Wines $30 or Less! – Archive 1
The name of the game here is wines that you’ll find at supermarkets, Costco, Total Wine and others that are (before tax) $30 dollars or less.
The following reviews constitute wines we have seen at many of the chain stores. Some of these we’ve seen good review on already and want to try them. Others, we just see at all the stores and have wondered what they’re like. So, we’ll taste them and give our own tasting verdict on the wines!
Got a wine readily available, under $30 we should try? Email me at keiran247@gmail.com. If I can find it, we’ll review it.
Wines List
Vintner: Kendall-Jackson
Description: Grand Reserve Santa Barbara County
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Chardonnay
Notes: The nose is rich with pear, stone fruit, baked caramel, lemon drop and lychee. It has a good amount of butter and oakiness as well.
The palate shows high acid, sweet fruity caramel, full body, high concentration and medium finish.
For the price this is a lovely, rich chardonnay. It would be great to have a little more minerality to balance out the sweet fruit and butter on the palate. But if your jam is a rounder chardonnay with rich sweet-tinged fruit, this is it.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 2/5/2026
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $24.99
Vintner: Francis Coppola
Description: Diamond Collection
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Very pretty floral, perfumed raspberry on the nose. Herbal notes, coffee and blackberry. But raspberry predominates.
The palate has really nice slightly tart berry notes. The acidity is high, the body medium. But the finish is long. The intensity and concentration are both in the medium range.
Being that 2023 is being touted as the perfect growing year, it is always really fun to get a hold of these 2023s early. This wine lacks some intensity and cohesion, but all in all the nose really takes the cake here.
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Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 2/5/2026
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $19.99
Vintner: Bogle Family Vineyards
Description: California
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Petite Sirah
Notes: Bogle is 4 for 4 now. This wine has black cherry, blackberry, raisin, a hint of mint, black plum and coffee notes.
The body is full and the concentration and intensity are also full. It has a long finish and balanced acid with the fruit.
It’s just a lovely wine. They’re knocking these out of the park.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 1/29/2026
Purchased at: Trader Joes
Price: $7.99
Vintner: Lava Cap
Description: El Dorado Ava, Sierra Foothills
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Zinfandel
Notes: When we lived in Sacramento, we spent all of our time wine tasting in Amador, El Dorado, Lodi and The Gold Country. We were poor and could not afford Napa prices, nor did we want to drive all the way to Napa when we had the foothills on our doorstep. With that said, Lava Cap is one of our old, familiar Favs.
And this wine shines with raspberry, black plum, cocoa, coffee, cream cheese, raisin and chunky cassis notes, this is for you.
The wine is rich on the palate with nearly full body, high acid, long finish, med+ tannins and high concentration. It is a real pleaser with fireworks going on in our mouths, the wine coating the tongue with plush, berry tannins — everything we expected from Lava Cap. Note: if you haven’t been to the Sierra Foothills, do it. There are hundreds of wineries up there and the prices will shock you with their reasonableness.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 1/26/2026
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $29.99
Vintner: Bogle Family Vineyards
Description: California
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: The nose on this wine is rich. It has blackberry, a touch of blueberry, coffee, milk chocolate covered cherry, kirsch, dried date and white cake.
The tannins are light, the body medium, the finish long, the concentration is high. It is fairly intense.
Not sure what’s going on with Bogle. See the Merlot and Red Blend below. They’re knocking these wines out of the park. This Cab has a few simple notes such as the blueberry that we usually get from hotter growing areas. But these flavors are overpowered by the complex notes, rich concentration and long finish.
And for a final thought, if you need a quick bottle for a party, don’t hesitate to grab a Bogle red — a bargain for a 91-point wine at $11 bucks.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 1/23/2026
Purchased at: Nugget Market in Vacaville
Price: $10.99
Vintner: Opolo Vineyards
Description: Summit Creek, Paso Robles
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Great effort here. The ’23 vintage is proving amazing across the board. This wine has a lovely blackberry, blueberry, green pepper, coffee, black plum, prune, coffee, cocoa, cassis, black currant. It just keeps going.
The body is full, acid high, long finish, complex notes and intensely concentrated flavors. This is a great wine. One of the reviewers already gave this a 93. I think it’s better than that. This wine is interesting. It has a balanced load of flavors that impress. And the flavors stand nicely apart enough that you can swap around each one or just enjoy them altogether. A bargain for $30 bucks.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 1/16/2026
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $29.99
Vintner: Bogle Family Vineyards
Description: Heritage Red California
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: See The Bogle Merlot below. We don’t know what’s going on at Bogle, but they are knocking it out of the park. We will be trying anything else they have out at the stores in the near future.
This one has this interesting nose like coffee cake, cocoa, oak, blackberry, cinnamon, tobacco and black cherry. This is not a simple wine at all. Usually, you look at a ten-buck wine and think it’s gonna be simple. Not this one. Don’t judge a . . . you know.
