2004 Trove Cabernet Sauvignon

Price: $25
Maker: Trove Wines, Madera, California
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Packaging: 3-liter box
Our Rating: 8.5 out of 10

At least on US shelves, Trove Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 is likely to be one of the pricier box wines on the shelf. We saw it listed for $25 for a 3-liter box, but found it on sale for $20. At its list price, it’s hardly a costly wine - a bit more than $8 per bottle - but it’s far more costly than the cheap 5-liter wines from Franzia, Almaden, and Vella… and it’s a bit higher than most of the other boxes, like Hardy’s, Wine Block, Wine Cube, etc.

So is the Trove boxed cabernet worth shelling out a few extra bucks for? Perhaps… this cab has an intriguing aroma, with a prominent butterscotch note mixing with the more expected spice and berry. The flavor is rich and complex, with jammy berry flavors, soft tannins, and good acidity. The finish lingers. This is indeed a nice wine, and people who have turned their nose up at boxed wine in the past will be pleasantly surprised, if not actually shocked.