I Tested Costco vs. Trader Joe's Cabernet Sauvignon: Which One Is Best? | Wine Blind Taste Battle
Video Overview & Insights
In this video, I'm putting my two favorite stores head-to-head in the ultimate Cabernet Sauvignon showdown. We're talking blind taste tests, three different price points, and a whole lot of wine-induced honesty. Whether you're a Costco kid or a Trader Joe's enthusiast (or both, like me), you're in for a treat.
The $10 KS Alexander Valley Cab is cloyingly sweet and lacking acidity. I had equally bad experience with another wine by Alison Crowe. Bless her heart her wines exemplifie the worst traits of California wine. The $18 KS Cab from Suscol Vineyard is delightful and it punches well above its weight. Cheers.
Hey there! I'm Dustin, and I make wine videos for non-wine people.
No fancy wine talk here - just straightforward, honest opinions from a guy who loves wine but hates pretension. By the end of this video, you'll know exactly which store to hit up for your next wine night. Plus, you might just learn a thing or two about what makes a good Cabernet without feeling like you need a sommelier certificate. So grab a glass (or a bottle, no judgment here), hit that play button, and let's plunge into this Costco vs. Trader Joe's wine battle royale. Trust me, it's going to be quacktastic!
You may not know or admit it, but there is a boyfriend in your future.
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It’s meant to be drunk immediately? Maybe I had an old one then because I didn’t like the Louis Jadot version at all.
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Enjoy your videos. Regarding tobacco. The smell of raw, fresh loose tobacco from a newly opened pouch is quite pleasant. I smoke 1-2 cigars a month but if I was a Sommelier I would think actually smoking a cigar would be a bad idea. Not sure how long your smell & taste senses need to recover for you to do your job properly. Also, what's up with "cigar box"? That description is used often. BTW, cigar boxes or humidors are often made with cedar wood.
Watch my other videos here !
🍷 How I wish ORDERING WINE was explained to me as a beginner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSxtx0vux4I
I love your ramblings!
🍷 $7 vs. $70 - Sommelier Ranks $400 of Trader Joe's Wine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKaousRwylg
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I also tried Trader Joe’s vs Kirkland Oakville and Kirkland won, tasted much better. Each bottle was $20.
00:00 Intro
01:02 Blind Taste Setup
I have a bottle of the 21 Suscol which was subpar according to you and other sources and got a couple of 22s which is supposed to be much better. Can’t wait to try them back to back to test my skills.
01:16 Costco vs Trader Joe's Cabernet Sauvignon Under $10
05:07 Trader Joe's Grower's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Clearly not a channel for people who care about wine.
05:22 Trader Joe's Coastal Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
06:14 Costco's Kirkland Columbia Valley 2021
He has trouble completing a sentence.
07:03 Costco vs Trader Joe's Cabernet Sauvignon $10 - $15
07:40 Costco's Kirkland Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Your videos are absolutely the best! Keep going!!!
09:04 Trader Joe's Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
09:04 Trader Joe's Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
11:13 Costco vs Trader Joe's Cabernet Sauvignon Above $15
11:34 Trader Joe's Trading Post Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Outstanding videos! Always informative, educational and entertaining. Love your sense of humor! Wish I had your discerning nose/palate!
14:59 Costco's Kirkland Napa Valley Suscol Vineyard 2021
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You are so easy to listen to / watch . Love your videos.
Looking for the best cheap wine, affordable Cabernet Sauvignon, or budget-friendly red wine options? Wondering about Costco wine selection or Trader Joe's wine deals? This wine tasting comparison video has got you covered! We're exploring everything from Two Buck Chuck alternatives to Kirkland Signature wines, and even a single vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet. Whether you're a wine beginner seeking wine recommendations or a savvy shopper hunting for wine bargains, this Costco vs Trader Joe's wine review will help you find great value wines without breaking the bank. Discover hidden gems, learn about wine quality on a budget, and find out if expensive wines always taste better. From boxed wine to bottle, we're uncorking the truth about supermarket wines and helping you become a smarter wine buyer. Cheers to great wine at even better prices!
