Obligatory Disclaimer: This bottle of wine was provided to me for free, with the understanding that I would likely review it for this blog. Whether that makes me biased is up to you to decide.
Details of the 2018 Charles Woodson’s Intercept Cabernet Sauvignon “Hall of Fame” Edition #
Vineyard: Multiple in the Adelaide, Estrella, El Pomar, and Willow Creek districts
Region: Paso Robles, CA
Grapes: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
Age at Review: 8 years
Alcohol by Volume: 15%
Charles Woodson, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has been producing the Intercept wine label bearing his name since 2019. His passion for learning about and making wines dates back to 2005, however, so this is not just a celebrity wine brand, but one built on decades of experience.
The bottle’s backside shares a list of Woodson’s football stats—it was released to commemorate his 2021 induction into the hall of fame, after all. That’s also why the wine commanded a high price of $150 as a limited edition at its release.
The Intercept golden lion dissolving into mist on the bottle is beautiful, and it’s always fun to cut into a wax seal to open a bottle of wine, so I appreciate the art involved in its design.
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The back of the bottle also dedicates the release to Woodson’s fans, which, I’m not going to lie, makes me feel like a charlatan for drinking it—I don’t deserve it! I am not a football fan at all! But alas, I must do my duty and sample the 2018 Charles Woodson’s Intercept Cabernet Sauvignon “Hall of Fame” Edition anyhow. 😉
Thoughts on Tasting the 2018 Charles Woodson’s Intercept Cabernet Sauvignon “Hall of Fame” Edition #
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Most memorable flavors? Its nose is restrained, with cherry hints. The wine’s much lighter-bodied than I expected for a cabernet sauvignon special release, and I welcome that. I wouldn’t know it’s a cab without the bell pepper that serves as its backbone. Small bright strawberries and morello cherries mix things up sweetly and tartly. It comes across more like a pinot noir to me, with a little cabernet franc: floral notes of lavender and roses. Leather tannins and vanilla come through on the finish. The 2018 Charles Woodson’s Intercept Cabernet Sauvignon “Hall of Fame” Edition is invitingly complex.
Image conjured up? The joy of discovering something unexpectedly good, like a beautiful garden beyond a rusty old gate.
What would I pair it with? A classic pepper steak with Worcestershire sauce. Mingle the sauce, pepper grounds, and steak juices all together.
What did I pair it with? Potato chips and a cooling breeze on a warm winter’s day in California.
Would I drink it again? Oh, yes.
At this $150 price? Well, okay, let’s just take a minute and think about this. I wouldn’t purchase any wine for $150. It does appear available for resale at $90-$120 now, but still . . . frankly, Woodson and winemaker Amanda Gorter should be proud of this product, and it’s worthy of the price tag. For me, that’s largely because it stands out by subverting my cabernet sauvignon expectations.
But I am much more comfortable with the $20–$30 pricing on Intercept’s regular releases, or even on the more recent 2025 “Hall of Fame” edition of the cabernet ($50). So perhaps what the 2018 Charles Woodson’s Intercept Cabernet Sauvignon “Hall of Fame” Edition did most for me is make me comfortable choosing one of those instead. I remain not a collector, but the average consumer with a reasonable wine-purchasing budget. 😉 But what a treat it is to try a special edition that lives up to its price tag!
Reviewed 4 February 2026.
