The Secret’s Out About these Great Chilean Wines from Costco

Glass and bottle of 2018 Santa Rita Secret Reserve Red Blend

Fast facts: 2018 Santa Rita Secret Reserve Red Blend, Maipo Valley, Chile ($10.99 @ Costco, California – Item #623337)   While technically a new world blend, I would have pegged this red wine (a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan and 10% Grenache) as an old world wine, possibly French if tasted … Read moreThe Secret’s Out About these Great Chilean Wines from Costco

Jonesing for a Great Napa Cab? Look to Trader Joes’s

A Santa statuette alongside a glass and bottle ofthe 2020 Trader Joe's Diamond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from the esteemed Stag's Leap district of Napa Valley.

Fast facts: 2020 Trader Joe’s Diamond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California ($19.99 @Trader Joe’s, California)     Some of you may be familiar with unoaked Chardonnay bottlings.  These are wines that are not fermented or aged in oak casks. Most Chardonnay is. The winemaker’s motivation is to let the resulting wine … Read moreJonesing for a Great Napa Cab? Look to Trader Joes’s

A Trio of Tasty Trader Joe’s Wines for Your Labor Day Soiree

A trio of tastiness from Trader Joe's, just in time for your Labor Day celebrations.

Fast facts: 2020 Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve  Rosé ($6.99 @Trader Joe’s,  California) 2020 Trader Joe’s Reserve Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) 2018  Trader Joe’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley, Washington ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s,  California)   There’s a scene in the movie The Jerk, starring Steve Martin as..well, … Read moreA Trio of Tasty Trader Joe’s Wines for Your Labor Day Soiree

A Nice $9.99 Sonoma/Alexander Valley Cabernet from Costco – Perfect for Food

Bottle and glass of Kirkland Signature 2018 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Fast facts: 2018 Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Sonoma Valley, California ($9.99 @ Costco, California – Item #223343)   Long term readers may have detected a slight bias we have in favor of Sonoma Valley vs. Napa Valley.  There is no disputing that both Valleys produce world class wines, but the sheer diversity that … Read moreA Nice $9.99 Sonoma/Alexander Valley Cabernet from Costco – Perfect for Food

The Two Most Popular Wine Varieties in the US – via Costco

Glasses and bottles of Kirkland Signature 2019 Russian River Valley (Sonoma County) Chardonnay and Kirkland Signature 2019 Columbia Valley (Washington State) Cabernet Sauvignon

Fast Facts: 2019 Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington ($8.99 @Costco in California – Item #1226845) 2019 Kirkland Signature Chardonnay,  Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California ($12.99 @Costco in California – Item #789895)   What were the two most popular wine varieties sold in the US in 2020?  That’s easy.  Cabernet Sauvignon and – not far … Read moreThe Two Most Popular Wine Varieties in the US – via Costco

Our First 3Peat – Our Most Popular Trader Joe’s Wine Ever

Front label of Maison Barboulot red wine from Trader Joe's

Fast facts: 2019 Maison Barboulot Cabernet-Syrah $5.49 (@Trader Joe’s; California)   Our featured wine from Trader Joe’s is a three-peat, updated to the 2019 vintage, and it’s every bit as good as we remember it’s predecessors to be. Seems like many of you liked this wine too – it has been our most popular review … Read moreOur First 3Peat – Our Most Popular Trader Joe’s Wine Ever

Two Premium Kirkland Signature Wines to Quietly Toast the New Year

Costco bin of Kirkland Signature Premier Cru Chablis 2018

Fast facts: 2018 Kirkland Signature Premier Cru Chablis, Burgundy, France $19.99 (@Costco, California, Item# 1043144) 2018 Kirkland Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa, California $18.99 (@Costco, California, Item# 1265184)   Happy New Year friends! In the strangest of years, we have made it to the doorstep of 2021. That which doesn’t kill you makes you … Read moreTwo Premium Kirkland Signature Wines to Quietly Toast the New Year

Two Ten Buck Chucks – A Lot of Flavor for $9.99

Bottles and glasses of Trader Joe's Reserve 2018 Merlot Lot #202 (left) and 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Lot #179

Fast facts: 2018 Trader Joe’s Reserve Merlot Lot #179, Napa Valley, California ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s,  California) 2018 Trader Joe’s Reserve  Cabernet Sauvignon Lot #202, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s, California)   We’ve tried many of wines from the Trader’s Joe’s Reserve line up, and these may be two of the best we … Read moreTwo Ten Buck Chucks – A Lot of Flavor for $9.99

BBQ Season Isn’t Over – Celebrate with these Two High QPR Red Wines from Trader Joe’s!

Bottles and glasses of Paso Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon and TJs Reserve GSM. Both 2018 vintage and both from Trader Joe's.

Fast facts: 2018 Paso Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, California ($6.99 @Trader Joe’s,  California) 2018 Trader Joe’s Reserve GSM Lot #187, Central Coast, California ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) Here’s a great pair of reds to pair with the final days of summer, and the waning summer barbecue season. It’s a fact that Americans tend to … Read moreBBQ Season Isn’t Over – Celebrate with these Two High QPR Red Wines from Trader Joe’s!

Trader Joe’s has a red for your white and blue – just $5.99!

Front label of Oxte The Silence red wine blend from Trader Joe's, via Spain

Fast facts: 2019 Oxte The Silence, Red Wine Blend, Cariñena, Spain ($5.99 @Trader Joe’s,  California) Let’s start with the most important part: this is an remarkably polished and elegant wine, especially considering its price. It is comprised of 40% Tempranillo, 25% Syrah, 25% Garnacha (aka Grenache) and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. A good summer-weight food wine, … Read moreTrader Joe’s has a red for your white and blue – just $5.99!