We tasted the 2008 vintage of Groth Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon in the office recently and I walked away both impressed and thinking about how we all approach vintage. Vintage becomes a double edged blade when it comes to selling and buying wine, especially when it pertains to regions such Bordeaux, Brunello di Montalcino or Napa Valley. So called Vintages of the Century can be followed by equally good or better wines the following year that struggle to find buyers. We seem to be hung over after dizzily chasing the hyped vintage. I believe 2007 and 2008 in Napa is exactly this scenario. There is no doubt 2007 was a great vintage for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and deserves all the media and consumer acclaim the vintage has received. 2008, although subtly diiferent in style, was equally good but does not seem to have much buzz so far; in large part this is because there simply was not much of it! Severe frost put natural limitations on crop levels, add a late and hot indian summer to get the grapes ripe and a small but outstanding harvest was the theme throughout through most of Napa. Groth was no exception, their 2008 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is soft and luscious with blackberry on the palate and sweet vanilla on the nose from 22 months of barrel aging. As much as I continue to appreciate the power of the 2007 vintage, I think many of the 2008's including Groth may offer more pleasure!
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