Woodbridge Bourbon Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon

Woodbridge Bourbon Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon is a 750ml, 13.5% ABV California Cabernet Sauvignon from Lodi, finished in used bourbon barrels for added depth and complexity. The wine earned 86 points from Wine Enthusiast, which highlighted its vanilla-and-wood-char character layered over berry and cherry flavors.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: Lodi, Central Valley, California  |  Style: Bourbon Barrel-Finished Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Producer: Woodbridge Winery (Robert Mondavi)

Production & Heritage

Woodbridge Winery was founded by Robert Mondavi in Lodi, California — a warm-climate region in the Central Valley known for producing ripe, fruit-forward reds. For this expression, the winemaking team ages select lots of Cabernet Sauvignon in used bourbon barrels, then blends those lots back with conventionally aged wine. This partial-finishing technique is a key distinction: rather than barrel-aging the entire production, only chosen portions see bourbon wood, allowing the blending team to dial in the balance between fruit character and barrel influence.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Vanilla and toasted oak lead the nose, followed by warm cocoa and a subtle sweetness reminiscent of charred bourbon staves. As the wine opens, ripe dark fruit — blackberry and plum — emerges beneath the barrel-driven aromatics.

Taste: The entry is fruit-forward, with blackberry and red plum arriving immediately on the palate. At mid-palate, vanilla bean and toasted marshmallow weave into the fruit, lending a rounded, almost dessert-like sweetness that stays on the savory side of the line. Tannins are moderate and soft, making the wine approachable rather than grippy.

Finish: The finish is medium in length, carrying lingering notes of toasted oak, cocoa, and a faint smokiness from the bourbon barrel contact. A thread of dark fruit keeps it balanced as it fades.

How to Drink Woodbridge Bourbon Barrel Cab

This wine drinks well at a slight cool — around 60–65°F — either on its own or with food. Its moderate tannin structure and bourbon-barrel sweetness also make it unexpectedly versatile in wine-based drinks.

• Bourbon Barrel Sangria: The vanilla and dark fruit character melds naturally with sliced stone fruit, a splash of brandy, and a cinnamon stick.
• Kalimotxo: The bold, slightly sweet profile holds up against cola in this Spanish classic, where the oak and cocoa notes add unusual depth.
• Mulled Wine: Warming spices like clove and star anise amplify the existing toasted-marshmallow and vanilla qualities already present in the wine.

Best For

• Introducing a bourbon enthusiast to barrel-finished wines
• Casual backyard grilling with friends over burgers and ribs
• Weeknight dinner wine when you want something bolder than a standard Cab
• Building a bourbon-barrel wine flight alongside other barrel-aged reds

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Woodbridge Bourbon Barrel Cab taste like? It leads with ripe blackberry and red plum, layered with vanilla bean, toasted marshmallow, and cocoa from the bourbon barrel finishing. Tannins are moderate, keeping the wine smooth and easy to drink.

How does Woodbridge Bourbon Barrel Cab compare to Josh Cellars Reserve Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are California Cabernet Sauvignons finished in bourbon barrels, but Josh Cellars Reserve tends toward a fuller body with more pronounced smoky and spice notes. Woodbridge leans lighter in tannin with a more fruit-driven, marshmallow-tinged sweetness at a lower price tier.

Is Woodbridge Bourbon Barrel Cab good for sipping on its own? Yes — the soft tannins and vanilla-oak sweetness make it very approachable as a casual sipper, particularly for drinkers who enjoy bourbon or oaked reds. Serving it slightly cool brings the fruit into sharper focus.

Where is Woodbridge Bourbon Barrel Cab made? It is produced by Woodbridge Winery in Lodi, California, a sub-region of the Central Valley founded by legendary winemaker Robert Mondavi. Lodi's warm, dry climate produces the ripe, concentrated fruit that anchors this wine.

What foods pair well with Woodbridge Bourbon Barrel Cab? Smoked brisket or pulled pork mirrors the barrel's charred character. Aged cheddar complements the vanilla and oak notes. Dark-chocolate desserts echo the cocoa undertones. Grilled portobello mushrooms match the wine's moderate body. BBQ ribs with a sweet glaze work especially well alongside the marshmallow-tinged finish.

What sizes does Woodbridge Bourbon Barrel Cab come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format. Woodbridge wines are also commonly found in 1.5L magnums, though availability of the bourbon barrel expression in larger formats may vary by market.

Is Woodbridge Bourbon Barrel Cab worth the price? This wine sits firmly in the everyday-value tier, making it one of the more affordable bourbon barrel-finished Cabernet Sauvignons on the market. For drinkers curious about the bourbon-barrel wine category, it represents a low-risk entry point with genuine barrel character.

Why Woodbridge Bourbon Barrel Cab?

What separates this wine from the growing crowd of bourbon barrel reds is its blending approach: only select lots see bourbon wood, and those are folded back into the final blend rather than dominating it entirely. The result, recognized with 86 points by Wine Enthusiast, keeps Cabernet Sauvignon's fruit identity intact while adding a credible layer of vanilla, char, and toast. Backed by the Robert Mondavi name and sourced from one of California's most prolific warm-climate growing regions, it delivers a convincing barrel-finished experience at a price that encourages experimentation rather than hesitation.