TJ's has much better wines at the sub $10 price point, but not TJ's house brands. Mass market Bogle, for example, is also $8.99 and my favorite, a Super Tuscan is amazing at $5.99. Hating crowds, I only have a Costco membership for the gas pumps outside.
More User Perspectives
I like the alpha ranking system better than the 80 numbers that are never used.
@davescott1686Nice video! I'm not sure how I haven't found your channel sooner. I enjoyed this! But...
You must have expensive taste? Since this is the first video of yours I've seen, it seems to me that you do. Or we just have VERY different taste palates. I've had the Kirkland Columbia Vally Cab Sav and I thought it was pretty good. I've also had the TJ's Alexander Valley Cab Sav and the TJ's Trading Post Cab Sav and thought those were both excellent wines. (Now I want to try the Kirkland versions.)
Your ratings on all of these kind of came as a shock to me. I thought you rated them pretty low, so that's why I think you must have expensive taste. I wasn't trying to be offensive. So, I guess that means we just have very different tastes in wine.
That's OK though! I still enjoyed the video and have subscribed. You taught me what cork rot is and means, and now I have a feeling why some of the wines I've had tasted so bad. I'll probably go back and try those wines again just to test and see if it was cork rot or just bad wine. Now I'll go watch some of your other videos to see what you have to say and see if you've rated some other wines I've had. I'm intrigued.
Thanks Dustin!
Side note: I wear earbuds most of the time while I watch videos and there were a couple points in the video where I thought your background music was a tad loud. It kind of covered up your talking. Not a big deal, I could still hear what you were saying, but thought I would point that out. Other than that, I thought you did a really good job on the production of the video. Keep it up! You're almost to 1k subs and monetization!🎉🎆
These are great. Keep it up.
@HQReesesReviewsI need help choosing wine for Christmas!
@lindylee1139Good material in the video, unfortunately excessive & unnecessary entertainment.
@danielbouchan8592Hi this is a greeting from Taiwan 😊 ! I like your channel 🎉
@covischang3645Great video but please add a conclusions part at the end so I can see which wine you liked the best.
@Ekot43133Nice vid! Would you consider rating the wines in the 100 point scale or even the 20 point one that Jancis Robinson uses? Letters doesn't seem enough for rating, you said it yourself, there is a whole range inside each one. Cheers from Argentina!
@javierel22I’m a Ho 😉 Great video, keep them coming!
@515joymonGood channel. Plz keep up the good work! Subscribed in a heart beat! No-brainer-great-wine channel
@tomchung1004cLoved it! Haven't mentioned this yet but really appreciate how you do the tasting notes, not naming 12 different descriptors but just the 1-2 most important ones and largely discussing structure like concentration, acid, tannins and alcohol. In the wine industry lots of people go way too far naming dozens of flavours in a single sip which makes 'normal' people think that they don't have the ability to appreciate wine. Its been scientifically proven in at least 1 study you can only identify max 4-5 aromas in wine at once(not digging for a reference right now but can provide if pushed) so the ppl who name more are generally just smelling their own farts(and they are many).
I also like that you are pretty stingy with the higher scores, feels like it actually means something when an A shows up and its fun when you shit on wines.
Enjoyed the comparisons, loved the commentary and the editing was entertaining. Looking forward to more D…
@NKRS4LMThis is a fun new channel, love the humor and production values!
@rnjbondgreat video. you'll be big soon
@neverdyingoffSuper entertaining! I’d love to see more of these! Can you compare some white wines too?
@veronicapulido897Informative and fun to watch, great job to the production and editors!
@IdeRusaWhat about Mexican wines from Valle de Guadalupe or Parras?
@hotrodupmexReally good video. The music is a little bit loud though, might be nice to have that volume lowered a little bit. Only in some spots though.
Considering it's so early on in your channel though, the production is great
Way to keep it up! Looking forward to the next one. I bought the Tayac 2021 based on your review in the last video and it was a winner! I appreciate the work you put in trying to find really great value in wine.
@bclore77Yet another amazing video! Absolutely quacktastic ❤
@SantiagoFernandez-ft9heCool video, thanks
@jcleer1