I began wine collecting with the 1986 vintage, a fine year for cabernet, when the prices for a bottle of California cabernet were in line with most consumer’s budgets. Since that time I have made it a point to buy ultra premium cabernets and very inexpensive “value” cabernets. I have yet to find a Cabernet, in my 20+years of drinking and buying, as fantastic a value and as rich and flavorful a wine as the Stonehedge 2003 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The best part is the price: $12.99 at my local Trader Joe’s!
Now here is the mystery aka the bad part of the story. This wine is impossible to find outside of Trader Joes and not all Trader Joe’s carry this cabernet. Why? Here is what we know to this point after looking online-for a frustrating night of hide and seek.
1. The wine is called Stonehedge Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet vintage is 2003.
2. It was bottled by Stonehedge Cellars of Santa Maria, California.
3. The wine has a black label all other Stonehedge wines have white labels
4. The Krupp Brothers are credited with making this wine. I can not find the Krupp Brothers on the Stonehedge site nor online for producing this wine.
5. The only black label wine by Stonehedge is the $50 per bottle “Signature Vines Stage Coach Vineyard” designated Cabernet with no mention of the Krupp Brothers.
If you can find it buy as much as your budget will allow. If you will please email me and let me know I want to buy more of this wine before it is gone. I have a feeling that this was a wine produced for Trader Joe’s or discounters only. Best of luck and if you find it- you will love it!
2 responses so far ↓
Duel Glass // October 6, 2007 at 12:28 am
hints of chocolate and mint, delicious wine. is it available in Texas or Louisiana? Solid 88-90 rating.
Eric // March 27, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Ok – I found the wine you are speaking of and just purchased a bottle to try it out. Now, not to be a wine snob, but I only did so (hesitantly) at the request of a store employee who I have conversed with previously. I, personally, have a tremendous amount of knowledge regarding wine from all over the world (my passions being Bordeaux, Burgundy and Napa/Sonoma). So – after hearing what you wrote…I am dying to find out how this bottle shows.
If it turns out great – I will let you know where it is located and you can contact the store directly – hell, I will even be more than happy to give you the name of the Wine dept. manager…cheers.