2022 Comanche Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Wheeler Vineyard, San Benito County
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
A rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with inviting aromas of dark chocolate and dried berries, spiced with mahogany, incense and charred walnut. The palate unfolds with layers of dark cherry, dried tobacco and wood spice flavors. These aromas and flavors paired with a dry, lingering finish showcase the wine’s depth and structure. Equally enjoyable alongside a hearty meal or sipped on its own.
Comanche Cellars is located on California’s Monterey Peninsula and we take advantage of the wealth of vineyards in our incredible region. We have created long-standing relationships with local vineyard owners to source some of the finest fruit in California.
My name is Michael Simons, and what started as a love affair with wine has turned into a passion for producing small lots of very handcrafted wines from neighboring vineyards. Our tiny (1,800 cases) winery is named after Comanche, my horse when I was ten years old. He was an important part of a young life, and I use his name as a loving tribute to this old friend. These days, I ride a bicycle, and since this love affair with wine turned into a full-blown obsession, finding time for riding anything can be tough. But I still think of Comanche often, and am proud that his name and shoes are on every bottle of my wine. Maybe those horseshoes will bring you some good luck!
Comanche Cellars is on California’s Monterey Peninsula, where we take advantage of the incredible wealth of vineyards that can be found in almost every direction. All throughout the Santa Lucia Highlands, Arroyo Seco, San Antonio Valley and Santa Cruz Mountains AVA’s, there are winegrowers and winemakers producing incredibly beautiful wines that, we think, can and will rival the best the world has to offer. We’re happy to be in the sweet spot right now, as Wine Enthusiast recently named Monterey as one of the Top 5 winegrowing regions worldwide!
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
22 Comanche Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
On opening I get flavors of Cab and oak, but fairly light on the oak. The Cab is a little different from some Cabs, with more of a Merlot tone, but not sweet. An unusual wine. But good.
After it’s been open for a while it doesn’t change much, and stays pretty much the same (to my taste) later in the evening and on into the next day.
I know that doesn’t help a potential buyer much. It may be that I’m recovering from a cold and miss some of the finer points.
My wife says it won’t set the world on fire, but is a barely OK wine. It wouldn’t turn her into a teetotaler. But she’s a fairly harsh critic. I think it’s better than that.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2022 Comanche Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon - $70 = 25.92%
Here’s the WE review, it kind of got incorporated into the winery notes:
90 points. Dark and dried berry aromas are spiced with mahogany, incense and charred walnut on the nose of this bottling. The palate lands with a dry texture, offering dark fruit and wood spice flavors. — Matt Kettmann 7/1/26 issue date
@GatorFL tough crowd…come on now…we all know how magazine publishing dates work, that’s why I put issue date. If I had just put 7/1/26 then @rjquillin would have had a smart a** comment about back to the future or some such ha!
Good morning all.
Michael Simons here. I’m the winemaker for Comanche Cellars and I look forward to discussing anything of interest from you about this wine.
We have had many offers on casemates over the years, with both our Comanche Cellars and our Dog and Pony brand. I hope you have found some memorable favs among them!
Michael
@comanchecellars Hey I just noticed that this spent some serious time in barrel, just being bottled in January. Can I assume being a somewhat recent bottling this is still settling into what it will become. If that makes sense
@james
Hi James
Sorry that I just saw your question! Maybe too late?
The Cab Sauv Inglenook clone, after a long barrel age seemed in need of a brightness lift!
We have 16 diff varietals to play with and at some point I thought about how Cab Sauv comes from crossing Cab Franc with Sauv Blanc, and as we have both in the winery I went that direction, and it was the best of the many blends I tried. And I went with it.
Thanks for your question!
Michael
Hello Kaolis,
Thank for that question.
You are correct! Wine is in a state of perpetual change, and blending and bottling both require some time to reach a new equilibrium.
Thanks
Michael
@kaolis
It appeared that you were asking for confirmation of your Correct assumption.
Additionally, it can be said that there are literally thousands of the most incredibly fascinating studies related to aging of wines, as the more than 1000 compounds within wine ionize themselves from the delicious drink we love to drink in the beginning, to the vinegar that we love in our salad dressings.
I’m hoping you will be giving this one a try!
Yours
Michael
@comanchecellars@kaolis
Your earlier blending question and the inclusion of the Sauv Blanc are both questions I’d like to have seen more winemaker participation discussion on…
@FOMOhoarder a few years ago I had a wine buying frenzy and had cases delivered to a friend in North Carolina where I spend the Winter mostly. She had a nicely cooled house.
