wine but can’t give specifics because the tasting note was not written at time of tasting.
Typical groth profile. Not as endowed as the McCauley tonight. But still very good
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Light purple color, barely any brick. Medium-full body. Nose is blackcurrant - was surprised, thought this was a Cab, turns out it's 12% Merlot (mentioned nowhere on the label) and you can smell it. But there's something else, and to me it's elephant manure - a very particular barnyard aroma, not unpleasant. Sweet, almost off-dry but typical for Napa cab; tannins start firm, build a massive structure on the mid-palate, which tastes a little hot - cigar notes - before syrupy French toast enters on a long finish. Reasonably well integrated, I don't know that I'd put too much more age on it.
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This seems to be settling in and showing some development since my last try back in late 2014. Much more spicy black currant than the red I noted earlier; savory bell pepper and dark earth still very much in the mix, but both seem to add a Bordeaux like complexity. Much different from some of Groth's more recent successes, and a bit less Merlot than usual (12%); but as I noted earlier, I like a style which is less extracted and less fruit forward. I'm really looking forward to see how this progresses.
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Drank towards end of the night was in a cab mood paired it with some cheese . Aerated but did not decant. Nose was straight forward dark fruits hints of cedar and tobacco. Color was deep and dark. Was tight on the palette a bit more tannic than I expected, second glass opened up a little better . Not bad but for the price tag I would have liked more depth. Probably would not sit on these to long.
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Tried this after a bottle of 2000 Bordeaux. This is not a tasting note, but more of a piece of humble advice and a reminder to self. DO NOT MIX WINE GENRES WHEN DRINKING PROMISING WINE. Its a waste of your money and shameful for the wine. I don't care what people say otherwise..I am sold on this fact, after falling victim to this trap over and over and taking innocent wine down with me. If you are going to have a Bordeaux adventure, make it all Bordeaux...a California adventure should be all about California wines, blah, blah, blah...I left the other half of the wine in the bottle on the table and went home. I guess as I am getting older I definitely don't drink wine for the alcohol effect. I must admit that when I got home, I had a scotch! Thanks for reading the rant...
Opened and finished with Christmas dinner with Filet and Risotto. Was alright, was never a big fan of Groth, I so much want to be, but just can't get around their one dimensional wine. Again, not bad, but you wont be impressing anyone.
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Oak is noticeable on the palate, but not overwhelming. The combination of ripe currant and wood recalls the profile of '09 Altesino Brunello, but a bit more sweet. Dark red fruit, juicy, racy, good overall. Would have loved a touch less oak, but quite enjoyable.
Re-tasted recently -- came off as too oaky and unbalanced (pnp).
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nice wine, lighter bodied, less bombastic napa cab, with a solid acidic and tannic structure. mostly black fruits, some vanilla, with good minerality and a long finish.
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I think that the 2011 Groth may jade folks looking for big California character that this bottling tends to frame so well, without going over the top.The 2011 vintage is a total deviation from 2010, in a way that I really enjoyed, and think that Old World fans will easily recognize. The wine was balanced, lower than usual on fruit and sweetness, with a distinct tobacco character and an oaky vanilla finish..I think that this wine will age fantastically well and will arc in 5 years and be great for a decade.. Recommended.
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nose is very slight but with smoky cassis notes. no more than medium body with solid fruit flavors. my complaint is that it is not priced right - too expensive. kathryn hall (white label) is a much better price/value. this is still a good wine.
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nose full of fruit. Full bodied. Lots of tannin. Casis and berries. Earthy and a bit austere at first but then opened up. Let this breathe for about 45 minutes.
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Earthy, herbaceous notes on the nose. Round, fleshy red fruit on the palate with hints of spice and a woody note (sandalwood? faint redwood?) with enough tanin to lend structure and complexity.
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As expected of many Oakville Cabernet's this shows lots of red currant, mostly austere flavors and a healthy dose of earthiness. Because of the cool and wet, challenging vintage there are more green bell pepper like notes than usual, but I find those add character and complexity. Much lighter in texture than past vintages of this offering. Dry, spicy red fruits dominate the flavor profile. Definitely structured. Not up to the usual standard of consistency, but still very good given the vintage conditions. We'll see how it develops with some additional bottle age.
