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2019 Groth Napa Sauvignon Blanc

2019 Groth Napa Sauvignon Blanc

92 WE

Featured Review
With a hearty helping of 18% Sémillon, this white has a creamy, viscous entry adorned in jasmine. Lemon pith, grapefruit and tangerine present as lush and lengthy on the palate, balanced by fresh, persistent acidity. Wine Enthusiast

Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE

Critic Reviews

With a hearty helping of 18% Sémillon, this white has a creamy, viscous entry adorned in jasmine. Lemon pith, grapefruit and tangerine present as lush and lengthy on the palate, balanced by fresh, persistent acidity.

Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE

Wine Details for 2019 Groth Napa Sauvignon Blanc

Type of Wine California White : If you're in the mood for a creative, compelling white wine, few regions can compete with California, and it's immense varietal diversity. With the pure, potent essence of grapes such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Gris, these wines will stimulate your senses and arouse your intellect. Give in, and enjoy.
Varietal Sauvignon Blanc : The varietal of Sauvignon Blanc, which hails from Western France and now successfully grown in emerging and established wine regions all over the world, is an ancient grape. Sauvignon Blanc and its red counterpart, Cabernet Franc, gifted to the world of wine its offspring, Cabernet Sauvignon. Its progeny has become the most popular and widely planted varietal in the world but Sauvignon Blanc is no slouch, ranking among the top ten, itself.

Its exact emergence upon the earth is still undetermined, but appears to be indigenous to central France (the Loire Valley) or to the southwest France (Bordeaux). There is still discussion as to Sauvignon Blanc’s actual origins, with both Bordeaux and the Loire claiming to be the grape’s homeland. Both fashion incredible wine from the varietal and have been a leading force for the wine’s world-wide popularity. Sauvignon Blanc is so popular today, that 123,000 hectares are planted to the varietal across the world, ranking third among all white wine producing varietals, behind only Airen (218,000ha) and Chardonnay (211,000ha). The origin dispute aside, the grape’s versatility means its regions and styles are remarkably diverse, both within France and internationally.

Sauvignon Blanc’s geographical spread and versatility means it is found in a range of styles from classic dry white wines to individual, highly aromatic international interpretations to highly unctuous, sweet wines. The Loire appellations of Sancerre and Pouilly-Fume produce, arguably, the greatest example of the quintessential Sauvignon Blanc offering, often as a single-varietal and unoaked bringing forth wines that are mineral, citrusy, steely, bright and reasonably long-lived. Pouilly and Sancerre are home to some of the top selling Sauvignon Blanc domains in the world, from Dageuneau (Pouilly-Fume) to Vacheron (Sancerre).

Bordeaux also produces a classic dry white from Sauvignon Blanc, but is most often in the form of a blend of Sauvignon and Semillon. Haut-Brion Blanc, Pavillon Blanc de Chateau Margaux (100% Sauvignon Blanc) and Cos d’Estournel Blanc are some of the top selling, quality white Bordeaux offerings. Whereas the typical winemaking techniques of Loire do not involve oak-aging, it most often does occur in Bordeaux, giving the wine a signature texture and a mix of herbal and tropical aromas. In Sauternes (including Barsac) a very unique winegrowing method is implemented. The grapes of Sauvignon Blanc (Semillon and Muscadelle) endure a long hang time in which the late Autumn fog and humid climate attracts Botrytis Cinerea, a fungus that attacks the grape, also known as noble rot. The result is an unctuous, utterly delicious golden liquid that has placed the wines of Sauternes as some of the most characteristic and expensive in the world. Chateau d’Yquem and Chateau Climens are undoubtedly among the top producers in the region.

Outside of France, Sauvignon Blanc, with its diverse and easily manipulated qualities has grown in popularity and now inhabits over 38 countries in some of the greatest terroir hotspots including New Zealand, California, Chile, Spain and Australia. Sauvignon Blanc arrived in California in the 1860’s but the varietal’s mainstream influence on American consumers wouldn’t come until 1966 when Robert Mondavi fashioned a dry white in the style of a Loire wine, naming it Fume Blanc. The varietal has only grown in quality and popularity in America since.

