Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon – Caymus Heritage in Every Glass

Updated -> February 2026

Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon brings the winemaking pedigree of Chuck Wagner and the Caymus family to an accessible California Cabernet. Using a lot-based blending approach that draws fruit from multiple premier appellations, Bonanza delivers rich dark fruit, smooth tannins, and layered complexity that punches well above its price point. At $24.99, this is one of the best values in California Cabernet Sauvignon. Available at Bel Pre Beer & Wine in Silver Spring, MD.

Introduction

When a winemaking family responsible for one of Napa Valley's most iconic Cabernet Sauvignons launches a new label, the wine world pays attention. Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon is Chuck Wagner's answer to a straightforward question: can you deliver serious California Cabernet quality without the Napa Valley price tag? The answer is a resounding yes.

Rather than sourcing fruit from a single prestigious vineyard, Bonanza takes a different path. Chuck Wagner and his team select lots of Cabernet Sauvignon from multiple California growing regions, blending them into a wine that captures the depth, richness, and structure that made the Wagner family famous. The result is a Cabernet that feels like it should cost twice its price.

The Chuck Wagner Legacy

Understanding Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon starts with understanding the family behind it:

• Caymus Vineyards: Chuck Wagner co-founded Caymus Vineyards in 1972 in Rutherford, Napa Valley. The winery's Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon has won Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year twice, a distinction no other wine has achieved.
• Multi-Generational Expertise: The Wagner family has been farming in Napa Valley since the 1850s, giving Chuck a deep generational understanding of California terroir that infuses every project he touches.
• Portfolio of Labels: Beyond Caymus, the Wagner family operates multiple wine brands including Conundrum, Mer Soleil, and Emmolo. Each occupies a distinct niche, but all share the family's commitment to quality.
• Philosophy of Accessibility: With Bonanza, Chuck Wagner set out to bring high-caliber winemaking to everyday price points. The name itself evokes a windfall, a lucky strike of value.
• Hands-On Approach: Despite overseeing a portfolio of celebrated wines, Chuck Wagner remains personally involved in blending decisions across his labels, including Bonanza.

The Lot-Based Blending Approach

Bonanza's defining innovation is its lot-based model:

• What Lot-Based Means: Instead of designating a specific vintage year, Bonanza is released by lot number. Each lot represents a distinct blend assembled from available fruit, allowing the winemaking team to prioritize flavor consistency and quality over vintage constraints.
• Multi-Appellation Sourcing: Grapes come from multiple California growing regions, each contributing different characteristics. This broad sourcing gives the blending team more tools to work with than any single vineyard could provide.
• Consistency Over Vintage Variation: Traditional vintage-dated wines vary year to year based on growing conditions. The lot-based approach lets Bonanza maintain a consistent flavor profile by adjusting the blend, drawing on whichever appellations delivered the best fruit.
• Value Engineering: By sourcing broadly rather than from a single prestigious appellation, Bonanza keeps costs manageable without sacrificing quality. The savings pass directly to the consumer.
• Quality Control: Each lot is only released when the blend meets Chuck Wagner's standards.

California Appellations in the Blend

Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon draws from some of California's finest growing regions:

• Paso Robles: The Central Coast's powerhouse region contributes ripe, full-bodied fruit with generous dark berry character. Warm days and cool nights produce grapes with excellent sugar development and preserved acidity.
• Lodi: One of California's oldest wine regions, Lodi delivers rich, jammy fruit with soft tannins. The Mediterranean climate and sandy loam soils add roundness and approachability to the blend.
• Lake County: Volcanic soils and high-elevation vineyards contribute minerality and structure. Cabernet from this region tends toward darker fruit with firm tannins.
• North Coast: Broader North Coast fruit adds complexity and depth, benefiting from coastal influence that moderates temperatures and extends the growing season.
• Blending Mastery: Each appellation fills a role: some provide power, others finesse, others structure. The Wagner team's decades of blending experience makes this synthesis possible.

