Fast facts:
2023 Lustrous Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California ($8.99 @Trader Joe’s, California)
I spent enough years – heck, decades – in the wine trade to say with some certainty that you shouldn’t go looking for the Lustrous Winery should you be so lucky to find yourself in the Sonoma Valley. That is because this is what we call in the trade an “exclusive brand”. It exists solely at Trader Joe’s. Does that mean it is not good? Heck no, not in this market!
The bottom line is that this is some very high quality juice. The kind of stuff that gets sold for $35-$50 in tasting rooms. And might still.
I’ll say this: somewhere in the Russian River Valley there is a well-respected winery that secretly sold off a big slug of their wine to a program destined for Trader Joe’s. Lucky us.
Keep in mind that the Russian River Valley is world-renowned for Burgundian varieties. From the esteemed Jancis Robinson: “Cool, often foggy, the AVA is…eminently well adapted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.” In other words, this is the “high rent district” for these wines.
But let’s be clear, this isn’t an over-oaked “butter-bomb.” Rather, it is deftly balanced between opulence and lively acidity that keeps things refreshing.
Tasting Notes:
Pours a nice straw yellow color with nice clariry and legs. The nose features notes of white flowers, tropical fruit, spice, lemon and ripe pears. In the mouth the first impression screams “PINEAPLLE!” before the secondary notes of vanilla, citrus, apple and mango emerge. Lovely long creamy finish urges another sip, maybe even another glass. Would pair well with roasted chicken, pastas in white or olive oil based sauces and hard cheeses. ABV = 14.5%.
As we keep shouting: “it’s a buyers market good people.” (SMH at the $8.99 price point.) This is more proof.
Need more wine picks from Trader Joe’s – or Costco?
If your search for this wine lands you in Trader Joe’s, take along our handy Lucky 13 list of TJ’s wine here.
And if your wine shopping excursions land you in Costco, prepare by grazing our most recent reviews of Costco wines here in our Lucky 13 list.
Cheers!
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