CheapWineFinder Podcast
Talking about remarkable wines that pair nicely with your wallet! Because we like to keep it cheap but excellent.
CheapWineFinder Podcast
Substance CS: America's Best Value Cabernet Revealed
Exceptional value meets critical acclaim in our deep dive into what might be America's best budget Cabernet Sauvignon. The Substance CS Cabernet Sauvignon from Columbia Valley consistently earns ratings of 91-93 points—scores typically reserved for bottles costing three to four times its modest $13.99 price tag. This remarkable wine represents the final vintage produced under Charles Smith's ownership before his 2024 sale of the brand.
What creates such extraordinary quality at this price point? We explore the sophisticated production methods behind this affordable gem, including whole bunch fermentation where intact grape clusters gently release their juice under their own weight in CO2-filled tanks. Natural vineyard yeasts—rather than commercial varieties—ferment the juice before it spends 10 months aging on lees in French oak barrels. These premium techniques deliver a wine with remarkable complexity and structure.
The tasting reveals why both critics and everyday wine drinkers celebrate this bottle. Expressive notes of cassis and blackberry mingle with hints of licorice and savory elements reminiscent of grilled meat. The bright acidity and layered flavor profile continue to develop and improve as the wine breathes. Unlike many value-priced wines that chase mass appeal with obvious fruit and oak flavors, Substance CS achieves something more sophisticated—a genuine taste of premium winemaking that satisfies both discerning palates and casual enthusiasts alike. For anyone seeking tremendous value without compromising on quality, this Columbia Valley Cabernet sets the standard for affordable luxury in American wine.
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Hey, welcome back or welcome. We've got another CheaperWineFightercom wine review podcast. That's what we do. This is Domain Dave. Like always, we've got a wine that has the reputation for being the best value price Cabernet Sauvignon in the United States. Maybe in France or somewhere there might be a better one, but this is the one that's got the reputation here and it's the Substance CS Cabernet Sauvignon, columbia Valley, 2022. The wines of Substance brand always has, like CS, as if it's a cobalt or something they're doing a play on the periodic table.
Speaker 1:It was a Charles Smith wine and in 2024 he sold it. Charles Smith wines the only wines they have left are the house of smith wines and he has a reputation for breaking a wine brand, making it a big deal and then selling it off and going on to the next thing, which is a good way of doing things because you make a lot of money selling these brands. The one thing about this wines of substance in 2022 is this was still wines of substance. It was sold in 2024, but the winemaker stayed with the new brand. I've got all those details on the website when I do all the particulars for the wine. This the 2020, yeah, 2021 year, which shouldn't be too much different from the 2022, got 93 points, 92 points, 91 points.
Speaker 1:This is a one which I found for $13.99 that routinely gets the same kind of reviews that $40 and $50 and $60 wines get, so that's something that will get your attention. So why is it? Um, they do whole bunch fermentation. I've got another, I got a. I've got a link to what that is. They don't press the grapes, they dump all the grapes, full grapes, into a tank and then fill a tank up with CO2 and then the weight of everything crushes the grapes and brings the juice out. It's a different way of doing things. They use natural yeast. Natural yeast is a yeast that flies through vineyards, through the air. You have yeast, you know. When you go outside there's yeast attaching to you. It's thought to be better suited to the grapes because it's living there than commercial yeast. It's got 10 months in French oak barrels on leaves. On leaves is where they keep the dead yeast in there In the tank at that time. 15% of it's new French oak. This is pretty substantial for a wine that I found for $13.99. It can be a little bit more, but this is the price. I did the 2021, and it was the exact same price then too. So this is something I'm going to take a sip.
Speaker 1:I am no expert on expensive Cabernet Sauvignon. If I was, I'd be the expensive wine finder, not the cheap wine finder. This wine Tastes expensive. There's some detail to the flavors. There's some bright acidity to it. This is a very good effort.
Speaker 1:It's a tasty wine too. The more you drink it, the better you like it. It's bright and delicious. It's got some dark, brooding flavors. It's got some interesting spices. It has some good things going for it. It's mostly cassis, blackberry, maybe a little bit of licorice in there, maybe some black cherry spices. I also got some pork on the grill roasting, that kind of thing, that savory thing going. The tasty notes said olives. I didn't get olives, but and flint. I never get those Olives and flint are, you know, like the things that Sam's got. I never get those. That kind of flavor's in here, which is which tends to be more expensive, and that's the kind of flavors you get out of French oak.
Speaker 1:I I'm gonna take another sip. Yeah, as it opens up more and more, this is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. I mean mean they say you know, am I easily influenced? Maybe, but since they said this is a. You know it's in the running. I don't know if it is the best you know under $15, under $16 or whatever value price Cabernet Sauvignon there is, but it's got to be in the running, it's got to be. It's a delicious wine and it's got to be in the running. It's got to be. It's a delicious wine and it's legit. This is the kind of wine that sommeliers and wine critics like you know like. Sometimes, the best-selling ones are the kind of showy big fruit bombs that get chocolate and vanilla in there. You know people like it, I like it, but the critics don't. This is one of the ones that I think people like and the critics like.
Speaker 1:It's the Substance CS Cabernet Sauvignon, columbia Valley 2022. 14 bucks. You can't beat it and it's a. It's a recommended wine. So, adios, keep it cheap. This is Domain Dave cheapwinefightercom. I got a Trader Joe's Pinot Grigio coming up next like a $6 one. We'll have fun with that. So, adios, keep it cheap. Like us, we like your podcast and I'll be talking to you Bye-bye.