Exceptional value meets critical acclaim in our deep dive into what might be America’s best budget Cabernet Sauvignon. The Substance CS Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley consistently earns ratings of 91-93 points—scores typically reserved for bottles costing three to four times its modest $13.99 price tag. This remarkable wine represents the final vintage produced under Charles Smith’s ownership before his 2024 sale of the brand.
What creates such extraordinary quality at this price point? We explore the sophisticated production methods behind this affordable gem, including whole bunch fermentation where intact grape clusters gently release their juice under their own weight in CO2-filled tanks. Natural vineyard yeasts—rather than commercial varieties—ferment the juice before it spends 10 months aging on lees in French oak barrels. These premium techniques deliver a wine with remarkable complexity and structure.
The tasting reveals why both critics and everyday wine drinkers celebrate this bottle. Expressive notes of cassis and blackberry mingle with hints of licorice and savory elements reminiscent of grilled meat. The bright acidity and layered flavor profile continue to develop and improve as the wine breathes. Unlike many value-priced wines that chase mass appeal with obvious fruit and oak flavors, Substance CS achieves something more sophisticated—a genuine taste of premium winemaking that satisfies both discerning palates and casual enthusiasts alike. For anyone seeking tremendous value without compromising on quality, this Columbia Valley Cabernet sets the standard for affordable luxury in American wine.
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Introducing Substance CS Cabernet
Speaker 1
0:02
Hey
,
welcome
back
or
welcome
.
We've
got
another
CheaperWineFightercom
wine
review
podcast
.
That's
what
we
do
.
This
is
Domain
Dave
.
Like
always
,
we've
got
a
wine
that
has
the
reputation
for
being
the
best
value
price
Cabernet
Sauvignon
in
the
United
States
.
Maybe
in
France
or
somewhere
there
might
be
a
better
one
,
but
this
is
the
one
that's
got
the
reputation
here
and
it's
the
Substance
CS
Cabernet
Sauvignon
,
columbia
Valley
,
2022
.
The
wines
of
Substance
brand
always
has
,
like
CS
,
as
if
it's
a
cobalt
or
something
they're
doing
a
play
on
the
periodic
table
.
Speaker 1
0:54
It
was
a
Charles
Smith
wine
and
in
2024
he
sold
it
.
Charles
Smith
wines
the
only
wines
they
have
left
are
the
house
of
smith
wines
and
he
has
a
reputation
for
breaking
a
wine
brand
,
making
it
a
big
deal
and
then
selling
it
off
and
going
on
to
the
next
thing
,
which
is
a
good
way
of
doing
things
because
you
make
a
lot
of
money
selling
these
brands
Winemaking Techniques Explained
Speaker 1
1:15
.
The
one
thing
about
this
wines
of
substance
in
2022
is
this
was
still
wines
of
substance
.
It
was
sold
in
2024
,
but
the
winemaker
stayed
with
the
new
brand
.
I've
got
all
those
details
on
the
website
when
I
do
all
the
particulars
for
the
wine
.
This
the
2020
,
yeah
,
2021
year
,
which
shouldn't
be
too
much
different
from
the
2022
,
got
93
points
,
92
points
,
91
points
.
Speaker 1
1:52
This
is
a
one
which
I
found
for
$13.99
that
routinely
gets
the
same
kind
of
reviews
that
$40
and
$50
and
$60
wines
get
,
so
that's
something
that
will
get
your
attention
.
So
why
is
it
?
Um
,
they
do
whole
bunch
fermentation
.
I've
got
another
,
I
got
a
.
I've
got
a
link
to
what
that
is
.
They
don't
press
the
grapes
,
they
dump
all
the
grapes
,
full
grapes
,
into
a
tank
and
then
fill
a
tank
up
with
CO2
and
then
the
weight
of
everything
crushes
the
grapes
and
brings
the
juice
out
.
It's
a
different
way
of
doing
things
.
They
use
natural
yeast
.
Natural
yeast
is
a
yeast
that
flies
through
vineyards
,
through
the
air
.
You
have
yeast
,
you
know
.
