Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon

Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon is a multi-vintage, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from California produced by Chuck Wagner of Caymus Vineyards, bottled at 14.6% ABV in a 750ml format. Often referred to as "Baby Caymus," this wine applies the Wagner family's decades of Cabernet expertise to a broader California appellation, earning 91 points from Wine Stars.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.6%  |  Origin: California, USA  |  Multi-Vintage Blend  |  Producer: Wagner Family of Caymus Vineyards

Production & Heritage

Chuck Wagner founded Caymus Vineyards in 1972 in Rutherford, Napa Valley, and the Wagner family has become one of the most recognized names in California Cabernet Sauvignon. Bonanza represents a deliberate departure from single-vintage winemaking: the Wagner team sources fruit from multiple vineyard sites across California and blends lots from different harvest years, creating a consistent house style from bottling to bottling. This multi-vintage approach gives the winemaking team flexibility to adjust the blend, ensuring each release maintains the ripe, fruit-forward character the Wagner name is known for without relying on any single growing season.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark currants and dried roses emerge first, followed by grape pomace and freshly tilled soil. Subtle layers of cedar, cinnamon, and a light smokiness develop as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: The entry is rich with blueberry and blackberry fruit, carrying immediate density on the palate. Mid-palate, flavors of dark chocolate, vanilla, and toasted bread fill out the wine's frame. Tannins are silky and well-integrated, giving a velvety texture rather than any aggressive grip.

Finish: Medium in length with lingering notes of cassis, warm oak, and a faint mocha quality. The fruit stays present through the close, tapering with gentle spice and a toast-like warmth.

How to Drink Bonanza Cab

Serve at 60–65°F with 20–30 minutes of breathing time to let the darker fruit and oak notes fully integrate. A generous pour into a large-bowled glass is the simplest way to appreciate the wine's layered aromatics. For cocktail-adjacent serves: a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola over ice) works thanks to the wine's dark fruit sweetness and soft tannins; a New York Sour uses its berry richness to float beautifully atop bourbon and citrus; and a classic Red Wine Sangria benefits from the bold cassis and vanilla backbone that holds up against fresh fruit and brandy.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners when you want Napa-pedigree winemaking without the Napa price
• Introducing friends to California Cabernet Sauvignon in a generous, approachable style
• Casual dinner parties with grilled steaks or barbecue
• Building a by-the-case house red for entertaining through the year

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bonanza Cab taste like? Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon is a fruit-forward, full-bodied red wine dominated by blackberry, blueberry, and dark chocolate flavors with silky tannins and accents of vanilla and toasted oak.

How does Bonanza compare to Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon? Both wines are made by Chuck Wagner and share a ripe, fruit-driven profile, but Caymus is a single-vintage Napa Valley Cabernet priced significantly higher, while Bonanza is a multi-vintage California-appellation blend designed for everyday drinking. Many reviewers describe Bonanza as a "Baby Caymus" that captures a similar stylistic DNA at a more accessible price tier.

Is Bonanza good for beginners? Yes — the soft tannins, forward dark fruit, and approachable sweetness of oak make it an excellent starting point for anyone exploring California Cabernet Sauvignon without encountering overly tannic or austere wines.

Where is Bonanza made? Bonanza is produced by the Wagner Family in California, sourcing Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from multiple vineyard sites across the state rather than a single estate or AVA.

What foods pair well with Bonanza Cab? Grilled ribeye steak complements the wine's dark fruit and oak; slow-braised short ribs mirror its richness; aged cheddar or Gouda echoes the vanilla and toast notes; roasted portobello mushrooms pick up earthy undertones; and dark chocolate desserts align with the wine's mocha and cocoa finish.

What sizes does Bonanza Cab come in? Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle, with a 1.5L magnum format also found at select retailers.

Is Bonanza Cab worth the price? Bonanza positions as a value-tier California Cabernet carrying serious pedigree — it delivers the Wagner family winemaking philosophy at a fraction of Caymus pricing, making it one of the stronger values in the everyday Cabernet category.

Why Bonanza Cab?

The multi-vintage blending strategy is the key differentiator here. While most California Cabernets are locked into a single year's growing conditions, Bonanza's winemaking team can pull from multiple harvests and regions to maintain a remarkably consistent flavor profile release after release. That consistency comes from Chuck Wagner, whose Caymus Vineyards has won more "Wine of the Year" recognition from Wine Spectator than nearly any other producer. At its price tier, few California Cabernets carry this level of winemaking lineage — Bonanza earns its reputation not through flash, but through the reliable delivery of ripe, well-structured Cabernet Sauvignon built by one of the state's most experienced families.