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The Motif Red Hills Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is a $4.99 Trader Joe’s USA exclusive, it seems to be available for export for between $10 and $15. CWF reviewed the 2020 vintage and was impressed.
The Red Hills AVA is located in the southern section of Lake County which is just north of Napa Valley. Clear Lake is the largest lake in California and the Red Hills vineyards are situated in the heights above the lake. There is an ancient volcano nearby and the soils are a by-product of that eruption.
The Motif Red Hills Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, and 10% Pete Verdot. If a wine has at least 75% of one grape varietal in the blend it is ok to put that grape on the label. This wine seems to have been produced by some part of Precision Wine Company (Napa) who produce several brands that are sold at Trader Joe’s and Costco.
What we have here is a single sub-AVA wine from a growing region a short distance from Napa Valley that sells for $4.99. The alcohol content is 14.5%.
Nothing about this bottling suggests a sub-five-buck wine. The label is very attractive and beats some wine bottles selling for ten times more. And if the 2020 vintage is repeated here this is a very enjoyable wine.
The Motif Red Hills Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 Tasting Notes
The color is a burgundy red with a clear halo. The now is red berries, blackberry, spice, a little licorice, and light herbs. The Motif Red Hills Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 shows ripe fruit and mocha.
This Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like black cherry, plum, a streak of minerality, blackberry, and cranberry. The mid-palate adds blueberry, a hint of chocolate, and a brush of dusty tannins.
The acidity is balanced.
The Summary
- The Motif Red Hills Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 does it again. I think I prefer the 2020 vintage, but this is still an excellent $4.99 red wine.
