Stumbling Onto a Gem Between Paper Towels and Frozen Pizza
Costco wine sections are like fishing the Muskegon River—you’ve got plenty of water, but not every cast brings in a keeper. You learn to watch for signs: producer names, regions, vintage, critic scores… and price.
This stack of Method Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 hit all the right signals:
- California Cabernet
- 94-point rating on a recent vintage
- Clean, minimal label with that tree-and-roots graphic (nice touch)
- And the clincher: $9.99
At that price, you don’t have to over-analyze. You just need it to be honest, tasty, and better than the “house red” at the average chain restaurant. Spoiler: this is.
I grabbed a bottle, headed back to Grand Haven, and lined it up with a simple dinner—grilled burgers, a few cheddar-loaded potato wedges, and the last of a salad that had clearly seen better days. Nothing fancy. Sometimes that’s the best test.
First Pour: Not Your Typical Ten-Dollar Cab
The color was rich ruby, the kind of deep red that still lets a little light through at the rim—promising structure without turning into inky soup. As soon as I gave it a quick swirl in the glass, I picked up:
- Ripe dark fruits – think black cherry and blackberry
- A little black currant (the classic Cab marker)
- And this subtle lavender edge that kept it from feeling heavy
No need for decoder-ring tasting notes—if you like dark berries, you’re in the right neighborhood. It didn’t smack me with oak or alcohol, which is where a lot of budget Cabs go sideways. Instead, it smelled… balanced. Like someone actually cared.
On the Palate: Fruit-Forward, Structured, and Surprisingly Serious
First sip and my eyebrows went up.
The wine is juicy and fruit-forward without turning into jelly. You get a burst of blackberries and plums, with that cassis thread running right down the middle. There’s enough tannin—that grippy, drying feel—to remind you this is Cabernet, not some generic “red blend,” but it’s not harsh.
Official shelf-talker language said:
“Bold structured tannins give the wine texture.”
Translation in plain English:
It’s smooth enough to drink on its own, but it really wakes up with food. Like a good defensive line—firm, not dirty.
At 94 points, do I think critics got a little excited? Maybe. I’d personally park it closer to 90–91 in the real-world, “I actually buy my own wine” scale. But at ten bucks, that’s still a ridiculous deal.
The Lakeshore Test: Real People, Real Food
I poured a couple glasses for friends who stopped by after walking the dog down to the Grand Haven boardwalk. No decanter, no ceremony—just pop, pour, and pass.
Reactions:
- “Wow, that’s ten bucks?”
- “This tastes like something we had at a steakhouse in Chicago.”
- “You sure you don’t want to charge us a corkage fee?”
We ran it with:
- Grilled burgers – perfect match; the char and the Cab high-fived each other.
- Sharp cheddar – the tannin cut right through the richness.
- A couple bites of dark chocolate later that night—surprisingly good.
I’d happily pour this with:
- Smoked brisket from one of the Muskegon BBQ joints
- A Friday-night pizza from Fricano’s
- Or a big ribeye after a long day chasing fish out on Lake Michigan
Why This Bottle Is a No-Brainer Case Buy
Here’s the thing about Costco: nothing is guaranteed to be there next week. Their inventory turns like a soccer lineup—today’s starting striker is watching from the bench tomorrow.
A California Cabernet that:
- Drinks this well
- Carries a 90-plus-style profile
- Costs less than two fancy lattes
…is exactly the kind of wine that disappears without warning.
If you spot Method Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 on the shelf:
- Buy at least three bottles – one for now, one for later, one to share.
- If you like the first bottle, go back and grab a case.
- At $9.99, you’re not marrying it—you’re just locking in a smart, everyday Cab for the fall and winter.
This is the kind of wine you can pour for your Cabernet-loving uncle at Thanksgiving without anyone guessing you paid under ten bucks.
Where It Fits in Your Lineup
Think of this wine like that reliable utility player on a baseball team—not the flashy superstar, but the one who shows up, plays hard, and quietly helps you win games.
You’re not comparing it to $60 Napa icons. You’re stacking it against:
- Everyday grocery-store Cabs in the $12–$18 range
- Chain-restaurant “by the glass” reds
- Random private-label stuff that drinks like oak chips and sugar
In that world, Method punches way above its weight. It’s clean, generous, and feels like real Cabernet, not a chemistry project.