The palate has a great concentration and intensity. Acid is high, finish is long, tannins are medium+ as is the body. Very plush mouth feel, well balanced fruit/acid. It is fresh, firm and nicely concentrated, missing only a note or two on the mid-palate. A real keeper. Food your friends a blind tasting with this one.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 1/15/2026
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $12.99
Vintner: Wente Family Vineyards
Description: Wetmore Livermore Valley
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Blackberry, black cherry, stone fruit, green herbs, wet soil, cream cheese and grape sucker with a chocolate filling.
The palate is rather medium+ across the board. The Balance is good, but the flavors meld together a little too much, hiding the individual notes. But all in all, a pleasant, dark wine with descent intensity.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 1/9/2026
Purchased at: Safeway
Price: $29.99
Vintner: Bogle Family Vineyards
Description: California
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Merlot
Notes: We got this for a Christmas gift and are only now getting around to trying it. Back in the day when we just got started tasting wine, Bogle was a go-to. But it has been years since we have tried anything by them.
It has a raspberry, blueberry, plum, floral and lead nose. The acidity is high, the tannins are medium. But this wine has a finish, concentration and intensity that is surprising. It is really pretty on the palate. The nose says it is a simple wine, but the flavors say otherwise. Nice stuff. A super surprise at this price point.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 1/9/2026
Purchased at: Gift
Price: ~$10.00
Vintner: Kenwood Vineyards
Description: Six Ridges, Alexander Valley
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Ripe, red plum, blackberry, cassis, anise, cherry frosting, soft rose and baker’s chocolate.
The richness on the palate is wonderful. Great high concentration of fruit, full body, medium tannins, long finish, high acid.
Seriously? This is lovely wine. It has perfect balance and great fruit. This might be the keeper of this whole list. Kenwood knocked this out of the park. It is at its sweet spot right now. No need to age. A great wine to have around for nights when you don’t want to break the bank but want a really good cab for dinner or sipping.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 12/11/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $22.13
Vintner: Cline Family Cellars
Description: North Coast
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: A generous nose full of red berry, blue berry, burnt sugar, brioche, asparagus, coffee, toasted wood and cherry kirsch.
The palate is fairly luxurious with big concentration of blue fruit, med+ body, tannins and finish. The acidity is perfectly balanced with the fruit.
Yah, this ain’t bad at all. Another reviewer gave this a 91pt score. We agree with this on the nose, but the palate deserves higher. This has some plush notes that you would get in much more expensive wine. If I tried this at a holiday party, I’d go back for more.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 12/11/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $21.41
Vintner: Wente Family Vineyards
Description: Sandstone, Central Coast
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Merlot
Notes: The Wente winery goes way back. They worked with George de Latour back in the early 1900s to produce communion wine for the Catholic church, and consequently, were both able to stay in the wine biz during prohibition. This one will be fun!
The nose is deep blue and red berry, very well integrated and intense. There is a hint of marzapane, cocoa, fresh hop flower and nectarine pit.
The body is med+. The finish is long. The concentration is high. The tannins are med-. The acidity is med+.
Wow, this merlot is really nice for the sub-$20 dollar price. It has lovely intensity and concentration of fruit. We would sip this after dinner. Forget about taking this one to a party to share! It would love grilled chicken though or pasta salad. It could handle some vinegar.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 12/08/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $17.13
Vintner: Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits
Description: St Hubert’s The Stag Paso Robles
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: This wine has a blackberry/blue berry nose with a hint of clove and fresh apple cider. You get cassis, baking spice and flint.
The palate is high acid, medium body and tannins, long finish, med+ concentration and intensity.
This is a great find for a holiday party. Impressive wine for under $30. It would go well with shawarma, curry, tandoori chicken and grilled lamb.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 12/08/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $26.41
Vintner: McIlroy
Description: Vines & Roses Vineyard, Russian River Valley
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: This has a simple nose of classic strawberry, cherry, floral notes and dried herbs.
The palate shows medium body, intensity and concentration. The acidity is high and the finish is med+. There are dried herb notes with baking spices around a moderately intense berry palate.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 88
Date Tasted: 12/07/2025
Purchased at: Costco Napa
Price: $29.99
Vintner: Dry Creek Vineyard
Description: Sonoma County
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Fume’ Blanc
Notes: Good minerality, apple, light lemon peel acidity, melon and pear.
The acidity on the palate is high, the concentration and intensity are medium as is the body. The finish is med+.
For an under $30 dollar Fume’ you get a lot for the money. A great wine to grab for heading off to a party or having at home with oysters, lobster or crab.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 12/07/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $24.27
Vintner: Daou
Description: Paso Robles
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Notes: Not the most complex of noses. Citric lemon peel, Casaba melon, toasted caramel, pear and green weeds.
The body is medium, the intensity and length are med+. Complexity is medium. Acidity is high.
