Is Josh Cabernet good?
Yes, Josh Cabernet is a good, crowd-pleasing red for about $15: soft, ripe and smooth, though it is rounder and a touch sweeter-tasting than a classic Cabernet.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon · Cabernet Sauvignon · California · nearly everywhere, including Costco and Target
- Alcohol
- About 13.5%
- Sweetness
- Dry, with a ripe, soft finish
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Made by
- Josh Cellars, owned by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits
- From
- California
- Price
- About $13 to $17
- Calories
- About 120 to 125 in a 5 oz glass
What it tastes like
Blackberry, dark cherry and a little vanilla and toast from oak barrels. It feels smooth rather than grippy, and it ends juicy, ripe and fruity.
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
- Gripsmooth → grippy
Is it worth $15?
For a bottle you can find in any grocery store, yes. It is consistent year to year, which is half of why it's so popular. If you want something firmer and drier for the same money, Columbia Crest Grand Estates is a little more serious.
Who it’s for
Great for anyone who wants a big, easy red that does not dry their mouth out, and for bringing to a dinner where you do not know the crowd. Less exciting if you already love bone-dry, earthy reds.
How to serve it
Give it 15 minutes in the fridge before pouring so it lands around cool room temperature. No need to decant.
The backstory
Josh Cellars was started in 2007 by Joseph Carr, who named it after his dad, Josh, a military veteran who worked as a lumberjack and firefighter. Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits bought the brand in 2011, kept Joseph as its face, and turned it into a monster: it is now one of the best-selling wines in the country over $10. The Cabernet is blended from grapes all over California, which is how it tastes the same every year and why it leans soft and fruity instead of firm and dusty.
How it compares
- Josh Cabernet vs Mondavi Private Selection Cab
Mondavi Private Selection is a little cheaper and a touch more oaky and vanilla; pick Josh if you want it smoother and juicier.
- Josh Cabernet vs 14 Hands Cabernet
14 Hands is from Washington and tastes a bit brighter and lighter for a few dollars less; Josh is rounder and richer.
- Josh Cabernet vs Columbia Crest Cabernet
Columbia Crest Grand Estates is drier and firmer, more of a classic Cab; pick Josh if you want easy over serious.
What to eat with it
Questions people ask
- Is Josh Cabernet Sauvignon sweet or dry?
- It's a dry wine. Retail lab listings put it around 7 grams of sugar per liter, which is about a gram in a glass, but the ripe fruit and vanilla from oak make it taste a little sweeter than it is.
- How much is a bottle of Josh Cabernet?
- Usually about $13 to $17 for a 750 ml bottle. Costco and big grocery chains are often at the low end, and it goes on sale a lot.
- How many calories are in Josh Cabernet Sauvignon?
- Josh doesn't publish a number, but a 5 oz glass of a dry 13.5% red like this lands around 120 to 125 calories. A whole bottle is roughly 600 to 625.
- Where is Josh Cabernet from?
- California. The grapes come from several parts of the state rather than one vineyard, which is why the label just says California.
- Who is Josh in Josh Cellars?
- Josh Carr, the founder's father. Joseph Carr named the brand after him as a tribute to the man who taught him hard work.
- Is Josh Cabernet gluten free?
- Wine is made from grapes, so it is naturally gluten free, and Josh is no exception. If you are very sensitive, it is still worth checking with the brand directly.
If you like this, try
- Mondavi Private Selection CabCabernet Sauvignon · about $12It's fine
- 14 Hands CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $11Good buy
- Columbia Crest CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $12Drink this one
Where Moxie recommends it
- What wine goes with prime rib?
- What's the best wine at Costco?
- What's the best wine under $20?
- What is Cabernet Sauvignon?
- What does dry wine mean?
- Pinot Noir vs Cabernet Sauvignon: what's the difference?
- Merlot vs Cabernet Sauvignon: what's the difference?
- Red vs white wine: what's the difference?
Last checked 2026-10-04. Moxie Vino isn’t affiliated with Josh Cellars; this is our honest take. Bottle photo: Josh Cellars.