You Go Joe! Trader Joe’s 2007 Reserve Cabernet Tastes Like a $20 Cab For ½ The Price

If you’re like me, you have probably become a decent sleuth for enjoyable red wines for under $10. They usually hail from France, Spain, South America or Washington and Oregon. In some cases, they even come from the Southern wine regions of California. But if you are like me, you are on the constant hunt for the not just decent, but the truly enjoyable California Wine Country Cabernets that can be had for less than a ten spot. (If you are new to the value wine world, just take my word for it, finding a good California Cab for less than $10 has become about as difficult as understanding how in the world curling became an Olympic sport).

Much to my surprise, the good folks at Trader Joe’s have cracked the code and are offering a truly enjoyable everyday cabernet for around $9. The 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Dry Creek Valley) lets you know right out of the bottle that it is ready for its close up. The deep red color signals that you are about to sink into a real, no kidding, wine country Cabernet with all of the jammy sweet tannins one would hope for in a big bad red. This bottle packs a wallop and we let it sit for a few minutes before digging in.

The 2007 is a big red in every way. It has nearly 15% alcohol, lush tannins, and a dryness that grabs a hold of you and won’t let go. As much as I enjoyed this wine for the price, be forewarned: this is no wimpy budget red. If you don’t like dry, tannin filled cabs, steer clear of this bottle and head back to the kiddie wine isle for something a bit lighter and sweeter. This bottle is for grown ups only. And at $9 a bottle, I would dare say it is one of the better big red California cabs for the price available today.

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