When
you
go
outside
there's
yeast
attaching
to
you
.
It's
thought
to
be
better
suited
to
the
grapes
because
it's
living
there
than
commercial
yeast
.
It's
got
10
months
in
French
oak
barrels
on
leaves
.
On
leaves
is
where
they
keep
the
dead
yeast
in
there
In
the
tank
at
that
time
.
15%
of
it's
new
French
oak
.
This
is
pretty
substantial
for
a
wine
that
I
found
for
$13.99
.
It
can
be
a
little
bit
more
,
but
this
is
the
price
.
I
did
the
2021
,
and
it
was
the
exact
same
price
then
Tasting Notes and Flavor Profile
Speaker 1
3:45
too
.
So
this
is
something
I'm
going
to
take
a
sip
.
Speaker 1
3:46
I
am
no
expert
on
expensive
Cabernet
Sauvignon
.
If
I
was
,
I'd
be
the
expensive
wine
finder
,
not
the
cheap
wine
finder
.
This
wine
Tastes
expensive
.
There's
some
detail
to
the
flavors
.
There's
some
bright
acidity
to
it
.
This
is
a
very
good
effort
.
Speaker 1
4:04
It's
a
tasty
wine
too
.
The
more
you
drink
it
,
the
better
you
like
it
.
It's
bright
and
delicious
.
It's
got
some
dark
,
brooding
flavors
.
It's
got
some
interesting
spices
.
It
has
some
good
things
going
for
it
.
It's
mostly
cassis
,
blackberry
,
maybe
a
little
bit
of
licorice
in
there
,
maybe
some
black
cherry
spices
.
I
also
got
some
pork
on
the
grill
roasting
,
that
kind
of
thing
,
that
savory
thing
going
.
The
tasty
notes
said
olives
.
I
didn't
get
olives
,
but
and
flint
.
I
never
get
those
Olives
and
flint
are
,
you
know
,
like
the
things
that
Sam's
got
.
I
never
get
those
.
That
kind
of
flavor's
in
here
,
which
is
which
tends
to
be
more
expensive
,
and
that's
the
kind
of
flavors
you
get
out
of
French
oak
.
Speaker 1
4:57
I
I'm
gonna
take
another
sip
.
Yeah
,
as
it
opens
up
more
and
more
,
this
is
a
delicious
Cabernet
Sauvignon
.
I
mean
mean
they
say
you
know
,
am
I
easily
influenced
?
Maybe
,
but
since
they
said
this
is
a
.
You
know
it's
in
the
running
.
I
don't
know
if
it
is
the
best
you
know
under
$15
Final Verdict and Value Assessment
Speaker 1
5:30
,
under
$16
or
whatever
value
price
Cabernet
Sauvignon
there
is
,
but
it's
got
to
be
in
the
running
,
it's
got
to
be
.
It's
a
delicious
wine
and
it's
got
to
be
in
the
running
.
It's
got
to
be
.
It's
a
delicious
wine
and
it's
legit
.
This
is
the
kind
of
wine
that
sommeliers
and
wine
critics
like
you
know
like
.
Sometimes
,
the
best-selling
ones
are
the
kind
of
showy
big
fruit
bombs
that
get
chocolate
and
vanilla
in
there
.
You
know
people
like
it
,
I
like
it
,
but
the
critics
don't
.
This
is
one
of
the
ones
that
I
think
people
like
and
the
critics
like
.
Speaker 1
6:06
It's
the
Substance
CS
Cabernet
Sauvignon
,
columbia
Valley
2022
.
14
bucks
.
You
can't
beat
it
and
it's
a
.
It's
a
recommended
wine
Episode Wrap-up and Preview
Speaker 1
6:20
.
So
,
adios
,
keep
it
cheap
.
This
is
Domain
Dave
cheapwinefightercom
.
I
got
a
Trader
Joe's
Pinot
Grigio
coming
up
next
like
a
$6
one
.
We'll
have
fun
with
that
.
So
,
adios
,
keep
it
cheap
.
Like
us
,
we
like
your
podcast
and
I'll
be
talking
to
you
Bye-bye
.