Tasting Notes

Here is what to expect when you pour a glass of Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon:

Appearance: Deep ruby to garnet with a rich, opaque core. The color signals concentration and extraction. Swirling reveals legs that suggest full body and balanced alcohol.

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe blackberry, dark cherry, and cassis. Secondary aromas emerge with time: vanilla from oak aging, hints of dark chocolate, and a subtle earthiness. Baking spice notes of cinnamon and clove add complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

Palate: The entry is smooth and fruit-forward, with dark plum and black currant leading. Mid-palate, the wine reveals layers of mocha, toasted oak, and dried herbs. Tannins are present but well-polished, providing structure without astringency.

Finish: Medium to long, with lingering dark fruit and a pleasant cocoa note. The finish is clean and inviting, encouraging another sip. A touch of vanilla persists, tying back to the oak program.

Winemaking Process

Bonanza's winemaking reflects the Wagner family's meticulous standards:

• Selective Harvesting: Grapes from each appellation are harvested at optimal ripeness, with timing decisions based on sugar levels, phenolic maturity, and acid balance. Different regions ripen at different times, extending the harvest window.
• Fermentation: Individual lots are fermented separately to preserve their regional character. This allows the winemaking team to evaluate each lot independently before blending decisions are made.
• Oak Aging: The wine sees a combination of French and American oak, with a mix of new and neutral barrels. This oak program adds vanilla, spice, and textural complexity without masking the fruit character. The balance of new to neutral oak is carefully managed.
• Blending Trials: The Chuck Wagner team conducts extensive blending trials, tasting dozens of combinations before settling on the final lot blend. This is where decades of experience translate directly into wine quality.
• Approachability by Design: The winemaking deliberately produces a wine that is enjoyable upon release. Extended maceration and careful oak integration ensure smooth tannins from day one, without requiring years of cellaring.

Food Pairings

• Grilled Steak: The classic Cabernet pairing. Bonanza's dark fruit and tannins cut through the richness of a well-marbled ribeye or New York strip. Season simply with salt and pepper to let both the meat and wine shine.
• Braised Short Ribs: Low-and-slow cooking creates the unctuous richness that Cabernet Sauvignon was born to complement. The wine's acidity and tannins balance the fat, while the dark fruit echoes the caramelized meat flavors.
• Aged Cheddar and Hard Cheeses: Sharp, crystalline aged cheddar or Manchego provides a savory counterpoint to Bonanza's fruit-forward profile. The protein and fat in cheese soften tannins, creating a harmonious combination.
• Mushroom Risotto: Earthy, umami-rich mushroom dishes bring out the wine's subtle earthiness and herbal notes. The creamy texture of risotto complements the wine's smooth mouthfeel.
• Dark Chocolate: For dessert, reach for dark chocolate with 60-72% cacao content. The bittersweet cocoa mirrors the wine's own chocolate notes, creating a layered tasting experience.

Serving Suggestions

• Temperature: Serve at 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit. Most people serve red wine too warm. Fifteen minutes in the refrigerator brings it to the sweet spot where the fruit is expressive and the alcohol doesn't dominate.
• Glassware: Use a large-bowled Bordeaux glass. The wide bowl allows the wine to breathe and concentrates the aromas toward your nose.
• Decanting: While Bonanza is approachable from the moment you pull the cork, thirty minutes of decanting will soften youthful tannins and open up the aromatic complexity.
• Pour Size: A standard five-ounce pour allows enough wine in the glass for swirling and aroma appreciation, yielding about five glasses per bottle.
• No Rush: Take time with this wine. The first sip shows you the fruit; the second reveals the structure; by the third, you discover the subtleties that separate this from ordinary California Cabernet.

The Value Proposition

At $24.99, Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon occupies a remarkable position in the California wine market:

• Caymus DNA: The same palate, blending philosophy, and uncompromising standards that created one of Napa's most celebrated Cabernets are at work here. You are paying for Chuck Wagner's expertise without the Napa Valley appellation markup.
• Price-to-Quality Ratio: California Cabernets of comparable depth typically retail between $35 and $60. Bonanza's multi-appellation sourcing keeps the price accessible without cutting corners.
• Everyday Luxury: This is a wine you can open on a Tuesday night without hesitation. Special enough for a dinner party yet affordable enough for a weeknight meal.
• Gift-Worthy: The Bonanza name, the Wagner family connection, and the quality in the bottle make this an impressive gift without requiring a significant investment.

