The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is a $12.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. The back label indicates that it was “vintage and bottled” by Ashford Court from American Canyon, located in the southern part of Napa Valley.
The Story
Ashford Court is a part of Plata Wine Partners, which is a versatile wine company. They have their own brands, do bulk wine, custom brands, and have extensive vineyard holdings. Their head winemaker, Alison Crowe, can be seen on bottles from Costco and Trader Joe’s.
The Fearless Flyer states that the grapes came from “the same vineyard blocks as some big brands, including grapes from Yountville, Oak Knoll, and Oakville.” Plata Wine Partners owns vineyards in Yountville, Oak Knoll, and Oakville. There is no literature stating that some of the grapes came from their estate vineyards, but it is a coincidence.
This is a 2021 vintage that Trader Joe’s says can be aged for another 10 years. This is unheard of the the value price range.
The alcohol industry is experiencing a downturn, and Napa Valley wines are not selling as expected. Was this wine originally meant to be a more expensive brand that was repurposed for Trader Joe’s Reserve wine?
Typically, when reviewing a value-priced Napa Valley wine, I say they used expensive grapes, but used value production methods. Since this Cabernet Sauvignon can be aged for an extended period, this wine has a high-end production and oak program.
The alcohol content is 14.1%.
The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is almost black with hints of garnet. The nose is extracted blackberry, herbs, brown sugar, spice, and a floral edge. The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is smooth and approachable, with good fruit.
This Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like blackberry, slightly sweet blueberry, herbs, interesting spice, faint dark chocolate, a salty sensation, and cranberry.
The tannins are smooth, and the acidity is very well controlled.
The Summary
- The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 drinks very well; this is a nice bottle of wine.
- If you are looking for a value Cabernet Sauvignon, buy this one, it’s the bargain of the month!
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