Daou shows up on the radar a lot lately. Their wines can be average to excellent. This one starts out more on the simple side and seems rather tight. But oddly, it needs time. It wakes up after really doing a mouth rinse with it, running it back and forth through your teeth. It really comes to life after that. And the caramel and melon really shine.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 12/07/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $25.70
Vintner: Decoy
Description: Duckhorn Portfolio
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Starts with the blackest of blackberries, burnt sugar, dried herbs, black cherry, black plum, cassis, black currants and, oddly, stone fruit pit.
The palate has a touch of bitterness mid-tongue, such black fruits and nothing brighter to balance that out. The tannins are a bit grippy, the body medium, the finish long. The acidity is high, makes the mouth water.
Made us curious where this fruit came from. It has a note that makes us think coastal. Cool climate. But it has a good concentration and intensity. The Duckhorn folks know how to make an approachable, high-volume wine with good flavors and intensity.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 11/13/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $27.13
Vintner: Coppola
Description: Diamond Collection, California
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: We are never sure what to expect with wines that are mass produced. But this one is a pleasant surprise. For starters, you get blackberries, black cherry, toasted oak, warm molasses, allspice, nutmeg, brioche and brown sugar. Part of this nose comes right out of a bakery!
The palate shows soft tannins, nearly long finish, nice body, med+ intensity and concentration. It has concentrated dark fruit and toasty flavors. It has a few rough edges and a place or two where it seems disjointed. But in total, this is a great wine for $20 bucks. A firm effort for as large of production as Coppola has.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 11/13/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $19.99
Vintner: Chateau Ste Michelle
Description: Indian Wells, Columbia Valley
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Chardonnay
Notes: The nose shows grass (as in Sauv Blanc grassiness), caramel, sour lemon, toasted oak, green apple and melon.
High acid helps to balance out the oaky caramel on the palate. The wine is fairly simple but has some great flavors. The finish, intensity, body are all in the medium range. Where is has some muscle is in the concentration of fruit.
Yah, a nice Chardonnay for under $30 bucks. And this should be widely available.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 87
Date Tasted: 11/10/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $24.99
Vintner: Cline Family Cellars
Description: Mendocino County, Sonoma County
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Chardonnay
Notes: I love these wineries that seem to be everywhere. They seem to be producing so many varietals. Cline has surprised us in the past with some great Zins, Syrahs and Pinots.
This chardonnay has the minerality of Mendocino, tart lemon curd, a touch of butter and oak, pear, green melon and all spice.
The body is medium, along with intensity and finish. But the concentration of fruit and lemon curd is almost high, and the balance is well done. And it just brings this wine along for a flavorful ride. And it is perfect for a quick stop at the store to grab a decent bottle to take along to a party.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 88
Date Tasted: 11/9/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $18.56
Vintner: Oyster Bay
Description: Marlborough, New Zealand
Vintage: 2024
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Notes: We were looking at what to try next, stopped by Raleys and took one look at the white wine selection. Oyster Bay stood out like a sore thumb. This wine finds its way into all the store here in California.
And of course, you hear about NZ Sauv Blanc. And this one is textbook. Think unripe pineapple, grass, lemon curd, green apple, pear, tropical fruit and stony flint.
The acidity is high, of course, due to the cool climate in which it is produced. The intensity is med+, the alcohol is low, the body medium and the pineapple finish goes on for a good 30 seconds. It has great intensity of fruit notes.
And dang it, this is a really nice wine. If you have only had US made sauv blancs, open up your horizons with this gem. Whether you get it for your wine education or you need a great white for seafood, you’ll not feel disappointed. Really, well done, Oyster Bay!
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 11/9/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $19.99
Vintner: Franciscan Estate
Description: California
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: A California cab. These grapes could come from anywhere in the state. But they put together a pretty nice wine! It has notes of warm blackberry, blueberry, cinnamon, clove and red plum. It has medium intensity on the nose.
The palate is soft with tannins, medium body, finish and concentration. But the intensity on the palate is nice, lifting this wine up. It has a high acidity that freshens the flavors.
Franciscan is one of those labels you see all the time at the big stores. And due to its wide-reaching availability, this would be a great wine to grab if you’re out of town and need a few glasses in the evening. Keep this one in your back pocket.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 11/3/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $20.70
Vintner: Banshee
Description: Sonoma County
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: We actually picked this up at Trader Joes. It was recommended by a staff member. It has a nice plum, strawberry, cherry nose. It has nice earthy, dried herb nose.
The palate has a hint of a harsh flavor, but other than that it has high acid and is balanced with the fruit. All in all, for the price, this is a fun wine to try. We see this everywhere.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 88
Date Tasted: 10/30/2025
Purchased at: Trader Joes
Price: $19.99
Vintner: Trader Joes
Description: Diamond Reserve, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, Lot# 10
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Blackberry, pencil lead, cassis, black currant, black cherry, green pepper and cranberry. The nose is not particularly giving or intense.
