Category: wine blog
-

RRV PN from TJs
—
by
in 2021, best wines under $20, California Wines, costco wine blog, food and wine, Lot #122, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, reverse wine snob, Russian River Valley, russian river valley, russian river valley, Sonoma County, Sonoma County, Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve, Trader Joe’s Wine, Trader Joe’s wine, Wine, wine blog, wine reviews, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, wines under $25Fast facts: 2021 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #122 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) Let’s start by unpacking the alphabet soup in our subject line, shall we? The Russian River Valley (RRV) is an important part of Sonoma, and Pinot Noir (PN) is an important part of …
-

A Flowery First for this Blog
—
by
in 2020, beaujolais, best trader joes wine deals, best trader joes wines, best wines at Trader Joes, best wines under $20, costco wine blog, Domaine des Quatres Vents, Domaines des Quatres Ventes, Fleurie, Fleurie, French Wine, French Wines, Gamay, Red Wine, reverse wine snob, Trader Joe’s Wine, Wine, wine blog, wine reviews, Wines of France, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, wines under $25Fast facts: 2020 Domaine des Quatre Vents, Fleurie, France ($14.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) A wine from Fleurie? This is is a first. Perhaps it’s because old world wines are not espeically well known or stocked here on the Left Coast and the wines from this area tend to be the priciest from Beaujolais. But…
-

Fire up the Pasta Pot for this Kirkland Signature BdM!
Fast facts: 2018 Kirkland Signature Brunello di Montalcino, Italy $19.99 (@Costco, California, Item# 1472194) From the picturesque hilltop town of Montalcino in Tuscany, Brunello is one of Italy’s best red wines. Brunello is made from Sangiovese, Tuscany’s flagship grape that is prized for its ability to reflect where it’s grown. It is typically bolder…
-

An Exotic Food and Wine Tour of South America – Buckle Up!
—
by
in 2022, Argentina, best trader joes wine deals, best trader joes wines, best wines at Trader Joes, best wines under $20, costco wine blog, Cuy, food and wine, Malbec, malbec, Mendoza, Organic Wine, Red Wine, reverse wine snob, Trader Joe’s Wine, Vegan Wine, Wine, wine blog, wine reviews, wines under $10, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, wines under $25Fast facts: 2022 Cuy Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) I confess it was the packaging that first attracted me to this bottle at my local Trader Joe’s. For starters, its wax cap was a surprise at this price point. And the modern art on the label looks like the kind of thing…
-

Au Revoir, 2023
NV Ernest Rapeneau Champagne Brut Rosé, Epernay, France ($24.99@Trader Joe’s, California) We are in the home stretch of 2023 people, and this bottle would be good to have in your fridge if you are preparing for some New Years’ eve merriment. If you are a long time reader of these posts, you know that…
-

A Good Shoulder Season Wine for the Final Weeks of Autumn
—
by
in 2021, best costco wine deals, best costco wines, best wines at Costco, best wines under $20, Costco, costco wine blog, Costco Wines, French Wine, French Wines, Gigondas, grenache, GSM, Kirkland Signature, Kirkland Signature Series, morvedre, Red Wine, reverse wine snob, syrah, wine blog, wine reviews, Wines of France, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, wines under $25Fast Facts: 2021 Kirkland Signature Gigondas, France ($13.99 @Costco in California – Item #1134102) Time and again, we keep reminding you how much we enjoy a good GSM. The melange of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre (GSM) consistently delivers high QPR. Or should we say G+S+M = QPR squared? We have reviewed this particular bottling…
-

Red Alert – Exciting New Platinum Reserve Wine at TJs
—
by
in 2021, best trader joes wine deals, best trader joes wines, best wines at Trader Joes, best wines under $20, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Blend, Bordeaux Blends, Bordeaux Red Blend, Chateau Tour Baladoz, costco wine blog, food and wine, French Wine, French Wines, merlot, red blend, Red Wine, reverse wine snob, Saint Emilion, Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve, Wine, wine blog, wine reviews, Wines of France, Wines Under $20, wines under $25Fast facts: 2021 Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Saint-Emillion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France ($16.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) When I meet new people and they learn that I spent three decades – and counting! – in the wine business, they often ask me what my favorite wine is. I quickly qualify the question with: “white wine…
-

A Big Brooding 95 Point Red to Satisfy Cab Lovers
—
by
in 2018, best costco wine deals, best costco wines, best wines at Costco, best wines under $20, Bordeaux Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau Boucasse, Costco, costco wine blog, Costco Wines, food and wine, French Wine, Madiran, Madiran, reverse wine snob, Tannat, Wine, wine blog, wine reviews, Wines of France, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, wines under $25Fast Facts: 2018 Château Bouscassé, Madiran, France ($14.99 @ Costco, California – Item #1053420) With the exception of their ubiquitous Kirkland Signature Wines, the “wine sets” at Costco stores throughout the U.S. tend to differ based upon the region they are in. One of the more noticeable differences is that here on the west…
-

One Last TJs Wine Pick for your Thanksgiving Table
—
by
in 2021, best trader joes wine deals, best trader joes wines, best wines at Trader Joes, best wines under $20, California Wines, Central Coast, costco wine blog, food and wine, Monterey County, Monterey County, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, reverse wine snob, santa lucia highlands, Thanksgiving wines, Thanksgiving wines at Trader Joe’s, Trader Joe’s Wine, Trader Joe’s wine, Uncategorized, Upper Eden, Wine, wine blog, wine reviews, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, wines under $25Fast facts: 2021 Upper Eden Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, California ($12.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California) It’s hard to believe it’s been four years since we recommended the 2018 vintage of this wine for your Thanksgiving table. When we spied it again this year at Trader Joe’s in the run-up to Turkey Day, we…
-

T Minus 14 Days to T Day – We Have Some Wine for That!
Fast facts: 2022 Valle de Inez Pinot Noir, San Luis Obispo, CA ($9.99* @ Costco, California – Item #1374624) *Net price after $10 in store discount It’s hard to believe, but we will be celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States in two short weeks. Then we’re on the slippery slope to…
