Fast Facts: 2021 Merlot, Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #123, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, California ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s in California) I was really excited to get this wine home and try it. The reason was it had three things going against it. Conversely, this meant this was a wine that had promise … Read moreOur WoW! A Trader Joe’s Triple Threat Delivers the Goods
Fast Facts: 2022 Pinot Noir, Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #124, Willamette Valley, Oregon ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s in California) Thirsty Thursday has rolled around again, and it is time for another Wine of the Week (WoW!). Let’s get started… In a post a few weeks ago, we were railing about how mediocre most Pinot … Read moreA Whole Lotta Pinot for $12.99 – Introducing TJ’s Lotta #124
Fast Facts: 2015 Trader Joe’s Gran Reserva Rioja Lot #120, Rioja, Spain ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s in California) A few months back, our Wine of the Week (hereinafter, WoW!) was a Crianza Rioja, also from Trader Joe’s. You have no doubt memorized that review, in case of a pop quiz. But in case your memory is … Read moreThere’s Something New and Exciting in the Spanish Wine Section at Trader Joe’s
Fast facts: 2019 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #111, Estate Single Vineyard Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s; California) Trader Joe’s does a really good job of of masking who makes most of their exclusive label wines such as this one. So imagine my surprise when I pulled the cork on this … Read moreA Trader Joe’s Wine Secret – Revealed!
Fast facts: 2017 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Shiraz, Lot 109, Barossa, Australia ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) This is a wine that implores you to “throw another STEAK on the “bar-bee” to paraphrase the “critically-acclaimed” film Crocodile Dundee… Australia’s most popular grape varietal, Shiraz is full-bodied with high alcohol (although this bottling clocks in at … Read moreThe Latest in our BBQ Wines Series
Fast facts: 2020 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Pinot Noir Lot #106, Santa Rita Hills, California ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) This wine was recently featured in Trader Joe’s infamous in-store rag, The Fearless Flyer. Here’s what they had to say about this wine: “Located in the Santa Ynez Valley near Santa Barbara, CA, surrounded … Read moreWorld Class Pinot Noir Under $15?!
Fast facts: 2019 Trader Joe’s Reserve Meritage Lot 100, Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) So often in our reviews we discuss whether a vintage is too old, and whether the wine may have passed. This is especially true for white wines but applies to red wines as well. In the … Read moreTJ’s Mystery Meritage Wine is a Winner