Is Louis Martini Cabernet good?
Yes, Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet is a classic, well-made Cabernet for about $20, with real grip and dark fruit that tastes like a much pricier bottle.
Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon · Cabernet Sauvignon · Sonoma County, California · most grocery stores and Costco
- Alcohol
- About 13.5% to 14.5%, depending on the year
- Sweetness
- Dry
- Grapes
- Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon
- Made by
- Louis M. Martini, owned by E. & J. Gallo since 2002
- From
- Sonoma County, California
- Price
- About $18 to $22
- Calories
- About 125 to 135 in a 5 oz glass (estimate)
What it tastes like
Blackberry, black cherry, a bit of cedar and cocoa. Full-bodied with a firm but smooth grip and a dry flavor that lasts.
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
- Gripsmooth → grippy
Is it worth $20?
Yes. This is the bottle to buy when you want a "real" Cabernet for a nice dinner without paying Napa prices. It drinks like a $35 wine.
Who it’s for
For steak lovers and anyone ready to move from smooth, sweet-ish reds to something more classic. If you find tannin (that drying, grippy feeling) unpleasant, pick Catena Malbec instead.
How to serve it
Open 20 to 30 minutes ahead, and serve just below room temperature.
The backstory
Louis M. Martini started selling wine on December 5, 1933, the very first day it was legal again after Prohibition. His Napa winery helped make dry, grape-named California wine a thing, and the family ran it until Gallo bought it in 2002. The winery sits in Napa, but this bottle is Sonoma County fruit, which is how it gives you serious, grippy Cabernet without the Napa price tag.
How it compares
- Louis Martini Cabernet vs Decoy Cabernet
Decoy is smoother and a bit plusher for about $5 more, so pick Decoy as a gift and Martini when you want more grip with steak.
- Louis Martini Cabernet vs Columbia Crest Cabernet
Columbia Crest is the $12 everyday version of this style, lighter and simpler, while Martini has more depth and a longer finish.
- Louis Martini Cabernet vs Caymus
Caymus is a rich, lush splurge at several times the price; Martini is the classic, drier Cab that tastes like you spent more than you did.
What to eat with it
Questions people ask
- Where is Louis Martini Cabernet made?
- The winery is in St. Helena in Napa Valley, but the Sonoma County Cabernet is made from grapes grown in Sonoma County, just west of Napa. Martini also makes pricier Napa Valley and Monte Rosso Vineyard bottles.
- Who owns Louis M. Martini?
- E. & J. Gallo, which bought the winery from the Martini family in 2002. It was Gallo's way into Napa.
- What is the best Louis Martini Cabernet?
- For everyday value, this Sonoma County bottle. If you want to splurge, the Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet comes from a famous red-soil mountain vineyard the family bought in the 1930s, and it costs many times more.
- How much is a bottle of Louis Martini Cabernet?
- The Sonoma County Cabernet is usually about $18 to $22, and Costco often has it for less. The Napa Valley version costs noticeably more.
- What food goes best with Louis Martini Cabernet?
- Steak, prime rib and lamb, because the fat in the meat softens the wine's grip. Aged cheddar and mushroom dishes work too.
If you like this, try
- Columbia Crest CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $12Drink this one
- Decoy CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $25Good buy
- Catena MalbecMalbec · about $18Drink this one
Where Moxie recommends it
- What wine goes with prime rib?
- What wine goes with steak?
- What is the best wine for Christmas dinner?
- What is dry red wine?
- What is Cabernet Sauvignon?
- Merlot vs Cabernet Sauvignon: what's the difference?
Last checked 2026-10-04. Moxie Vino isn’t affiliated with Louis M. Martini; this is our honest take.