However . . . wait for it . . . TJs just put out another amazing wine! The palate is shining on this wine. The flavors erupt like fireworks. Firm, silky tannins ride the wave of concentrated flavors that balance nicely with the high acid. The finish lingers on the back of the tongue for upward of a minute. It has great body and intensity. The palate has cocoa and licorice as well. These are hidden on the nose.
This is right up there with the new 2022 Rutherford Hill Stags Cab. We have had Stag’s Leap Cellars and Stags’ Leap Winery cabs that are not this good. This has a structure that makes this wine collectible. If the nose was a welcoming as the palate on this one, it would have been a much higher score.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 10/23/2025
Purchased at: Trader Joes
Price: $19.99
Vintner: Sobon Estate
Description: Fiddletown, Amador County
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Zinfandel
Notes: These are old vines. They have such quality. This wine has meat to it. Blackberry, pepper, raisin, strawberry, black plum, red cherry and baking spice.
The finish on this wine is huge. The intensity and concentration and acid are high. The body is full, and the fruit/acid balance is great.
Just get some of this. It is worth every penny. See below:
We have been drinking Sobon Zins since the early 2000s. We try their trifecta of Cougar Hill, Fiddletown and Rocky Top every year. They are always consistent, and also available at Total Wine all over the country. We have even seen this wine in a London England wine shop before. It seems to be everywhere. It maybe mass produced, but it is consistent every year.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 10/20/2025
Purchased at: Nugget Market
Price: $19.99
Vintner: Sobon Estate
Description: Cougar Hill, Amador County
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Zinfandel
Notes: This thing has a nose that will not stop! It oozes raspberry jam, blackberry, black pepper, black plum, dried date and raisins.
Thanks to the tart palate, you get balance with the rich fruit. The finish on this wine goes very long. The body is med+, the tannins medium, the concentration and intensity high.
We have been drinking Sobon Zins since the early 2000s. We try their trifecta of Cougar Hill, Fiddletown and Rocky Top every year. They are always consistent, and also available at Total Wine all over the country. We have seen this wine in a London England wine shop before. It seems to be everywhere. It maybe mass produced, but it is consistent every year.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 10/19/2025
Purchased at: Nugget Market
Price: $16.99
Vintner: J. Lohr
Description: Paso Robles, Los Osos
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Merlot
Notes: Blackberry, rich raspberry, anise, currant, black cherry and toast.
The palate is rich with berry flavors. However, the medium acid leaves it feeling a little flabby on the palate. The tannins are light, the body medium+, the concentration high. The finish is medum+.
You can easily bypass the plump texture of the wine and just enjoy the richness. It does have a nice concentration of fruit. A little more acid to give this beast balance and this would be a firecracker of a wine!
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 10/19/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $26.99
Vintner: Black Stallion Estate Winery
Description: Santa Lucia Highlands
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: This pinot steps outside even the broad definition of Pinot Noir, especially for Santa Lucia Highlands. This wine offers you sweet black plum, candied kirsch cherry, burnt brown sugar.
The palate is off dry, almost sweet. It did not get fermented dry, and this might have been a conscious choice by the winemaker. It does have med+ acid, med body, finish, concentration and light tannins.
We just cannot get around the sweet, burnt brown sugar on the palate. This might be your jam, however. In that case, if you want a rich, dessert style, off-dry pinot with unique notes, this might be for you.
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Rating: 85
Date Tasted: 10/19/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $29.99
Vintner: Francis Coppola
Description: Diamond Collection, Black Label, (1910 Type)
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Claret
Notes: Coppola is everywhere. There were three bottlings at the store I purchased this from alone. This one seemed like a good place to start.
The nose on this is kinda plush. It has blackberry, anise, cassis, cocoa, black pepper, mint, burnt brown sugar and molasses.
The tannins are high but silky, the acid high, the finish long, the concentration and intensity are med+. It has a bit of a lightness on the back of the palate. But overall, there is the nice texture. This wine is an enigma. It is powerful in spots and not in others. It just lacks cohesion. Overall, a pleasure to sip.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com`
Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 10/17/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $24.99
Vintner: Castle Rock Winery
Description: Mendocino County
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: The nose has med+ intensity with strawberry, sour cherry, cranberry, mushroom, pepper corn and honeysuckle.
Really good med+ concentration of balanced fruit on the palate. The intensity is also med+. The acidity is balanced with the fruit. The body is med, tanning med- and the finish is medium. All in all, a smashing wine for $7.99. Sure, it is missing a few things. A little more polish, concentration and intensity would help. But seriously, if you need a go-to pinot to just have around when you do not want to open something special/expensive. This is a deal at this price.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com
Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 10/17/2025
Purchased at: Trader Joes
Price: $7.99
Vintner: Poppy Wines
Description: Monterey County
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: We see this label everywhere and we have wanted to try it, but until now we have been focusing on the higher end Pinots. So, it is about time!
