The Trader Joe’s Diamond Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 is a $19.99 TJ’s exclusive. This edition is Lot #09; they have previously used this brand name for a completely different wine.
The Story
This is a single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon; the label only says Napa Valley, but this wine comes from one vineyard in a sub-AVA. Trader Joe’s indicates that it is not allowed to disclose the origin of the wine. They will often make an obscure reference to most Trader Joe’s upper-level Reserve wines. But this time we get no clues to go on.
The back label says this Cabernet was “vinted and bottled by” VinoEnology LLC. Vinted and bottled by means that they bottled the wine and nothing else. VinoEnology is a full-service wine website, where you can buy grapes, winemaking equipment, and hire employees, and virtually any other wine task.
We may never know the original winery behind the Trader Joe’s Diamond Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023. There has been so much turmoil in the wine market in the last year, brands have been canceled, and contracts with vineyards have been voided. There has been enough downsizing that there are too many suspects to pinpoint the originator of this Cabernet Sauvignon.
This Cabernet Sauvignon has small amounts of Petit Verdot and Merlot added, which is the Bordeaux-inspired method. The wine was aged in French and American oak barrels for 14 months, and the alcohol content is a precise 14.78%.
The Trader Joe’s Diamond Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 Tasting Notes
The color is a black cherry red. The nose is blackberry, plum, black pepper, and a savory note. Followed by cold coffee, vanilla, a shot of spice, and raspberry. The Trader Joe’s Diamond Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 is a rich, flavorful wine with solid length.
This Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like extracted blackberry, oak spice, dark bitter chocolate, and plum. Then dusty tannins, vanilla, cranberry, exotice spice, and blueberry.
The tannins are sweet, and the acidity does its job well.
The Summary
- The Trader Joe’s Diamond Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 is worth the $19.99.
- It can probably use a few more months of rest, but this wine is deep and detailed.
- It drinks fine now, but I think it can hit even higher with some time.
- This is a limited wine, so don’t wait around, and if it fits your budget, buy two. Drink one now and the other in six months to compare.