I went over there when I got out there, with my friend’s Nissan truck. She and her husband loaded the back of the truck while I stayed inside… I think about 10 or 12 cases. I think it was still early post-Covid era so we weren’t allowed direct contact. I was a bit embarrassed about how much wine it was. The “fee” was trying 1 or 2 bottles of each case; a good deal if you ask me…
2022 Comanche Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Wheeler Vineyard, San Benito County
90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$504.00/Case for 12x - 2022 Comanche Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Wheeler Vineyard, San Benito County at Comanche Cellars
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jul 20 - Wednesday, Jul 22
2022 Comanche Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
4 bottles for $89.99 $22.50/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
22 Comanche Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
On opening I get flavors of Cab and oak, but fairly light on the oak. The Cab is a little different from some Cabs, with more of a Merlot tone, but not sweet. An unusual wine. But good.
After it’s been open for a while it doesn’t change much, and stays pretty much the same (to my taste) later in the evening and on into the next day.
I know that doesn’t help a potential buyer much. It may be that I’m recovering from a cold and miss some of the finer points.
My wife says it won’t set the world on fire, but is a barely OK wine. It wouldn’t turn her into a teetotaler. But she’s a fairly harsh critic. I think it’s better than that.
I’m in for a case.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2022 Comanche Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon - $70 = 25.92%
Here’s the WE review, it kind of got incorporated into the winery notes:
90 points. Dark and dried berry aromas are spiced with mahogany, incense and charred walnut on the nose of this bottling. The palate lands with a dry texture, offering dark fruit and wood spice flavors. — Matt Kettmann 7/1/26 issue date
@kaolis its still June
@GatorFL tough crowd…come on now…we all know how magazine publishing dates work, that’s why I put issue date. If I had just put 7/1/26 then @rjquillin would have had a smart a** comment about back to the future or some such ha!
Good morning all.
Michael Simons here. I’m the winemaker for Comanche Cellars and I look forward to discussing anything of interest from you about this wine.
We have had many offers on casemates over the years, with both our Comanche Cellars and our Dog and Pony brand. I hope you have found some memorable favs among them!
Michael
@comanchecellars Hey I just noticed that this spent some serious time in barrel, just being bottled in January. Can I assume being a somewhat recent bottling this is still settling into what it will become. If that makes sense
@comanchecellars just noticed the bit of Sauvignon blanc in the makeup. Is that common or is this more of an avant garde style for a winemaker?
@james
Hi James
Sorry that I just saw your question! Maybe too late?
The Cab Sauv Inglenook clone, after a long barrel age seemed in need of a brightness lift!
We have 16 diff varietals to play with and at some point I thought about how Cab Sauv comes from crossing Cab Franc with Sauv Blanc, and as we have both in the winery I went that direction, and it was the best of the many blends I tried. And I went with it.
Thanks for your question!
Michael
Hello Kaolis,
Thank for that question.
You are correct! Wine is in a state of perpetual change, and blending and bottling both require some time to reach a new equilibrium.
Thanks
Michael
@comanchecellars Interesting answer, a bit generic, but thanks I guess…
@kaolis
It appeared that you were asking for confirmation of your Correct assumption.
Additionally, it can be said that there are literally thousands of the most incredibly fascinating studies related to aging of wines, as the more than 1000 compounds within wine ionize themselves from the delicious drink we love to drink in the beginning, to the vinegar that we love in our salad dressings.
I’m hoping you will be giving this one a try!
Yours
Michael
@comanchecellars not necessarily confirmation, there are all levels of enthusiasts here and just thought I’d bring up a point of (little) interest ha!
@comanchecellars @kaolis
Your earlier blending question and the inclusion of the Sauv Blanc are both questions I’d like to have seen more winemaker participation discussion on…
Okay in for a case. Come October 5th UPS is going to have to drive two trucks my way for all the summer hold cases I’ve purchased in the last 2 weeks
@FOMOhoarder a few years ago I had a wine buying frenzy and had cases delivered to a friend in North Carolina where I spend the Winter mostly. She had a nicely cooled house.
I went over there when I got out there, with my friend’s Nissan truck. She and her husband loaded the back of the truck while I stayed inside… I think about 10 or 12 cases. I think it was still early post-Covid era so we weren’t allowed direct contact. I was a bit embarrassed about how much wine it was. The “fee” was trying 1 or 2 bottles of each case; a good deal if you ask me…