The nose has medium intensity, but you get strawberry, cherry, (and oddly) corn chip, salt, game, raspberry and rose. Once you taste it, the nose gives you a little more.
Better on the palate: high intensity, medium concentration, high acid, medium body, light tannins. A good effort all around. Would not drink this as a lone sipper. It is a great food wine. It has enough flavor to really compliment baked salmon or chicken. It is not a monster pinot, but you can tell it was made with good fruit from down there, somewhere in Monterey.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com
Rating: 88
Date Tasted: 10/17/2025
Purchased at: Trader Joes
Price: $10.99
Vintner: Menage a Trois
Description: California
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from all over the state. However, the nose is a giveaway. There is a bunch of fruit from Lodi.
There is ample blueberry on the nose. You get blackberry, black pepper and raisin from the Zin. The Merlot and Cab offer a cocoa, dark berry end to balance out the really bright Zin.
The palate is really bright with blueberry, almost too bright and comes across as sweet because of that. It does have a slight hint of being off-dry. And the texture is a bit flabby. The tannins are very faint, the acid is medium, the finish is medium, the body is med-.
This is a great wine for folks that like sweet wines but want to start getting into dry reds — a great bridge wine. It does have rich, concentration of flavors that are quite pleasing.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com
Rating: 87
Date Tasted: 10/16/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $14.99
Vintner: Ghost Pines
Description: California, Winemaker’s Blend
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: 65% Lake County, 22% Sonoma County, 13% Napa County.
Most of the fruit comes from an old Louis P Martini vineyard called Ghost Pines. It really has some nice character. Blackberry, black cherry, black plum, licorice, cassis, cocoa and black pepper.
It has firm tannins that stick to the teeth, long finish, nearly high acid, nice texture and good concentration. It only lacks a bit more intensity and cohesive flavors. But all in all, this is really nice wine. And you see it everywhere. If you need a cab in a pinch for a party, grab this. For a store shelf brand, it really pleases.
Remember, there are more ratings than appear here at our site: Pantomimehorse.com
Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 10/16/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $24.99
Vintner: Mask West
Description: California
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: The nose on this wine has med- intensity. It smells very muted. But you do get black cherry, strawberry, hard oak. river water, cranberry and red plum.
The palate is the best expression of this wine. Take a sip and you get much more concentrated notes than on the nose. The flavor is mildly sweet with black cherry kirsch notes. It has medium body, finish, tannins and acidity.
Not a bad pinot for being California generic. But 2023 was nearly a perfect growing year in many areas of the state. This wine would be lovely with grilled salmon or lighter fare because it won’t overpower them. It really is a nice, easy-drinking pinot.
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Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 10/16/2025
Purchased at: Trader Joe’s
Price: $10.99
Vintner: Chateau Ste Michelle
Description: Indian Wells Contemporary Winemaking Series
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Blackberry, green pepper, licorice/anise, cocoa, black pepper, baking spice, rose and toast.
A nice effort for a really mass-produced wine. But that is one of the things Ste Michelle does so well. You get high acid, medium tannins and a long finish on this wine. The intensity on the finish with all the berry fruit is impressive. It only lacks a fuller texture.
This reminds us of some of last year’s Mark Ryan cabs that we had the pleasure of trying. The Mark Ryan just beats this out by having more texture and intensity. This is a great wine to try!
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Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 10/11/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $24.99
Vintner: Oak Ridge Winery
Description: OZV – Lodi Estate Grown Old Vine Zinfandel
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Zinfandel
Notes: The nose is ripe with scents like boysenberry, blueberry jam. Honey, vanilla, honeysuckle, milk chocolate and black pepper.
The berries on the palate are dense just like jam. The wine has high alcohol, light tannins, medium acid, finish and body. The intensity is high, however.
2022 was a hot, dry year. And these grapes reflect those weather conditions. The boysenberry jam is almost overwhelming. There is not enough acidity in this wine to counteract the jammy sweetness from the fruit. However, there are so many people that like a wine with these big, thick notes. If that is your preference, you’ll love this wine. It does have a great concentration of fruitiness. But it is all fruit and not enough structure.
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Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 10/11/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $26.99
Vintner: Chalk Hill
Description: Sonoma Coast
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Chardonnay
Notes: Starts out with a little oak, a little butter, citrus perfume with a bit of a bite, pear, lemon curd, peach and brioche. The perfume bite fades as the wine opens and warms. But an hour to wait for a chard to open up is a long hour.
It has a med+ body and concentration. The acid is high. The finish is medium. The fruit flavors are nice, and the overall flavor has some nice spice and a deceiving sweetness on the palate from the pear and stone fruit notes.
It is an enjoyable wine. If it didn’t take so long to get to grips with itself, it would be a lot more enjoyable.
