I’ve mentioned before how difficult it is to find a good California Cabernet for under $20. I have found contenders, but usually they end up letting me down. So it was with some trepidation that I picked up a bottle of the 2012 Joel Gott 815 Cabernet. A 100% California Cabernet Sauvignon for $16.99? C’mon!

This wine was a pleasant surprise; a solid California Cab that won’t break the bank.

The key to the price point is the blending process. the winemakers took Cabernet Sauvignon grapes sourced from all over California: Napa, Sonoma, Lodi, Paso Robles and Lake County. It’s all Cab, but each appellation brings something different to the taste and aroma, to create a balanced wine that, frankly, should be priced higher than it is.

What was interesting to me about this wine was how it evolved in the glass. It started out thin and tasted a bit young at first, but over the course of our dinner it opened up and I started to taste subtle fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry, with a hint of dark chocolate, and – believe it or not – graham cracker. This is a nuanced wine that won’t overpower you with flavor. Give it some time and after the second glass you’ll see how nice it really is.

On my five cork scale based on taste and value, I give the 2012 Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon four corks. This is a bargain that you should definitely try!

If you’d like to try interesting wines like this, please join me at our next private wine party at The Party Source! I host a wine dinner there every month with sommelier and wine manager Steve Tartaglia, and we feature several interesting wines, paired with a delicious catered dinner from Kate’s Catering and Personal Chef Services. There are always cool prizes to win, too, so listen Wednesday at 4:15 to win your spot on the guest list, or click here for a chance to win!