How It Compares

• vs. Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet: Caymus is richer, more concentrated, and carries the complexity of single-appellation Napa fruit. Bonanza shares the family style but at roughly one-third the price. For everyday drinking, Bonanza delivers exceptional satisfaction.
• vs. Josh Cellars Cabernet: Both target the accessible California Cab market, but Bonanza offers more complexity and depth. The Wagner pedigree shows in the blending sophistication and oak integration.
• vs. Decoy by Duckhorn: Decoy is another respected second label. Both wines offer strong value, but Bonanza tends toward riper, darker fruit while Decoy leans more structured and Bordeaux-influenced.
• vs. The Prisoner Cabernet: The Prisoner emphasizes bold, jammy fruit with noticeable oak sweetness. Bonanza is more balanced and refined, with better-integrated tannins and more nuanced oak treatment.
• vs. Single-Vineyard Napa Cabs: At $50 to $150, single-vineyard Napa bottles offer terroir specificity that Bonanza intentionally avoids. What you trade in vineyard identity, you gain in consistent quality and remarkable value.

Perfect Occasions

• Dinner Party Anchor: Bonanza has the quality to impress wine-knowledgeable guests and the approachability to please casual drinkers. The Chuck Wagner story makes excellent table conversation.
• Weekend Grilling: Fire up the grill, season a steak, and open a bottle of Bonanza. This is the wine's natural habitat, delivering enough flavor to match charred, smoky food.
• Wine Club Alternative: If you receive wine club shipments and want something to compare against higher-priced bottles, Bonanza often holds its own in blind tastings against wines costing twice as much.
• Date Night at Home: A bottle of well-crafted Cabernet, a simple meal, and good company. Bonanza provides the quality backdrop without the pretension.
• Holiday Gatherings: Its crowd-pleasing profile and conversation-starting backstory make Bonanza ideal for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any gathering where you need a wine that appeals to varied palates.

Storage and Cellaring

• Drink Window: Bonanza is crafted for near-term enjoyment. It drinks beautifully upon release and will hold for two to four years under proper storage conditions. This is not a wine designed for long-term cellaring.
• Temperature: Store at 55 degrees Fahrenheit in a cool, dark location. Consistent temperature matters more than hitting an exact number. Avoid storing near heat sources or in areas with significant temperature swings.
• Position: Store bottles on their side to keep the cork moist and maintain the seal. If you plan to drink the bottle within a few weeks, upright storage is fine.
• Light: Keep away from direct sunlight and fluorescent lighting, both of which can degrade wine over time. A closet or pantry works well if you don't have dedicated wine storage.

Local Availability

Check stock and pickup options below. Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon is available now at Bel Pre Beer & Wine.

Where to Buy

Order Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon now from our online shop. Visit https://www.belprefinewine.com for curbside pickup, delivery zones, and more. Stop by our store at 2251 Bel Pre Road in Silver Spring, open Monday through Saturday 10am to 9pm and Sunday 10am to 8pm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon is proof that great wine does not require a great fortune. Chuck Wagner has channeled decades of Caymus-honed winemaking into a California Cabernet that delivers dark fruit richness, polished tannins, and genuine complexity at a price that makes it an everyday option rather than a special-occasion splurge.

At $24.99, this bottle sits in the sweet spot where quality and value intersect. Whether you are a seasoned Cabernet drinker who recognizes the Wagner style or a curious newcomer exploring California reds, Bonanza rewards your attention without demanding your wallet.

Visit Bel Pre Beer & Wine at 2251 Bel Pre Road in Silver Spring, MD to pick up a bottle today. Open Monday through Saturday 10am to 9pm and Sunday 10am to 8pm.