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Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 10/11/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $26.99
Vintner: Joel Gott
Description: California 815
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Never tried any Joel Gott wine before, but you see this guy all over the damn place. So, let’s try it.
Bright notes of red cherry, raspberry, rose, meat and blueberry.
The palate is really pleasant with long finish, full body, high acid, med+ intensity and concentration. It has a nearly full body.
This is a highly drinkable wine. It would love to be paired with hummus, Tzatziki, muhammara, grill shawarma lamb or chicken. Garlic naan would be a huge hit. But it is happy to be sipped by the glass. It is worth the money completely at $13.99.
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Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 10/92025
Purchased at: Trader Joes
Price: $13.99
Vintner: La Crema
Description: Monterey
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: This is a doozie of a wine. From the first smell we get Santa Lucia Highlands fruit. It has cranberry, rhubarb, strawberry, green pepper, burnt brown sugar and wet potting soil. These are amazing notes, and they are so in balance.
The palate is a pleasure. The body, acid and intensity are med+. The finish and concentration are long. The tannins are soft and silky, just like you would like them.
La Crema is rocking this out of the park. Having tried their single vineyard pinots in the $50+ dollar range, this one is a steal and worth stocking up on. They have nailed this one.
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Rating: 94
Date Tasted: 10/8/2025
Purchased at: safeway
Price: $24.99
Vintner: La Crema
Description: Sonoma Coast
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: The nose has sweet cherry kirsch, raspberry and strawberry. So, enough for the berries. It has forest floor and mushrooms, oak and lilac.
The palate shows full body, soft tannins, high acid, high concentration of fruit to balance the acid, good intensity and long finish.
For a regional wine this is smokin’. We have tried the single vineyard pinots from La Crema. But as we’ve found from many of the wineries up in that area, they often get regional blends that are better than the single vineyards. This is exactly what we are talking about. It is stellar wine for $25.99. It is up there with the $50 stuff from other pinot houses. Stock up on this one!
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 10/7/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $25.99
Vintner: Sobon Estate
Description: Rocky Top, Amador Country
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Zinfandel
Notes: Blackberry cobbler, blueberry, cola, leather, raisin, dried fig, black pepper, cocoa, black currant and cassis. It has inky depth and super concentration on the nose.
This wine is very dark and luscious. It has Cabernet notes galore. It has high acid, full body, med+ intensity but high concentration. The finish is long. The tannins are full and silky.
We have been drinking Sobon year after year since 2005. Seriously, if you are traveling anywhere in the country and can find a Total Wine, you will find Sobon Zin from one of these vineyards — Cougar Hill, Rocky Top or Fiddletown. Do not hesitate to buy any of these in a pinch if you’re far from home needing a quality wine. We have never gone wrong with these vineyards from Sobon. Never in 20 years.
This is a bargain! And it wants to be tried and savored alone. Ignore food suggestions. Sit in a corner and sip this by itself.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 10/6/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $24.27
Vintner: Black Stallion Estate Winery
Description: North Coast
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: When you meet people who taste around Napa Valley, you run into a bunch that rave about Black Stallion as a big Cab house. They do not skimp. And even on their grocery shelf brands, they make an extra effort. Hence, this wine.
This wine has firm notes of cocoa, anise, cassis, blackberry and graphite on the nose. It does show little notes of simplicity, but all in all, this is a really good effort for the price.
The palate has a richness, concentration and intensity you do not get in wines in this price range. The finish is impressive at medium+. The body and tannins are also med+. A little thinness is all we can report that detracts from this wine.
Give this wine a chance! It is highly sippable. It would be a great pick to take to a blind wine tasting party to surprise the aficionados. It comes across as a wine at twice this price.
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Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 10/5/2025
Purchased at: Raleys
Price: $27.84
Vintner: Hahn Estate
Description: Arroyo Seco, Monterey County
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: This is a well-known winery. We have had good wines from Hahn in the past. This one is not at all bad. It has raspberry, red cherry, baking spice, soft graphite, cranberry and wet soil.
Everything about this is pretty good. The acid is high, the finish is medium, concentration and intensity medium. The tannins are light. But the wine remains in a pretty good balance. It’s not phenomenal, but it is pretty good.
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Rating: 88
Date Tasted: 10/4/2025
Purchased at: Safeway
Price: $26.41
Vintner: Perry Creek
Description: Sierra Foothills
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Zinfandel
Notes: We have been trying Perry Creek wines (up in El Dorado County) since the early 2000s. They are usually very good. This one is inexpensive and very nice.
The nose shows pepper, blackberry, raisin, cola, prune and tobacco.
The palate is rich with high acid, intense flavors, long finish, medium concentration, high alcohol and medium tannins.
The only issue we find with this wine is a slight bitterness on the palate. It has an aged note that bitter. It is a 2020. And it does not have the bones to age much longer. It is really good with grilled meats. We tried it with BBQ lamb. It went really well.
