Finding exceptional wine values under $10 feels like discovering buried treasure, and the Lazy Bones Paso Robles Cabernet Franc 2023 is exactly that kind of remarkable find. Available exclusively at Trader Joe’s for $7.99, this bottle consistently delivers quality that belies its modest price tag.
What makes this wine special starts with its pedigree. Crafted by the Miller Wine family, who have been producing Trader Joe’s exclusives for over 15 years, this Cabernet Franc benefits from serious winemaking expertise. The Miller family owns some of Central Coast’s most prestigious vineyards, and while we can’t confirm which specific vineyard sources were used, their experience and connections clearly translate to quality in the bottle.
The wine itself showcases classic Cabernet Franc characteristics with a California twist. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry, plum, and blueberry mingle with hints of dried strawberry and oak spice. Most impressive is the tannin structure—present enough to provide authentic varietal character and food-pairing potential, yet remarkably smooth and sweet rather than harsh. This creates a versatile bottle that works beautifully for casual sipping or alongside burgers, tacos, and other outdoor dining favorites.
Even the label stands out with its artistic flair reminiscent of 1890s France. Longtime fans might notice the evolution from previous vintages’ black-and-white nude figure to this year’s more modest, full-color rendition—a small change that doesn’t diminish the bottle’s eye-catching shelf appeal. As summer approaches and outdoor entertaining season begins, this Cabernet Franc deserves a spot in your regular rotation. Give it a try with your next casual meal and taste for yourself why we’re so impressed by this overachieving budget wine.
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Introduction to Lazy Bones Wine
Speaker 1
0:02
Hey
,
welcome
Domain
Dave
.
Again
CheapWineFindercom
Another
wine
review
for
a
wine
we
wrote
up
on
the
CheapWineFindercom
website
.
Three
times
a
week
we
write
them
up
and
three
times
a
week
we
plug
in
the
microphone
and
here
we
are
.
This
is
a
age
799
Trader
Joe's
wine
.
It's
a
wine
that's
been
around
every
several
vintages
.
I
know
we
did
the
2020
vintage
and
before
that
we
did
a
couple
too
.
It's
the
Lazy
Bones
,
paso
Robos
Cabernet
Franc
,
2023
.
Speaker 1
0:37
It's
from
the
Miller
Wine
family
,
who
have
been
making
Trader
Joe's
wines
for
at
least
15
years
.
They
used
to
put
the
Central
Coast
Wine
Warehouse
this
is
one
of
their
divisions
on
the
label
,
but
they've
kind
of
gotten
away
from
that
and
they're
just
going
with
the
parent
company
and
they
are
legit
.
They
own
a
couple
of
the
best
vineyards
in
all
the
Central
Coast
and
not
that
I
know
if
this
one
is
.
This
is
Paso
Robles
,
where
the
grapes
come
from
,
and
they
own
the
French
Camp
Vineyard
,
which
is
highly
regarded
,
and
I
have
no
clue
and
I
doubt
it
.
If
any
of
these
grapes
came
from
there
,
I
could
have
,
but
I
Label Changes and Design Elements
Speaker 1
1:17
doubt
it
.
And
the
label
says
cellared
and
bottled
by
and
cellared
and
bottled
by
means
they
bottled
it
and
kept
it
around
for
a
little
while
.
Doesn't
mean
they
made
it
at
all
,
but
I
imagine
some
port
part
of
them
did
.
Speaker 1
1:33
One
thing
I
want
to
mention
is
the
label
.
It's
got
a
kind
of
a
always
had
a
black
and
white
,
um
,
nude
woman
lying
on
a
bed
holding
a
petting
a
cat
,
and
the
bed
had
blankets
on
it
,
very
stylized
,
just
a
few
lines
to
suggest
everything
,
um
,
but
she
was
naked
in
there
,
you
know
,
and
you
know
she
might
have
been
a
plumber
from
what
we
could
tell
.
But
this
one
is
now
in
full
color
and
one
of
the
blankets
is
now
covering
her
butt
up
.
So
,
um
,
I
thought
that
was
funny
.
It's
a
very
attractive
.
It
looks
like
something
from
france
in
the
1890s
.
I
mean
it's
uh
,
it
does
have
a
nice
look
to
it
.
So
the
label
can
hold
its
own
.
With
retail
wines
twice
the
price
or
higher
,
it's
a
nice
label
.
Speaker 1
2:27
Cabernet
Franc
is
the
parent
of
Cabernet
Sauvignon
,
cabernet
Sauvignon
,
cabernet
Franc
and
Sauvignon
Blanc
were
were
made
it
at
some
point
how
you
do
that
to
grapes
,
I
don't
know
,
but
a
long
time
ago
and
they
made
cabernet
sauvignon
and
,
uh
,
cabernet
frac
is
also
the
parent
to
merlot
and
carmenier
,
which
are
all
um
bordeaux
Cabernet Franc Origins and Characteristics
Speaker 1
2:53
grapes
.