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Revisiting again and didn't really like this bottle. Light on fruit and vegetal which is something I really dislike. Mouthfeel was thin as well. Finding this with a lot of 11s. Will try again in a few months..
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blackcurrant on the nose, nice fruit with spice and smoky feel, and seemed overly tannic and even a little bitter at first. Much nicer on the second night, and it tasted very different with food. In the space of 24 hours went from "meh" to "ok" to "i like this." I really wasn't sure how to rate this - it could have been anywhere in the range 87 to 93. I was underwhelmed at first the n wanted to try it again the next night.
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Better than I expected at this young stage. Ample fruit but not a bomb. Red cherry and blueberry. Nice nose with a hint of oak and vanilla. Not over extracted and not tannic or oaky. Light finish. Will likely be good for a few years but not long term. Consistent with recent Groth.
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12/23/2023 - Norcal5 wrote:
Auction
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8/15/2022 - ralaspech wrote: 90 Points
Aroma was soft and pretty--reminded me of ripe cherries and purple flowers. Fruit on the palate was primarily very ripe red cherry with some blackberry. Cedar and tobacco notes. Med- acidity and medium- tannins. An enjoyable aged Napa cab which went well with prime rib sub sandwiches. Drink up now--may be a bit past its peak.
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6/23/2022 - Sheldog Likes this wine: 92 Points
I really wasn’t going to enter a tasting note but after reading some comments that it is past it’s prime and not so good anymore, I just had to respond. If this is that bad then you have not cellared properly. This is a beautiful wine that has resolved most of its tannins but is still going strong. It is soft but well structured and is beautiful in the glass. Pair with some dry aged steaks as we have, and it was awesome.
If you have cellared this properly, don’t worry about being late drinking. This will easily go another 3-4 years. Boo to people that think this was past its prime. Sorry, just telling it as I taste it.
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9/9/2021 - Jefferyist Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Better young. Tastes like old raisins.
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6/9/2021 - Rickyj16 Likes this wine:
Very good. Three years past its consumption date. Smooth & bold. Pleasant finish.
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11/6/2020 - Dave D wrote: 88 Points
Definitely past its prime needs to be drank now.
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2/21/2020 - wmccone54 wrote: 91 Points
Enjoyed at a birthday dinner party. This seems to be improving over time with each bottle enjoyed. Went perfectly with grilled steaks.
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4/21/2019 - WineSlim wrote: 92 Points
Wasnt what i expected. Light, fresh, plum predominant.
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3/12/2019 - BHwine wrote: 89 Points
This is an old school wine. It's not the modern day Cabernet that is fruit forward that verges on being over extracted.
This has some leather and cigar box flavors to it. Dark fruit that takes a backseat to secondary flavors.
Good wine but I think it might be on the downward side at this point.
Drink it if you have it; as it's not getting any better.
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12/2/2018 - xbrxx Likes this wine: 88 Points
One of the better 2011 Napa Cabs i've tasted in awhile. Still plenty of life. Has a distinct forest floor nose, with solid dark fruit on the pallate. Good structure and mouth feel.
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4/14/2018 - Livininparidise Likes this wine: 85 Points
Good for the troubled 2011 vintage. More fruit on opening. Taste setteled to mineral and espresso. No need to hold any longer
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2/25/2018 - rinnocenzi Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very drinkable now . Don't wait.it will not get better.
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1/28/2018 - wehouck Likes this wine: 93 Points
This cab from Napa gets an extra point for the tremendous terroir in the nose and mouth feel. It is as solid a cab as you will find in Napa, but has that extra because of the wonderful earthiness.
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12/24/2017 - wehouck Likes this wine: 94 Points
This an old world wine from the new world. If you love terroir, this is it. Full body with plenty of earthiness. Wish I had more.
