The Tasting Breakdown
Pop the cork and you get exactly what Oakville promises—dark fruit. Black cherry. Cassis. That ripe, sun-baked Napa core.
On the palate, it’s full-bodied but not overbuilt. Supple tannins. Not a rugby scrum. More like controlled contact—solid tackle, no cheap shots.
There’s that vanilla and cedar note from oak aging. Nothing flashy. It’s not trying to impress Instagram. It just does the job. Balanced acidity keeps it from feeling heavy. The finish lingers long enough to remind you you’re drinking something serious.
Is it complex? Moderate.
Is it polished? Yes.
Is it worth $19.99? Absolutely.
The Price Reality
Here’s where this gets interesting.
Oakville fruit isn’t cheap. Period. Even bulk fruit from that AVA commands a premium because of the name and the reputation. So how does this land at $19.99?
Volume. Negotiation power. Costco playing financial football at the line of scrimmage. They buy big. They move big. They win on margin, not markup.
If you’re shopping traditional retail, an Oakville-designated Cab usually starts closer to $50–$70 and climbs fast. At $19.99, this is what I call a baseball double off the wall. Maybe not a grand slam. But you’re scoring.
Who This Is For
This is for the person hosting a winter dinner in Grand Haven. Grilling steaks inside because it’s 12 degrees and the wind off Lake Michigan is howling.
This is for the guy who wants Napa without paying Napa pricing.
This is not for someone chasing cult-wine status. It’s for someone who wants value and a solid glass of Cab that makes prime rib better.
Final Verdict
Should you grab it?
Yes. No hesitation.
At $19.99, this is disciplined winemaking backed by warehouse muscle. It delivers classic Napa structure and flavor at a price that honestly doesn’t make sense.
And that’s the fun part.
Sometimes the underdog isn’t flashy. It just executes.
