Yountville on the cheap? We review the 2023 Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Yountville Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 115.
Cabernet Sauvignon from Yountville, Napa Valley, California.
Yountville is a prestigious AVA within Napa Valley, surrounded by Mount Veeder, Oakville and Stags Leap and primarily produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. As you would expect, the prices here reflect this exclusivity with almost no Cabernet under $20 to be found.
Like all the Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve wines this one is priced at $14.99. Also like most of these wines, there is almost no info on the bottle.
From the bottle:
Lot #115
Vinted and Bottled by Vinoenology LLC.
14.5% Alcohol
It’s been several years since we’ve had the chance to check out this Yountville bottling from Trader Joe’s and the last time (the 2018) we felt the wine was worth the price but also not a great example of Cab from this premium area. Let’s check out how the 2023 measures up.
The 2023 Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Yountville Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 115 opens with aromas of ripe berry fruit, cola, spice and a little chocolate. It’s a good start.
Tasting the wine reveals lots more ripe berry fruit but also some nicely integrated spice and other oaky notes similar to the nose. We also didn’t pick up on any sweetness like we did with the 2018. And while it’s young, it also features plenty of tannins and good structure.
It ends dry, long, and grippy with lasting spicy fruit and was even a bit better on day 2.
This is more in line with what we would expect from Yountville. Fairly good right now, it will probably be even better in a couple more years.
2023 Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Yountville Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
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!
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And here’s our previous review of the 2018 vintage, lot 74:
The 2018 Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 74 begins with a nice enough aroma of blackberry, cola and spice.
Tasting the wine reveals it to be smooth and maybe a touch sweet. Full of dark fruit, this is very easy to drink. It doesn’t taste much like a high end Napa Cab but it’s still a solid example of the variety at this price.
It ends dry, long and juicy and is even a little bit better on day 2.
2018 Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 74
RECOMMENDED BUY
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