Menage a Trois Cabernet Sauvignon

Menage a Trois Cabernet Sauvignon is a California North Coast red wine blending fruit from three counties, bottled at 13.8% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2018 vintage earned 92 points at the Jerry Mead New World International Wine Competition, underscoring the consistency of this multi-regional blend that draws from Sonoma, Lake, and Napa County vineyards.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.8%  |  Origin: North Coast, California  |  Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Producer: Trinchero Family Estates (originally Folie à Deux Winery)

Production & Heritage

The Ménage à Trois brand launched in 1996 at Folie à Deux Winery in St. Helena, Napa Valley, and is now produced under Trinchero Family Estates, one of the largest family-owned wine companies in the United States. The Cabernet Sauvignon expression sources grapes from three distinct North Coast growing regions — Sonoma County contributes finesse, Lake County adds structure and power, and Napa County delivers elegance — before aging in a combination of French and American oak barrels. This tri-county blending approach allows the winemaking team to balance richness with complexity in a way that single-origin fruit at this tier rarely achieves.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark berries lead on the nose, followed by subtle oak-driven notes of vanilla and spice. A faint undercurrent of dried herbs rounds out the bouquet as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is fruit-forward, with ripe blackberry and dark cherry dominating the palate. Mid-palate, the French and American oak influence surfaces as warm vanilla and a touch of baking spice, while silky tannins provide a smooth, medium-bodied framework. The overall impression is lush and jammy without being heavy.

Finish: The finish runs moderate to long, with lingering dark fruit and a savory, slightly tannic edge. A gentle sweetness from the oak aging carries through to the close, leaving a clean and satisfying conclusion.

How to Drink Ménage à Trois Cabernet

This Cabernet drinks well at a light cellar temperature of around 60–65°F, served in a large-bowled glass to let the dark fruit aromatics open fully. It is equally at home neat alongside dinner as it is in wine-based cocktails. A Cabernet Sangria benefits from the wine's bold berry character and balances well with citrus and stone fruit. A classic Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) works here because the jammy profile complements the drink's sweetness without losing structure. For a brunch pivot, a Red Wine Spritzer with sparkling water and a squeeze of orange highlights the wine's fruit-forward side while keeping things refreshing.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners featuring grilled red meats or hearty pasta
• Introducing newer wine drinkers to California Cabernet Sauvignon
• Casual gatherings where an approachable, crowd-pleasing red is needed
• Building a mixed case of everyday California wines under one label

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Ménage à Trois Cabernet taste like? It delivers bold dark berry flavors — blackberry and dark cherry are dominant — wrapped in silky tannins with a jammy, oak-influenced finish. The overall profile is fruit-forward, smooth, and medium-bodied.

How does Ménage à Trois Cabernet compare to Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are widely available California Cabernets in a similar everyday price tier, but the Ménage à Trois leans jammier and softer on tannins, while Josh Cellars tends toward a slightly more structured, darker fruit profile. The tri-county North Coast sourcing of Ménage à Trois also gives it a broader regional character compared to Josh Cellars' Central Coast-focused blend.

Is Ménage à Trois Cabernet good for beginners? Yes — its approachable, fruit-forward profile and soft tannins make it a strong entry point for anyone exploring Cabernet Sauvignon without the intensity that higher-tannin examples can present.

Where is Ménage à Trois Cabernet made? It is produced by Trinchero Family Estates in California, using grapes sourced from the North Coast — specifically Sonoma, Lake, and Napa counties. The brand originated at Folie à Deux Winery in St. Helena, Napa Valley, in 1996.

What foods pair well with Ménage à Trois Cabernet? Grilled ribeye steak matches the wine's bold fruit and oak tannins. Braised short ribs echo its savory finish. A mushroom risotto complements its earthy undertones. Aged cheddar or Gouda offer a rich textural pairing. Herb-crusted lamb chops work well alongside the wine's spice and dark berry notes.

What sizes does Ménage à Trois Cabernet come in? The standard bottle is 750ml, which is the most widely available format.

Is Ménage à Trois Cabernet worth the price? It positions as an everyday, value-tier California Cabernet Sauvignon, and its competition-level scores — including 92 points at the Jerry Mead New World International Wine Competition — suggest it punches above its weight for the category.

Why Ménage à Trois Cabernet?

The defining differentiator here is the tri-county blending strategy. Rather than relying on a single vineyard source, the winemaking team at Trinchero Family Estates pulls from Sonoma, Lake, and Napa — three of California's most respected growing regions — and balances the lots before oak aging. The 92-point score from the Jerry Mead New World International Wine Competition validates the approach at a price point where many competitors rely on simpler, single-source fruit. For drinkers who want a recognizable, consistently smooth California Cabernet that delivers genuine North Coast character without a premium-tier price tag, this bottle fills that role reliably vintage after vintage.