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9/11/2017 - Neecies wrote:
I've got a soft spot in my heart for Groth cabs, but this wine didn't remind me why. Overall kind of short on flavor, length and substance. Not a good vintage for them.
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9/10/2017 - floating_cellar wrote: 89 Points
Meh, not worth the money. You can buy plenty of $20-25 cabs for the same quality. This had a nice nose of black fruits, but was thin on the palate, slightly green. Not much finish at all, left me underwhelmed.
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9/9/2017 - WoodyWineGuy wrote: flawed
Corked. So sad.
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8/1/2017 - eschaefer Likes this wine: 93 Points
Flash note. A flash note is one that I distinctly remember the quality/overall rating of a wine but can’t give specifics because the tasting note was not written at time of tasting.
Typical groth profile. Not as endowed as the McCauley tonight. But still very good
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6/15/2017 - viniferous wrote:
Light purple color, barely any brick. Medium-full body. Nose is blackcurrant - was surprised, thought this was a Cab, turns out it's 12% Merlot (mentioned nowhere on the label) and you can smell it. But there's something else, and to me it's elephant manure - a very particular barnyard aroma, not unpleasant. Sweet, almost off-dry but typical for Napa cab; tannins start firm, build a massive structure on the mid-palate, which tastes a little hot - cigar notes - before syrupy French toast enters on a long finish. Reasonably well integrated, I don't know that I'd put too much more age on it.
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5/27/2017 - wmccone54 wrote: 90 Points
This seems to be settling in and showing some development since my last try back in late 2014. Much more spicy black currant than the red I noted earlier; savory bell pepper and dark earth still very much in the mix, but both seem to add a Bordeaux like complexity. Much different from some of Groth's more recent successes, and a bit less Merlot than usual (12%); but as I noted earlier, I like a style which is less extracted and less fruit forward. I'm really looking forward to see how this progresses.
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3/18/2017 - Baronfreya wrote: 87 Points
Drank towards end of the night was in a cab mood paired it with some cheese . Aerated but did not decant. Nose was straight forward dark fruits hints of cedar and tobacco. Color was deep and dark. Was tight on the palette a bit more tannic than I expected, second glass opened up a little better . Not bad but for the price tag I would have liked more depth. Probably would not sit on these to long.
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3/18/2017 - Purple Tooth wrote:
Tried this after a bottle of 2000 Bordeaux. This is not a tasting note, but more of a piece of humble advice and a reminder to self. DO NOT MIX WINE GENRES WHEN DRINKING PROMISING WINE. Its a waste of your money and shameful for the wine. I don't care what people say otherwise..I am sold on this fact, after falling victim to this trap over and over and taking innocent wine down with me. If you are going to have a Bordeaux adventure, make it all Bordeaux...a California adventure should be all about California wines, blah, blah, blah...I left the other half of the wine in the bottle on the table and went home. I guess as I am getting older I definitely don't drink wine for the alcohol effect. I must admit that when I got home, I had a scotch! Thanks for reading the rant...
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12/26/2016 - jrhonda160 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Opened and finished with Christmas dinner with Filet and Risotto. Was alright, was never a big fan of Groth, I so much want to be, but just can't get around their one dimensional wine. Again, not bad, but you wont be impressing anyone.
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10/4/2016 - leadpencil Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red. Medium to full bodied. Cassis, blackberry, licorice, tar.
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9/21/2016 - dmccann3 Does not like this wine: 82 Points
I had this at a restaurant and the bottle was great. This one just seemed off, not corked but unbalanced with a heavy taste of alcohol
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9/9/2016 - vfranz wrote:
Very nice for $42
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6/8/2016 - Jack667 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great effort from a tough vintage. Really - a good bottle, regardless of vintage. Textbook Cali Cab style.
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3/25/2016 - ppearson9 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very smooth and not as tannicy for an oakville cab. Enjoyed it but not as bold as I expected.
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12/31/2015 - Chi_winesnob Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Had at New Years - really wasn't a fan. Near the bottom of the dozen bottles we had. Pretty flat, medium-bodied.
