Tasting: Costco $20 Cabernet Sauvignon
🍇 The Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world’s most recognized red grapes. Known for:
🍒 Dark cherry & black currant
🫐 Blackberry
🌿 Cedar, leather, tobacco
🍫 Vanilla (from oak aging)
🌹 Occasionally floral notes
🖤 Structured tannins & dry finish
🌎 Global Expressions
Napa Valley – Riper fruit, fuller body, polished tannins, higher alcohol, lush texture.
Paso Robles – Often bold, fruit-forward, slightly warmer profile, good structure but approachable.
Bordeaux (France) – More restrained fruit, earthy, structured, higher acidity.
Australia (Coonawarra/Margaret River) – Eucalyptus, mint, strong structure.
This tasting featured California Cabs (Napa & Paso Robles) — generally fruit-driven, balanced, and oak-influenced.
🍷 The Wines (Revealed Order)
🍷 Wine #1
Method Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Region: California
Vinted & Bottled: Napa, California, USA
Year: 2022
Price: $19.99
Purchased at: Costco
👃 Aromas
Cherry, leather, dark fruit, vanilla
👅 Tasting Notes
Berry & vanilla forward
Velvety mid-palate
Slight “tinny” finish
Good flavor on the tongue but weaker finish
⭐ Scores
Scott: 13 – Would buy again (for home drinking)
Lynn: 12 – Would buy again (bring to a party)
Combined: 25
🛒 Buy Again?
Yes — solid everyday Cab, though not special-occasion worthy.
🏆 Wine #2 – WINNER
San Simeon Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Region: Paso Robles, California
Produced by: Riboli Family Wines
Year: 2023
Price: $19.99
Purchased at: Costco
👃 Aromas
Cherry, raspberry, blackberry, leather
👅 Tasting Notes
Nicely balanced acidity
Smooth texture
Berry-driven
Pleasant lingering finish
Not overly tannic
Crowd-friendly
⭐ Scores
Scott: 16 – Would bring confidently to a party
Lynn: 16 – Would bring to a party
Combined: 32 🏆
🛒 Buy Again?
Absolutely — party-worthy, balanced, enjoyable.
🏆 Why It Won
Best balance of fruit, acidity & tannin
Pleasant finish without harshness
Both tasters independently ranked it #1
Crowd-pleasing without being dull
This was the only wine both felt confident serving socially.
🍷 Wine #3
Justin Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Region: Paso Robles, California
Produced & Bottled by: Justin Vineyards
Year: 2022
Price: $19.39
Purchased at: Costco
👃 Aromas
“Fishy” note detected (possibly corked or flawed bottle), odd aroma
👅 Tasting Notes
Unpleasant aroma
Short finish
Needed food
Felt like cheap table wine
Possibly a bad bottle
⭐ Scores
Scott: 8 – Would NOT buy again
Lynn: 6 – Would NOT buy again
Combined: 14 ❌
🛒 Buy Again?
No — both strongly disliked it.
Note: Could have been bottle variation.
🍷 Wine #4
Silverado Vineyards “Block Blend” Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Region: Napa Valley (Mount St. George Vineyard), California
Year: 2022
Price: $19.99
Purchased at: Costco
👃 Aromas
Red cherry, raspberry, floral notes
👅 Tasting Notes
Light-bodied impression
Some licorice
Slight acidity/tin note
Mixed opinions on tannin level
Not very intense
⭐ Scores
Scott: 11 – Buy again (home)
Lynn: 11 – Buy again (party)
Combined: 22
🛒 Buy Again?
Yes — pleasant but not memorable.
🍷 Wine #5
Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
4
Region: Napa Valley, California
Produced by: Roots Run Deep Winery
Year: 2023
Price: $19.89
Purchased at: Costco
👃 Aromas
🌹 Rose bouquet
Black currant
Black licorice
👅 Tasting Notes
Very dark color
Balanced structure
Strong tannins
Very dry
Puckering finish
Most aromatic
⭐ Scores
Scott: 12 – Buy again (home)
Lynn: 13 – Buy again (party)
Combined: 25 (Tied for 2nd)
🛒 Buy Again?
Yes — bold, dry, structured Cab.
🏆 Final Rankings
Wine Combined Score
🥇 San Simeon 2023 Score: 32
🥈 Method 2022 Score: 25
🥈 Educated Guess 2023 Score: 25
4️⃣ Silverado 2022 Score: 22
5️⃣ Justin 2022 Score: 14
🎉 Overall Conclusion
Out of five $20 Costco Cabernet Sauvignons, San Simeon 2023 Paso Robles stood clearly above the rest. It delivered:
✔️ Balance
✔️ Pleasant fruit expression
✔️ Smooth finish
✔️ Party-ready confidence
At under $20, it proved that Paso Robles can compete strongly with Napa at this price tier.
Another successful blind tasting for Scott & Lynn 🍷 — and this one solved the “Which $20 Cab do we grab at Costco?” dilemma.