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Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 10/3/2025
Purchased at: Safeway
Price: $19.49
Vintner: Meiomi
Description: California
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: Another wine that you see EVERYWHERE! And we try to sample this bottling every year. Sometimes it is really good. but this year, not so much.
It has a nice pinot nose with cranberry, strawberry, raspberry and sweet red plum.
The issue is on the palate. Now, this a deal breaker for us. We like our pinots dry. This one is slightly sweet. It does have high acid, but the wine is totally unbalanced. The finish is not pleasant. The flavors are thick and jammy with sweetness.
My mother-in-law would love this as she likes a sweet wine. But for pinot purists this will be a deal breaker.
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Rating: 85
Date Tasted: 10/3/2025
Purchased at: Raley’s
Price: $26.99
Vintner: Raeburn
Description: Sonoma County
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Chardonnay
Notes: A wine brand we see everywhere. Their Pinot Noir isn’t bad. And this one is a really great, standard Chard.
It starts with classic stone fruits, a little butter, a little oak, but lots of steel cask nose. It has a little tropical character and lots of green melon.
The acid is high, intense flavor, med+ finish and full body. This is a well-made Chardonnay. It has great balance between the high acid and intense fruit flavors. Great wine, great price!
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Rating: 92
Date Tasted: 10/2/2025
Purchased at: Raley’s
Price: $22.84
Vintner: Josh Cellars
Description: Reserve Paso Robles
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Cocoa, prune, date, raspberry, red plum, cedar, baking spice.
The palate has some good concentration. The body, finish, tannins, intensity, acid are all in the medium + range.
We really were starting to despair on these Josh Cellars cabs. But this one has redeemed the bunch. It is a bright wine, but it has enough concentration in flavors of cocoa and baking spice, that it helps to balance this out. Honestly, it is a pleasure to drink if I can turn off my tendency to expect a Napa style cabernet. I would buy another one to have around. It is not precious and can be enjoyed any day of the week. It would be fun to take to a brown bag tasting and see what others think this varietal is.
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Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 9/27/2025
Purchased at: Safeway
Price: $24.99
Vintner: Josh Cellars
Description: Reserve North Coast
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Blackberry, black plum, dried flowers, blueberry, grape sucker, a touch of anise and cocoa.
The concentration is very nice on this. The body, finish, tannins and acid are all medium. This is a very well rounded, humble wine. It is not simple. It is not top shelf. But it is a very approachable cab with some nice things to say about itself.
For this price, keep this wine in your back pocket. I can imagine taking this to a blind tasting and really surprising the other tasters with a balanced, fruity wine. If you need a nice bottle to sip that won’t break the bank, you can’t go wrong.
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Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 9/26/2025
Purchased at: Costco
Price: $14.99
Vintner: Josh Cellars
Description: Reserve Bourbon Barrel Aged, Charred Oak Barrels
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: The wine is overwhelmed by aged plum and burnt brown sugar, cocoa and dried flowers. There are not a lot of smells that can escape this wall of bourbon barrel scents.
The flavors are very plum, brown sugar and dried date. The body, finish and concentration are all full. We just wish there was a more balanced floral and fresh fruit component.
But, that’s just us — if you like a warmer, sugary scent and flavor you will like this one a lot.
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Rating: 86
Date Tasted: 9/26/2025
Purchased at: Safeway
Price: $24.99
Vintner: J. Lohr Winery
Description: Seven Oaks, Paso Robles
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Black plum, black berry, anise, cocoa, black currant, elderberry, toasted oak and cobbler baked topping.
Full body, long finish, high acid, high intensity, concentration and tannins. The tannins are fine but high.
Jeez Louise! This is amazing wine. It’s a Napa profile, unlike the Daou below. Trader Joes has this in 375ml and 750ml in Fairfield, Ca. But jeez, this is lovely. The intensity on the palate is just as thick as a lot of the Rutherford cab we have tried lately. WOW!
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 9/25/2025
Purchased at: Trader Joes
Price: $7.99
Vintner: Josh Cellars
Description: Central Coast
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Notes: We’ve been looking forward to trying some of these ubiquitous Josh Cellars wines. You see them on every store shelf. Starting with the Pinot was safe. It’s hard to mess up a pinot if you have some good fruit to start with. This wine has red cherry, strawberry, pencil shavings and a hint of mushroom on the nose.
The palate shows medium body, concentration, finish and acid. But other than some rough edges and not a lot of intensity, this is a standard Central Coast pinot. We’ve had wines this good from some of the top Sonoma vineyards. Don’t poo-poo this wine. At $12.99, this is ideal for a party wine to share.
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Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 9/25/2025
Purchased at: Trader Joes
Price: $12.99
Vintner: Rosa Dell’Olmo
Description: Gavi DOGC
Vintage: 2024
Varietal: Cortese
Notes: Cortese isn’t like any white wine we will get in California or the states for that matter. It has an apple nose with a distinct note of young pecorino, lemon, white melon and fresh flowers.
