Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2016

Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2016 is a 750ml Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon blend at 14.2% ABV from Groth Vineyards & Winery. This release earned 96 points from Wine Spectator and ranked #4 on the publication's prestigious Top 100 Wines of 2019 list—a landmark achievement for the estate's flagship red.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.2%  |  Origin: Oakville, Napa Valley, California  |  Blend: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot  |  Aged 22 Months in 100% New French Oak  |  Producer: Groth Vineyards & Winery

Production & Heritage

Groth Vineyards & Winery farms a nearly 28-acre Reserve Vineyard in the heart of Oakville, one of Napa Valley's most coveted sub-appellations. The vineyard sits on soils with a disproportionately high concentration of chert—a hard, compact sedimentary rock composed of quartz crystals and fossils—lending the fruit a distinctive mineral tension uncommon even among Oakville peers. The 2016 Reserve spent 22 months aging in 100% new French oak barrels, and the final blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon with 9% Merlot adds a subtle layer of mid-palate plushness without softening the wine's structural core.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Spiced cherries lead an alluring nose, followed by cassis, dark plum, and a savory note of anise. With time in the glass, the bouquet expands into crème de cassis, lead pencil, damp earth, and tobacco.

Taste: The entry is smooth and juicy, building quickly into a full mouthfeel supported by bright acidity. A focused, almost piercing beam of cassis and raspberry coulis rides through the mid-palate alongside lush plum, bright cherry, and tart red currant. Abundant but finely grained tannins provide structure without heaviness, and singed alder and iron notes add a savory edge at the peak.

Finish: Medium to long, with impressive purity of fruit carrying through clean, elegant tannins. Lingering impressions of dark berry, mineral, and subtle oak spice slowly taper off.

How to Drink the Groth Reserve 2016

This wine is at its best served neat in a large-bowled Bordeaux glass at 62–65°F; decanting for 30 to 60 minutes allows the layered bouquet to fully develop. It pairs naturally with rich, savory preparations: try it alongside a grilled ribeye steak where the tannin and acidity cut through fat, a braised lamb shank that echoes the wine's earthy depth, or a mushroom risotto finished with aged Parmigiano-Reggiano to complement its savory, mineral undertones.

Best For

• Celebrating a milestone occasion with a top-ranked Napa Cabernet
• Gifting a serious wine collector a Wine Spectator Top 100 selection
• Anchoring a Napa Valley vertical or Oakville-focused tasting flight
• Pairing with a special dinner of grilled or braised red meat

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Groth Reserve 2016 taste like? It delivers a focused core of cassis, dark cherry, and raspberry coulis, framed by fine-grained tannins, bright acidity, and subtle savory notes of anise, earth, and iron. The overall impression is one of medium-bodied elegance rather than brute power.

How does Groth Reserve 2016 compare to Robert Mondavi Oakville Cabernet? Both wines come from Oakville and showcase the appellation's hallmark concentration of dark fruit and structure. Groth's Reserve tends toward a more mineral-driven, medium-bodied profile shaped by its chert-rich soils, whereas Mondavi's Oakville bottling often displays broader, riper fruit weight.

Is Groth Reserve 2016 good for cellaring? Yes—its fine tannins, bright acidity, and concentrated fruit suggest a drinking window that extends well into the late 2020s and beyond, though it is already drinking beautifully now with decanting.

Where is Groth Reserve 2016 made? It is produced by Groth Vineyards & Winery in Oakville, a benchland sub-appellation in the central Napa Valley known for producing some of California's most acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit is sourced from the estate's nearly 28-acre Reserve Vineyard.

What foods pair well with Groth Reserve 2016? Grilled ribeye or filet mignon highlights the wine's tannic structure; braised short ribs mirror its earthy depth; roasted rack of lamb complements the dark fruit and savory anise notes; aged hard cheeses like Gruyère or Comté echo the wine's richness; and dark-chocolate desserts with a high cacao percentage match its berry intensity without overwhelming the finish.

What sizes does Groth Reserve 2016 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Groth Reserve 2016 worth the price? It positions as a premium Oakville estate Cabernet, and its 96-point Wine Spectator score plus #4 ranking on the Top 100 Wines of 2019 list place it among the most critically lauded wines in its vintage and price tier.

Why Groth Reserve 2016?

Ranking #4 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2019 is an achievement few Napa Cabernets reach in any vintage. The 2016 Reserve draws its character from chert-laden Oakville soils that produce a distinctly mineral, tightly focused expression of the variety—setting it apart from the richer, more opulent style common in the appellation. Twenty-two months in 100% new French oak adds complexity without masking that purity of fruit. For anyone seeking a benchmark Oakville Cabernet with major critical validation and genuine vineyard-driven identity, this bottling delivers on every count.