A nice wine that is a good example of some of the disadvantages of the Trader Joe’s model, we review the 2021 Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 130.
Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, California.
Sample submitted for review. The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 130 is available for $14.99, exclusively at Trader Joe’s.
Today’s wine from Trader Joe’s is a good example of a big disadvantage of their private label model. This is not the first Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon we have reviewed. We previously covered the 2020 vintage, which was named the same except with a different Lot number (103). We didn’t like it much!
As such, when we saw this wine, we weren’t very excited. However, since all the Trader Joe’s wines are private label – the sourcing can change an unlimited number of times, while the name and labeling may not. Such is exactly the case here as this 2021 is made by DNA Vineyards while the 2020 was made by Precision Wine Co.
In this particular case, this turned out to be a good thing as the wine improved, but that’s not always the case. We hear from readers all the time about how their favorite wine at TJ’s isn’t just the same anymore. Such is the reality of their model and also why it’s so helpful to have some help finding the good wines.
Let’s check this one out.
From the bottle:
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2021 Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Lot #130
Napa ValleyCellared and Bottled by DNA Vineyards
14.8% Alcohol
The 2021 Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 130 opens with a pleasing aroma of dark fruit, oaky spice, licorice, cedar and more. It’s a nice start.
Tasting the wine reveals similar flavors to the nose with plenty of structure and decent balance. It is even a bit more oaky in the mouth and also tastes rather young and tannic at this point but it definitely has some nice components.
It ends dry, quite grippy and tannic and long and was perhaps a bit better on day 2. Don’t be afraid to give this one some time in the cellar.
2021 Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 130
RECOMMENDED BUY
As always you can find an updated list of our recommended wines from Trader Joe’s as well as more info on their pricing model and some tips and tricks for shopping the store in our giant guide.
You can also find more of our favorite Cabernet Sauvignon here!
Review Summary
Trader Joe's Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 130 • Reverse Wine Snob
A nice wine that is a good example of some of the disadvantages of the Trader Joe's model, we review the 2021 Trader Joe's Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 130.
7.5
Pros
- Young but nice potential
- 89-90 Points
Cons
- Rather young, needs some time in the cellar