The acid it high, the alcohol 12%, body light, finish long and pretty intense. This would be a hit at a part with a charcuterie, grilled chicken and a Caesar salad. But my goodness, this would wrap its arms around raw oysters or crab or lobster.
Trader Joes has this for $9.99 and it’s worth every penny. It has a tiny bottle-shock stink for a for a few minutes, but that does away and leaves you with a treat.
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Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 9/25/2025
Purchased at: Trader Joes
Price: $9.99
Vintner: Daou
Description: Paso Robles
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Goodness. Blueberry scone, raspberry, blackberry, anise, pink flowers.
The tannins are high, the body full, the finish is long, the intensity, concentration and acid are high. Nothing wrong with this wine at all.
We have tried the reserve wines from this 2022 line. This is just a hair less intensely flavored. So, for the price, this is really great wine. Run and get some.
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Rating: 91
Date Tasted: 9/24/2025
Purchased at: Safeway
Price: $27.99 (after Safeway discount)
Vintner: Unshackled by The Prisoner Wine Company
Description: Central Coast
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Blackberry, anise, red plum, red currant, baked biscuit and cocoa.
The palate is nicely thick with good concentration, med+ tannins, acid and finish. The acidity is well matched to the fruit.
There have been a lot of good things said about these Unshackled wines. We hope to try a few more as time goes by. We love the nose on this wine. And the flavor is nice right out of the bottle but fades off quickly in the glass, leaving it a little simple and us a little disappointed. It would be well suited for people who want good, entry level cab.
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Rating: 89
Date Tasted: 9/23/2025
Purchased at: Safeway
Price: $20.69 (after Safeway discount)
Vintner: Bogle Family Vineyards
Description: Old Vine California
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Zinfandel
Notes: Blackberry, cinnamon, licorice, ginger, cedar, black plum and baking spice.
With high acid, body and concentration, this wine has a lot to turn heads. The finish is medium as are the tannins. At this price point, Bogle has created a really affordable, sippable wine with a pretty nice nose and flavor. It is a little thin and disjointed in places. But a great wine to grab to take to a party.
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Rating: 86
Date Tasted: 9/23/2025
Purchased at: Safeway
Price: $10.99
Vintner: Robert Mondavi
Description: Bourbon Barrel Aged, California
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: The bourbon barrels give this wine a really caramel nose with hints of baked biscuit, blackberry, butter and dried herbs.
The palate shows high tannins, med acid, intensity, finish. You really need to like the caramel on the nose and palate. And if you do, you will love this wine. It is bone dry, but it has a flavor that makes you think it is going to be sweet. And for that reason it would be a great wine for people who like sweet wines but want to get into dry reds.
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Rating: 87
Date Tasted: 9/23/2025
Purchased at: Safeway
Price: $15.99
Vintner: Hook or Crook Cellars
Description: Lodi Winemaker’s Select Field Blend
Vintage: 2021
Varietal: Red Blend
Notes: Mint, tomato, red berry, red plum, overripe berry and pine.
The acidity is med+, the body, the finish, concentration and intensity are medium. The tannins are light.
It’s Lodi, it’s a field blend. It’s a pretty simple wine with some very interesting scents. This wine would be a hit with BBQ chicken, spicy wings or picnic food. It will not overwhelm the food. At $10.99, it won’t break the bank.
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Rating: 86
Date Tasted: 9/23/2025
Purchased at: Costco
Price: $10.99
Vintner: Precision
Description: Napa Valley
Vintage: 2023
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: This has a really nicely balanced nose. The Beringer below was all bright top end notes. This one has a balanced of cocoa, anise, blackberry, baked blueberry tart with brown sugar crumble and bright plum.
Firm tannins, full body, long finish, good concentration and intensity. The acid is high and balanced with the fruit.
You cannot say enough good stuff about a twenty-dollar Napa cab. And it is worth double the price (or more). All it lacks is a more cohesive flavor depth on the palate. There is a small bitter note on the tongue, but all in all, this is really a nice wine. Buy it and enjoy just sitting and watching TV. Or take it to a blind tasting and really surprise people.
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Rating: 93
Date Tasted: 9/22/2025
Purchased at: Costco
Price: $21.99
Vintner: Beringer
Description: Knights Valley, Estate Selection
Vintage: 2022
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: Bright, bright red plum, licorice, black pepper, red berry, soft oak, mint and forest floor.
The palate has very bright fruit, long finish, intense flavors, tart acid and full body.
This reminds us of a Lodi Zinfandel rather than a cab. If that’s your jam, then this is your wine. For us, it lacks depth and does not ring true to the definition of classic cab. Still, it’s a great under $30 dollar wine to try out. Also, see 2021 Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (94 pts) still on a lot of shelves.
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Rating: 90
Date Tasted: 9/21/2025
Purchased at: Costco
Price: $22.99