Carmen
are
not
so
much
anymore
.
But
there
you
go
.
So
this
is
an
old
grape
and
it's
usually
used
for
blending
,
though
in
in
Lower
Valley
it
is
its
own
singular
grape
and
in
California
it
can
be
its
own
singular
grape
too
,
and
it
usually
adds
a
dark
flavor
,
a
dark
color
and
a
structure
.
Speaker 1
3:16
It's
got
tannins
.
Cabernet
Franc
will
have
tannins
.
I
know
in
California
and
elsewhere
tannins
are
usually
softened
a
lot
because
tannins
work
best
with
a
food
wine
where
you're
going
to
just
drink
it
when
you're
having
a
meal
,
because
then
it
bounces
out
,
the
food
bounces
out
,
and
if
you're
sipping
it
tannins
can
be
a
little
bit
rough
and
dry
.
And
here
it's
got
tannins
,
but
they're
sweet
,
they're
smooth
,
they
they
know
how
to
deal
with
that
.
So
this
is
a
sipping
wine
but
it's
got
tannins
,
but
they're
sweet
,
they're
smooth
,
they
know
how
to
deal
with
that
.
So
this
is
a
sipping
wine
,
but
it's
definitely
a
wine
that
you
know
.
Feel
free
grabbing
.
You're
putting
burgers
on
the
grill
or
anything
else
,
pork
,
you
know
anything
.
This
would
work
really
well
with
that
.
This
is
a
nice
food
wine
.
Speaker 1
3:59
Take
Flavor Profile and Tasting Notes
Speaker 1
4:00
a
sip
.
It's
got
dark
flavors
.
You're
talking
about
blackberry
.
You're
talking
a
little
bit
of
spice
.
Maybe
some
plums
,
some
blueberries
,
some
.
I
picked
up
some
dry
strawberries
,
some
oak
spice
.
Speaker 1
4:22
It's
a
darker
wine
but
it
sips
really
nicely
.
It's
$7.99
.
If
you're
looking
for
a
real
legitimate
red
,
you
want
red
with
some
body
to
it
and
it's
not
,
uh
,
not
been
neutered
.
I
mean
this
is
still
nice
.
Um
,
this
is
still
a
Cabernet
Sauvignon
,
and
for
$7.99
.
Usually
when
it
goes
under
10
they
kind
of
round
them
off
to
be
to
be
more
palatable
to
more
people
.
Speaker 1
4:47
But
this
is
a
Cabernet
Sauvignon
,
I
mean
Cabernet
Franc
,
talking
about
the
kid
it
just
drinks
well
,
it's
a
nice
wine
.
It's
way
smoother
and
richer
than
you
would
think
it
would
be
,
and
especially
smooth
and
rich
for
an
eight
dollar
wine
is
a
really
good
thing
to
say
about
it
.
I'll
take
another
sip
and
we'll
wrap
it
up
.
So
there
you
go
,
you
got
it's
got
a
nice
label
.
But
no
,
no
girl
butt
on
it
.
Uh
,
but
it
is
a
really
nice
label
.
It
looks
like
artwork
and
it
is
,
I
guess
.
It
tastes
smooth
and
rich
,
just
in
time
for
outdoor
patio
drinking
.
Food Pairing Suggestions and Conclusion
Speaker 1
5:35
This
is
a
nice
wine
.
This
would
go
with
a
Chipotle
bowl
.
I
mean
,
this
would
really
go
well
with
that
.
I'm
thinking
that
maybe
I
could
have
that
,
because
it
doesn't
matter
what
you're
having
in
there
,
it
would
just
sip
very
well
Tacos
,
burgers
,
all
that
stuff
.
It
would
go
really
well
.
So
that's
it
for
me
.
Domain
Dave
ChiefWineFightercom
.
This
was
the
Lazy
Bones
Paso
Robles
Cabernet
Franc
2023
.
It's
made
for
exclusively
Trader
Joe's
,
but
it's
a
first-rate
wine
company
that
made
it
for
them
,
who
have
really
good
vineyards
.
So
I
don't
know
if
any
of
the
vineyards
were
involved
,
but
they
have
contacts
everywhere
.
I
mean
,
that's
one
of
the
things
If
you
didn't
use
their
vineyards
,
they
used
good
vineyards
from
friends
.
So
that's
it
for
me
.
Domain
Dave
cheapwinefindercom
.
Like
us
,
we
like
your
podcast
.
You
will
push
the
button
,
it
helps
,
and
I'm
talking
to
you
.
In
a
couple
of
days
it's
getting
warmer
and
the
wine's
flowing
.
So
,
adios
,
keep
it
cheap
.
Bye-bye
.
