Manifesto Cabernet Sauvignon

Manifesto Cabernet Sauvignon is a North Coast California Cabernet Sauvignon bottled at 13.9% ABV in a standard 750ml bottle. The 2011 vintage earned 89 points from Wine Enthusiast, and the wine carries a strong CellarTracker community score of 88.7, reflecting consistent quality across multiple vintages.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.9%  |  Origin: North Coast, California  |  Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Producer: Folktale Wine Group

Production & Heritage

Manifesto is produced by Folktale Wine Group under the guidance of winemaker Jamey Whetstone, who cut his teeth at Turley Wine Cellars — starting as a tractor driver at $10 an hour and learning the craft from the ground up. The fruit is sourced from California's North Coast, a broad appellation spanning several premium growing regions north of San Francisco. The brand's guiding philosophy is straightforward: "Great wine is made in the vineyard, doesn't have to cost a fortune, should complement your meal, not overpower it and should be easy to open and drink." That ethos — "A simple wine for a complex world" — drives a style that prioritizes balance and drinkability over extraction and concentration.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with floral and ripe dark fruit notes, leading into black pepper and subtle oak. As the wine breathes, deeper aromas of cassis, black olive, and a faint briar-like earthiness emerge.

Taste: The entry is fruit-forward with ripe plum and black cherry at the center, supported by vanilla accents and moderate oak influence. Mid-palate, the wine shows medium body with good acid structure and enough tannin to provide shape without heaviness. The overall impression leans old-world in style, with restrained power and genuine food-friendliness.

Finish: The finish is medium in length with lingering notes of dark fruit and a touch of licorice. Tannins resolve smoothly, leaving a clean, balanced close.

How to Drink Manifesto Cab

This Cabernet drinks well at a slight cool — around 60–65°F — and benefits from 15 to 20 minutes of breathing time in the glass before the first sip. Its medium body and restrained tannins also make it versatile in mixed wine drinks.

• Classic Red Wine Sangria: The plum and cherry fruit holds up to citrus and brandy without becoming muddled.
• Kalimotxo: The balanced acidity and dark fruit profile work surprisingly well in this simple red wine and cola combination, a Spanish staple.
• Mulled Wine: Vanilla and spice notes in the wine complement warm-spice additions like cinnamon and clove during cooler months.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners where you want a reliable, food-friendly red without overthinking it
• Introducing someone to California Cabernet Sauvignon at an approachable price point
• Casual dinner parties or backyard gatherings that call for several bottles
• Building a by-the-case house red for everyday enjoyment

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Manifesto Cab taste like? Manifesto Cabernet Sauvignon is a medium-bodied red dominated by ripe plum, black cherry, and vanilla, with supporting notes of black pepper and cassis. It drinks balanced and fruit-forward without heavy tannins.

How does Manifesto Cab compare to Bogle Cabernet Sauvignon? Both occupy a similar everyday-drinking tier of California Cabernet, but Manifesto tends toward a more restrained, medium-bodied style with floral and earthy nuances, while Bogle typically leans richer and more fruit-concentrated. Manifesto's North Coast sourcing gives it slightly different regional character compared to Bogle's Clarksburg-rooted fruit.

Is Manifesto Cab good for sipping neat? Yes — its moderate tannins, balanced acidity, and 13.9% ABV make it an easy wine to enjoy on its own, especially with a few minutes of air.

Where is Manifesto Cab made? Manifesto Cabernet Sauvignon is produced by Folktale Wine Group using fruit sourced from California's North Coast appellation, a region encompassing Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake counties among others.

What foods pair well with Manifesto Cab? Grilled flank steak benefits from the wine's dark fruit and peppery notes. Roasted lamb chops echo its earthy, briar-like undertones. Aged cheddar or Manchego cheese complement the vanilla and oak. Mushroom risotto pairs with the wine's medium body and savory finish. Pasta with a slow-cooked Bolognese sauce mirrors its plum and cherry character.

What sizes does Manifesto Cab come in? Manifesto Cabernet Sauvignon is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Manifesto Cab worth the price? Manifesto positions squarely as a value-tier California Cabernet, and its CellarTracker community score of 88.7 and multiple Wine Enthusiast reviews suggest it regularly over-delivers relative to its price bracket.

Why Manifesto Cab?

What separates Manifesto from the crowded field of affordable California Cabernet is the pedigree behind the label. Winemaker Jamey Whetstone's training at Turley Wine Cellars — one of California's most respected producers of single-vineyard wines — brings a level of vineyard-focused thinking that's uncommon at this price tier. The North Coast sourcing provides genuine regional identity rather than a generic "California" blend, and the consistent scores across multiple vintages (highlighted by an 89-point Wine Enthusiast rating on the 2011) confirm that quality here is not accidental. For drinkers who want a dependable, food-friendly Cabernet without pretension or a premium price tag, Manifesto delivers exactly what its name promises.