The 2022 Kunde Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa arrived with exactly the sort of back label I expected: a little flowery prose about the wine. Thankfully, there was none of the usual nonsense about life journeys, destiny, or discovering your inner self. I already know myself. I am person standing in kitchen holding corkscrew and looking for dinner.
Before opening bottle, I prepared proper companion: large chunk of cow and was hoping for a traditional Cabernet Sauvignon experience. This is always dangerous territory. Many budget-friendly cabs promise boldness and then show up tasting like confused red blends wearing fake mustaches. But then came the first glass. OMG. A real Cabernet Sauvignon. Real oak. Real puckeryishness. Good jammy fruit. My tongue immediately recognized old friend and said, “Yes, this is what we came for.” I began wondering if I had accidentally stumbled upon the Holy Grail hiding on the Grocery Outlet shelf.
The chunk of cow and the wine immediately became best friends. Every bite demanded another sip, and every sip mysteriously caused the bottle level to drop much faster than the laws of physics should allow. I suspect evaporation, though only inside my glass. At $9.99, this is one of those bottles that makes you quietly look around to see if anyone else has noticed it yet. If they have not, buy several. If they have…well, may the fastest shopper win.