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12/23/2015 - swapdoc wrote:
Oak is noticeable on the palate, but not overwhelming. The combination of ripe currant and wood recalls the profile of '09 Altesino Brunello, but a bit more sweet. Dark red fruit, juicy, racy, good overall. Would have loved a touch less oak, but quite enjoyable.
Re-tasted recently -- came off as too oaky and unbalanced (pnp).
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12/16/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Still showing the '11 vintage but in quite a nice way.
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12/9/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Notes of pretty green and violets. Ripe fruit and shows the '11 vintage.
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12/7/2015 - ericindc Likes this wine: 90 Points
nice wine, lighter bodied, less bombastic napa cab, with a solid acidic and tannic structure. mostly black fruits, some vanilla, with good minerality and a long finish.
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11/5/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Very big and gutsy oakville on the nose, and then touch mint, finishes light, but in a good way.
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9/17/2015 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Tastes like a Groth.
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7/19/2015 - Purple Tooth wrote: 91 Points
I think that the 2011 Groth may jade folks looking for big California character that this bottling tends to frame so well, without going over the top.The 2011 vintage is a total deviation from 2010, in a way that I really enjoyed, and think that Old World fans will easily recognize.
The wine was balanced, lower than usual on fruit and sweetness, with a distinct tobacco character and an oaky vanilla finish..I think that this wine will age fantastically well and will arc in 5 years and be great for a decade..
Recommended.
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6/22/2015 - wally248 Likes this wine: 89 Points
nose is very slight but with smoky cassis notes. no more than medium body with solid fruit flavors. my complaint is that it is not priced right - too expensive. kathryn hall (white label) is a much better price/value. this is still a good wine.
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5/23/2015 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
Blackberry, cassis, herbs, spicy oak. Nice structure, fairly light. Yummy.
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5/16/2015 - R&R wrote:
Probably just needed to open longer, but came off fairly "green" with a tart stem-y flavor and aroma
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4/27/2015 - richardkim wrote: 89 Points
The nose is dominated by smoky cassis. The body is on the lighter side. Blackcurrant, blackberry and spicy oak dominate the thin midpalate.
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3/23/2015 - Robwild wrote: 88 Points
nose full of fruit. Full bodied. Lots of tannin. Casis and berries. Earthy and a bit austere at first but then opened up. Let this breathe for about 45 minutes.
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3/13/2015 - SWoenophile Likes this wine: 90 Points
Earthy, herbaceous notes on the nose. Round, fleshy red fruit on the palate with hints of spice and a woody note (sandalwood? faint redwood?) with enough tanin to lend structure and complexity.
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12/21/2014 - wmccone54 wrote: 89 Points
As expected of many Oakville Cabernet's this shows lots of red currant, mostly austere flavors and a healthy dose of earthiness. Because of the cool and wet, challenging vintage there are more green bell pepper like notes than usual, but I find those add character and complexity. Much lighter in texture than past vintages of this offering. Dry, spicy red fruits dominate the flavor profile. Definitely structured. Not up to the usual standard of consistency, but still very good given the vintage conditions. We'll see how it develops with some additional bottle age.
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8/11/2014 - rkosd wrote: 89 Points
Revisiting again and didn't really like this bottle. Light on fruit and vegetal which is something I really dislike. Mouthfeel was thin as well. Finding this with a lot of 11s. Will try again in a few months..
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6/20/2014 - alohashirt Likes this wine: 90 Points
blackcurrant on the nose, nice fruit with spice and smoky feel, and seemed overly tannic and even a little bitter at first. Much nicer on the second night, and it tasted very different with food. In the space of 24 hours went from "meh" to "ok" to "i like this." I really wasn't sure how to rate this - it could have been anywhere in the range 87 to 93. I was underwhelmed at first the n wanted to try it again the next night.
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6/9/2014 - rkosd wrote:
Better than I expected at this young stage. Ample fruit but not a bomb. Red cherry and blueberry. Nice nose with a hint of oak and vanilla. Not over extracted and not tannic or oaky. Light finish. Will likely be good for a few years but not long term. Consistent with recent Groth.
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