Sauvignon Blanc thrives in terroirs and climates that mimic that of the Loire Valley, where it perhaps, reaches its full zenith. The soil consists heavily of flint (silica), which gives it a smoky aroma found in both Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre. However, Sauvignon Blanc is quite adaptable to a myriad of terroirs around the world, revealing each terroir through the wine itself. The varietal of Sauvignon Blanc is simply tremendous in its quality, non-discrimination of its elements (to a degree) and has fashioned some of the world’s most intriguing array of wines.

Country US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented.

Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.
Subregion Napa Valley

Overview

Producer Groth : Though all of Napa is renowned for its production of quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville is one of those special sub-appellations where Cabernet is simply, magical.  It is home to some of the most iconic Cabernet Sauvignon produced in Napa Valley and is some of the most sought-after terroir in all of California.  In 1981, when Dennis and Judy Groth decided to lay roots in this famed terroir, their aim was to produce great Cabernet Sauvignon.  After only a few short years, the bar was raised when their 1985 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded the coveted 100 point score.  This would set a high standard not only for Groth, but for all of Napa Valley, as it was the first American winery to receive such an honor.  The tale of the Groth legacy is not dissimilar to that of many other California wineries that have risen to stardom; however, it was Groth that set the benchmark for rest of the country.

Where Groth now resides, once were vineyards cultivated in the mid-1970s by Justin Meyer (co-founder of Silver Oak Cellars) to both Cabernet Sauvignon and Napa Gamay (Valdiguie) and both varieties were being sold to other wineries at the time.  Dennis, in being thorough, wanted to sample wines from comparable vineyards to ascertain the quality of his own property.  When he tasted a 1978 Villa Mt. Eden Cabernet (produced from the site that is now Plumpjack Winery) he was so impressed that he ultimately contacted the winemaker of that particular wine, Nils Venge, who he eventually hired. 

Groth’s early sales spike can be directly attributed to one man’s praise, the highly esteemed Robert Parker, who in 1984 wrote complementary notes about their wines.  Such was Parker’s influence that it immediately resulted in a rapid increase in sales of their wines.  The following year would be a momentous occasion in Parker’s own career.  Parker awarded his first 100-point score to an American Winery for their 1985 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.  This resulted in lines of customers waiting outside the winery in hopes of purchasing the wine (which is done online today).  This set a high standard for Groth as their reserve is only made during certain years when it meets their exacting quality standards.  In some instances, the Reserve may not be produced for four to five years.

The 1990s brought about many improvements to the estate, including the replanting the vineyards.  The vine row orientation was changed from east-west to north-south, allowing breezes from the San Pablo Bay to flow more easily through the vineyards.  Increased air circulation reduced the need for fungicides, which is better for the wine and for the environment.  Today, the planting of cover crops has increased soil organic matter, the soil has a higher water-holding capacity which allows for less frequent irrigation.  Specialized farm equipment is used to control weeds without the use of herbicides.  The addition of owl boxes, raptor perches, and blue bird boxes on the property has helped with naturally controlling pests and insects.  The Groth’s are dedicated to sustainable, healthy farming techniques.

Located in the heart of the Oakville District, Groth’s Estate vineyards span 121 acres on the valley floor of Napa.  Prominent neighbors in this premium vineyard neighborhood include Silver Oak, Screaming Eagle, Plumpjack and Saddleback cellars…not bad real estate.  Groth is renowned for their Estate and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, though their portfolio also includes a proprietary red blend (Oakville Cross) a proprietary white (Estate White) and Sauvignon Blanc.  Based on their excellent reputation, some people are not even aware they produce white wines.  The Groth’s also own Hillview Vineyard (10-minute drive from Groth Estate), located in the Oak Knoll District where they produce a single-vineyard Chardonnay.

The magic of Oakville lies in the terroir.  A breakdown of bedrock plates creates residual soils in the hills.  Along the margins of the valley, distinct alluvial soils form on the fans composed of material washed down from the adjoining hills during torrential rain events.  Along the axial part of the valley where the Napa River flows are fluvial soils, finer grained loam coming from upstream locations and deposited from floodwaters. 

In 2018, a re-plant project, that will take more than 30 years to complete, was set in place.  This project was to secure the future of the winery for the third generation of the Groth family.  With hope, intuition, a shared vision and their esteemed neighbors, the Groth family helped Oakville become recognized as one of the world’s preeminent wine regions.  Today, the Oakville AVA (American Viticultural Area) is home to largest concentration of the very best Napa Valley producers of Cabernet Sauvignon. 



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