A fabulous Trader Joe's Cabernet Find
Meet Corvelia
Wine's Background
When I first saw this bottle in the isle at Trader Joes, the label is what enticed me to try it out. It is simple but elegant. As always, I was excited to see a label that was under $20 (when I first tried it out it was under $10! Now I think it has been elevated to $12-13 depending on where you live). The bottle is heavy and feels nice (you wine lovers know what I’m talking about). You could 100% give this as a gift and, unless the recipient decided to look it up online, they would completely think it was a $30-40 bottle.
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The Facts
- Name: Corvelia
- Classification: Cabernet Sauvignon
- Where: Paso Robles, California
- When: 2017
- How Much: $9.99 at Trader Joes
- Alcohol Content: 14.1%
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Details
Corvelia is an unbelievably affordable wine with very flavorful features. Prior to trying this wine I had never tried any others from Paso Robles other than Jlohr (my trusted go to always). Apparently this particular region specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon, so I will have to keep that into consideration for future selections!
It is a purple-red color and very dense. You can tell that it is made with lots of dark berries just by looking at it in the glass.
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Corvelia's Scent
At first inhale, all I smell are deep, dark blackberries and vanilla. Sniffing a few more times with thought I can honestly say I detect cherry and spice. The smell isn’t harsh like I typically come across at this price point, but sweet and appealing.
Wine's Taste
This cabernet is extremely full bodied and bold in flavor. It is a middle-range cab (in my opinion) in terms of acidity. There isn’t that daunting roof-of-mouth flare that you typically get with this price point.
As I said earlier, you can tell there are lots of dark fruits in this particular wine before you even taste, but this fact is confirmed once you have it in your mouth. In addition to the blackberries and vanilla I detected in the scent, the taste has black cherry (particularly in the after taste) and slight hints of plum.
Aftertaste
I was pleasantly surprised to find out Corvelia has a silky smooth and velvety aftertaste! It will linger as long as you let it. This makes it a great wine to sip when you only want a single glass, because the flavor will stay, helping you drink slower.
Another huge plus to me: this wine doesn’t have a bite, which is rare at this price. Typically at this price point, there is so much acidity that the tartness is super evident.
Other Details
Pairings: Stick to dark meat: beef, ground turkey, and bison will probably be best. If you’re not a fan of those, chicken and salmon would also be delicious. I personally paired with surf and turf for a date night.
Serving Tip: Let the bottle air for 30 min – 1 hour before sipping for maximum enjoyment! My favorite glasses to sip from are linked below:
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Final Thoughts
Run out and buy this bottle. This is a super affordable wine that is worth the price of admission. It can be the perfect gift, date night sip, or opened after a long day (guilt free). Not only is it flavorful, but it is worth the cost.
Looking for wine inspired gift ideas? Check out my gift guide for wine lovers.