Swill or Swell: Episode 35

Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon

Watch the Episode Here

Welcome to Swill or Swell, a weekly series where I taste grocery store wines and let you know if they’re worth the buck or just meant for the drain!

CAVEAT! As you read this, please keep in mind that wine is subjective! This means that everyone enjoys different things and something I like might not be something you like and vice versa. I’ll be as objective as I can with facts about the wine’s quality, but in the end if your opinion differs from mine...that’s perfectly fine! Wine is only worth drinking if YOU like drinking it.

LET'S INTRODUCE THE WINE

Today I'll be tasting the Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon Mini Carton. I've been wanting to try one of these carton wines ever since I had few canned wines. They're basically a mini version of the brand's larger boxed wine. I've hard good things about this brand, so I'm curious to give it a try. I picked up this 500mL carton from my Kroger QFC for $4.99.

BLACK BOX CABERNET SAUVIGNON FUN FACT

Let's start by talking about the grape - Cabernet Sauvignon:

• Originated in Southwest France (famous in Bordeaux)
• Child of Cabernet Franc & Sauvignon Blanc
• Most planted grape in the world
  • Thick, durable skin, and the vine’s resistance to the elements 
• Characteristics:
  • Medium plus tannin
  • Medium plus body
  • Medium plus alcohol

Let's talk about the producer - Black Box Wines:

• In 2003, Black Box Wines redefined the wine category by becoming the first U.S. brand to offer premium, appellation-specific, vintage-dated boxed wines.
• They craft their wine with the goal of it being food-friendly and fruit-forward
• Grapes are sourced from the Central Valley's premiere growing sites in Valle de Maule, Colchagua and Rapel

WINE TASTING NOTES

Look: Medium Ruby
Smell: Bright red fruit, coffee, chocolate, hint of red plum even
Taste: First thing I notice is that the wine is very smooth and fruit forward. Medium acidity with medium- tannin, and a nice medium+ body make this a very drinkable wine. 
Think:
Food Pairing - This is 100% a wine that I'd pair with any fast good burger!
Occasion - No occasion necessary for this wine! This is the perfect wine for an everyday dinner. It's perfect for if you're the only one drinking and you don't want to open a full bottle. 
Rating - I was so pleasantly surprised by this wine, it's definitely going on my short list of grocery store favorites, which means it's clearly a swell!

Want to learn more? Check out my Instagram every Thursday at 5PM PST for a new episode of Swill or Swell! Have a wine you’d like me to taste? Write your request in the comments below or send me a message on Instagram!