Menage a Trois Cabernet Sauvignon Bourbon Barrel Aged

Menage a Trois Cabernet Sauvignon Bourbon Barrel Aged is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from California's North Coast at 14.5% ABV in a 750ml bottle, finished in ex-bourbon barrels. The 2018 vintage earned 92 points at the 2020 Sunset International Wine Competition, highlighting the expression's ability to merge ripe California fruit with whiskey-barrel character.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: North Coast, California  |  Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Winery: Folie à Deux (Trinchero Family Estates)

Production & Heritage

Folie à Deux Winery was founded in 1981 and became part of Trinchero Family Estates in 2004. For this Bourbon Barrel Aged expression, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are sourced from California's North Coast AVA and the wine is aged for three months in oak barrels previously used to craft six-year-old Kentucky bourbon. That secondary maturation adds layers of caramel, smoke, and vanilla that distinguish it from the standard Ménage à Trois red blends, bridging the gap between traditional winemaking and the recent bourbon-barrel-aged wine category.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Berry cobbler and ripe blueberry lead the nose, followed by brown sugar, vanilla, and a wisp of oak smoke. The bourbon influence emerges gradually, lending warm baking-spice complexity.

Taste: The entry is soft and fruit-forward, with jammy blackberry and blueberry flooding the mid-palate. As the wine develops, caramel sweetness, black currant, and a thread of cedar come into focus. The mouthfeel is rich and round, with moderate tannins that give structure without austerity.

Finish: Medium-long, with smoky spice and toasty oak lingering alongside a subtle tobacco note. The bourbon-barrel signature stays present without overwhelming the fruit core.

How to Drink Bourbon Barrel Aged Cab

Serve at 60–65°F to let the barrel-influenced aromatics open fully; a brief decant of 15–20 minutes benefits younger vintages. This wine also holds up well in cocktail-style applications. A Red Wine Sangria gains extra depth from the smoky, caramel undertones. A Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) takes on a richer vanilla dimension compared to standard reds. For a warm-weather twist, use it in a Red Wine Spritz with sparkling water and an orange peel, where the bourbon sweetness balances the dilution.

Best For

• Introducing a bourbon or whiskey enthusiast to the world of wine
• Pairing with a weekend backyard barbecue spread
• Casual dinner parties where an approachable yet conversation-starting bottle is needed
• Gifting to someone who enjoys exploring crossover beverage categories

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bourbon Barrel Aged Cab taste like? It delivers jammy blackberry and blueberry flavors wrapped in caramel, vanilla, and smoky spice, with moderate tannins and a rich, round mouthfeel. The bourbon-barrel influence adds a toasty sweetness that distinguishes it from conventionally aged Cabernet Sauvignon.

How does Bourbon Barrel Aged Cab compare to Robert Mondavi Private Selection Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon? Both are 100% California Cabernet Sauvignon finished in bourbon barrels, but Ménage à Trois tends to lean more fruit-forward with prominent berry-cobbler aromatics, while Mondavi's version often emphasizes darker fruit and a slightly heavier oak profile. Mondavi's Private Selection helped ignite the bourbon-barrel wine trend, going from zero cases in 2016 to 1.4 million in 2018, while Ménage à Trois brings the recognized approachability of its parent brand to the category.

Is Bourbon Barrel Aged Cab good for sipping on its own? Yes — the wine's soft tannins, rich fruit, and caramel-vanilla finish make it an easy sipper without food, especially at the recommended 60–65°F serving temperature.

Where is Bourbon Barrel Aged Cab made? It is produced by Folie à Deux Winery, part of Trinchero Family Estates, using grapes from California's North Coast AVA. The winery was founded in 1981 and has operated under Trinchero ownership since 2004.

What foods pair well with Bourbon Barrel Aged Cab? Smoked brisket or pulled pork complement the wine's barrel-driven smokiness. Dark-chocolate desserts echo the caramel and vanilla notes. Aged cheddar or Gouda mirrors the toasty sweetness, while a classic bacon cheeseburger matches the rich, jammy fruit. Grilled lamb chops with a rosemary rub also pair well, their herbal char balancing the wine's sweetness.

What sizes does Bourbon Barrel Aged Cab come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Bourbon Barrel Aged Cab worth the price? It positions as an accessible, everyday-tier wine within the bourbon-barrel-aged category, delivering noticeable barrel complexity without a premium price tag. For drinkers curious about the crossover style, it represents a low-risk entry point with genuine flavor payoff.

Why Bourbon Barrel Aged Cab?

The three-month rest in barrels that previously held six-year-old Kentucky bourbon gives this wine a legitimate secondary character — not a gimmick, but a measurable layer of vanilla, smoke, and caramel woven into classic North Coast Cabernet fruit. Its 92-point showing at the 2020 Sunset International Wine Competition confirmed that the barrel treatment translates into real quality. In a subcategory now crowded with imitators, the Ménage à Trois bottling stands on the strength of Trinchero Family Estates' winemaking infrastructure and four decades of California production experience. For anyone looking to explore where wine and whiskey barrel culture intersect, this remains one of the most straightforward and reliable starting points.