• Cheap Wine < $10
  • Cheap Wine +/- $20
  • Cheap Wine – Red
    • Bubbly (blanc de noirs)
    • Cabernet Sauvignon
    • Grenache/Garnacha
    • Malbec
    • Merlot
    • Mourvedre
    • Petite Sirah
    • Pinot Noir
    • Red Blend
    • Rosé
    • Sparkling Rosé
    • Syrah/Shiraz
    • Tempranillo
    • Zinfandel
  • Cheap Wine – White
    • Bubbly (blanc de blancs)
    • Chardonnay
    • Chenin Blanc
    • Pinot Gris/Grigio
    • Riesling
    • Sauvignon Blanc
    • Torrontes
    • White Blend
    • Other White Grapes
  • CheapWineFinder Podcast

Cheap Wine Finder

Remarkable wines that pair nicely with your wallet

You are here: Home / Cheap Wine - Red / Cabernet Sauvignon / Paso Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Paso Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

August 19, 2020 by Domaine Dave 8 Comments

The Story

Paso Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

The Paso Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is a Trader Joe’s $7.99 exclusive sourced from vineyards in the Paso Robles AVA of the Central Coast AVA in California. Paso Robles is about halfway between Los Angeles and San Fransisco.

Trader Joe’s does not offer up much information on this Cabernet. Most of the Fearless Flyer article refers to the Paso Dragon name. The Paso Drago is Lake Nacimiento which is located up in the hills and if you squint your eyes look something like a flying Dragon.

Paso Robles is getting a very good reputation for growing Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Other California AVAs tend to emulate France or Italy and focus on Pinot Noir like Burgundy or Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot such as Bordeaux. But Paso Robles follows no one it does its own thing. While they respect other wine regions they are free to try need techniques and styles.

How much innovation and style is going to show up in a $7.99 Bottle of Paso Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 remains to be seen (the glass is poured just have not tried a sip, yet).

Cabernet Sauvignon is usually problematic with sub-ten dollar wine. Oak flavor and conditioning is an internal part of the Cabernet flavor profile. A good oak barrel can cost $1,000 and a Cabernet Sauvignon barrel does not hold all that much wine.

There is not a lot of budget in a $7.99 wine for wine barrels. Yes, you do see a good many used barrels (oak barrels can be used up to five times before they are considered neutral) and that does help defray the expense. Getting authentic oak barrel flavoring into an inexpensive Cab takes skill and expertise.

See also  Daou Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

The Paso Dragon has a heavy, expensive bottle and has its name stamped on the cork. The label is the equal of any retail store wine brand, they did not skimp on the packaging for this wine. I always say you can choose a wine by the label and so far so good. The alcohol content is a reasonable 13.5%.

Paso Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 Tasting Notes

The color is dark black cherry red with an almost clear halo. The nose is extracted blackberry, a little, spice, light herbs, ripe raspberry, orange zest. The Fearless Flyer mentioned toasted marshmallow which I didn’t find, but you might want to see if you get it.

This is a smooth Cabernet Sauvignon with rich flavors, maybe not too complex, but what is in your glass is tasty. It starts with blackberry, and strong licorice, dusty chocolate powder, and plum. The mid-palate adds a little blueberry, some vanilla, and a late slap of spice.

The acidity is hitting my palate a little oddly, getting a fizzy sensation. It isn’t pronounced and it does not hinder the wine’s enjoyment. I could very well be just me, I do not think that everyone will share this experience. I always feel slightly silly complaining that a $7.99 wine isn’t perfect. A few years ago an odd reaction to a cheap wine’s acidity would be the least of the problems. I am kind of nitpicking while trying to be accurate.

The Summary

  • The Paso Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 is a solid California Cab and drinks well above its price tag.
  • With each sip my issue with the acidity is diminished and again it did not interfere with may sipping enjoyment.
  • The oak flavoring in this Cab is solid, sometimes inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignon has “fake” tasting flavorings. That is not an issue here. I do not know how the oak got into the wine, but which ever method they used worked well.
See also  Argyle Willamette Valley Brut 2017

Check out the Podcast below!!

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cheap Wine < $10, Cheap Wine - Red, Cheap Wine Podcast Tagged With: best cheap wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, central coast ava, cheap cabernet sauvignon, Paso Robles, Trader Joe's, wine podcast

Comments

  1. Tony Panchenko says

    August 28, 2020 at 11:44 am

    Who produces and bottles the wine for Trader Joe’s ?

  2. Nan says

    October 6, 2020 at 6:50 pm

    I have the same question as Tony. What winery produced Paso Dragon?

  3. Rob Lacomble says

    October 7, 2020 at 2:02 pm

    What winery is making this wine?

  4. Domaine Dave says

    October 8, 2020 at 3:23 pm

    To find out who made a wine go to https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks-application-process/search-trademark-database and do a Trademark search. It will tell you who owns the brand name. Since the winery is not putting its own name on the wine and is possibly producing wine to the store’s specifications and not their own, this information may not tell the whole story. While the wine may not be the sort of wine they themselves would offer for sale I doubt if they would skimp on quality.

  5. Domaine Dave says

    October 8, 2020 at 3:23 pm

    To find out who made a wine go to https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks-application-process/search-trademark-database and do a Trademark search. It will tell you who owns the brand name. Since the winery is not putting its own name on the wine and is possibly producing wine to the store’s specifications and not their own, this information may not tell the whole story. While the wine may not be the sort of wine they themselves would offer for sale I doubt if they would skimp on quality.

  6. Robin says

    December 16, 2020 at 2:13 pm

    When are you going to produce a Chardonnay and other white wines? Not everyone likes Cab.
    Dragon of course!❤️

  7. Anne says

    April 18, 2021 at 3:14 pm

    How can I get a PASO DRAGON label? I love this Cabernet and adore the label ………have been collecting labels for many years……but have been unable to remove this label from the bottle.

  8. Domaine Dave says

    April 19, 2021 at 12:14 pm

    Hi,

    A trademark search https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=login&p_lang=english&p_d=trmk will tell you who owns the brand name. It is a high-end Central Coast winery. Paso Dragon is not a wine that they show on their website; it may be exclusive to trader Joe’s. If you ask, they may send you a label.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Cheap Wine Events

Cheap Wine Info

  • Advertise
  • Cheap Wine Photo Gallery
  • CheapWineFinder Staff
  • Contact CheapWineFinder
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Service

© 2008–2023 CheapWineFinder.com | Log in