A lot of fun has been poked over the years at boxed wines. And rightfully so. Most of the wine sold in boxes over the past couple decades has been disgusting. But that’s starting to change. It’s not the container, it’s the wine… and there are a few producers now putting some tasty juice into boxed wines.
You no longer need to avoid boxed wines, but like any other wine you’ll still find some that are better than others. Actually, you may want to get used to the idea of boxed wines, as many in the wine industry predict that you’ll see more and more of them over time. The reason is simple, shipping costs. Bottles add a lot of extra weight to wine. While I didn’t weigh it to find out exactly, this box of Black Box wine felt about as heavy as two bottles of wine to me, yet it has the equivalent volume of four standard 750ml bottles of wine.
There are other benefits to wine in a box, besides shipping weight. The wine stays fresh longer after you open it. When you open a bottle of wine, the exposure to air degrades the quality of the wine and within a couple days it’s no good. But with bag-in-a-box wine, air does not enter the container when you open it, allowing it to stay fresh for up to 30 days.
Black Box wines is not very old as a brand—they started back in 2003. They source grapes from regions around the world, including Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Italy and New Zealand. The grapes in this Cabernet Sauvignon are mostly from California’s Central Coast.
I’m simply floored by the aromas coming from this wine… it’s wonderful, however only moderate in intensity. Cherry and blackberry make up the fruit, but there is also a nice dusty, herbal quality to this wine that I would describe as tomato leaf, tobacco and leather. The palate has plenty of fruit flavors, like blackberry, cherry and plum. I can’t say it extraordinary complexity beyond the fruit on the palate, but it’s still a very enjoyable wine. The tannins are soft and pleasing. The bottom line, this is a great wine for the price. Very enjoyable.
Wine: Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2008
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 85
Price: $23.00 for 3L (equivalent to four 750ml bottles)
Find Black Box Cabernet Sauvignon with Snooth
Disclosure: This wine was received as a sample.
Have black box 2009 Shiraz , packed 11/10/2011 that tastes like going bad, plummy, off taste. Have had other black box Shiraz so know how should taste. Any thoughts?
I have not tasted their shiraz so I don’t have a specific frame of reference. I wouldn’t expect it to be going bad already unless it got hot in storage at some point.
This Cabernet Sauvignon review is when the wine was from California. Recently, Black Box wine has been sourced from Chile, and it just no longer taste good, nor is a good buy in my opinion. There is a different smell and accompanying taste with this Chilean Cabernet that isn’t expected or pleasant. I wish Black Box would return to their California roots and return to the value and quality that made them successful. My advice is to pass the new wine up.
Thanks for the update, Watchguy2.
I have tried Black Box Cab. Sauv. twice, both times it was terrible. It did not taste ,smell, or resemble Cab in any way.Save your money Black Box is garbage.
I completely agree.but i loved the California cab This Chilean version made me want to throw it away. But I tried twice to drink it. Both times i had raging headache. It was tossed. Now I buy bota box.
I haven’t tasted the Chilean version. Sounds like one to pass on.