Love at First Sniff – a 90+ Point TJs Red Wine Find for Under $20

Fast Facts:

• 2019 Clos de los Siete Red Blend, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina ($16.99 @Trader Joe’s in California)

Michel Rolland is arguably one of the 10 most influential individuals in the modern wine era.  His style dominated the world for decades and continues to influence how the most costly wines are made.  Namely, with fruit concentrated, tannins polished and toasty oak front and center.

Those toasty notes in the glass were the reason it was love at first sniff. I could not get past the nose on this wine. It promised good things.  I might have swooned.  And I was glad to read that the Michel Rolland himself had this to say about the wine: “with a bright purplish-red colour, Clos de los Siete 2019 presents intense, seductive aromas, with lots of freshness and light spicy notes.”  We agree, sir.  This blend of 50% Malbec, 24% Merlot, 11% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot is a very expressive wine with excellent potential for cellaring.

Normally, we include our own tasting notes in with these reviews.  But this week, we are just going to sit back and let the world’s most respected critics do the heavy lifting for us…

James Suckling – 94 points

This shows aromas of ripe blackberries and blueberries, vanilla, licorice, dark chocolate and sweet tobacco. Hints of nut shell, too. Medium-to full-bodied with fine, polished tannins and a sleek, silky texture. Juicy, with delicious fruit on the palate and notes of walnuts and chocolate to close. Firm, flavorful finish.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 91+ points

The 2019 Clos de Los Siete comes from a very good, ripe and complete vintage. The wine is 50% Malbec, 24% Merlot, 11% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot with similar alcohol as other years (14.5%) but with less ripeness sensation. It’s floral, aromatic, expressive and showy, juicy, fresh and balanced, tasty, with full flavors and round tannins. Seventy percent of the wine matured in 225-liter French barriques, one-third new, for 11 months.  Best after 2022. 

Wine Spectator – 90 points

Roasted plum and cherry flavors show a loamy and coffee bean underpinning, with suave tannins and touches of graphite, fresh tobacco and pepper on the finish. 

 

Do we have your attention?  If you find a bottle at your local Trader Joe’s toss one – or more! – in your cart.  This wine is going to pair really nicely with everything you throw on the BBQ now that spring is finally here!

 

 

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.

Happy hunting.

 

Cheers!