A Perfectly Good Rosé from Napa and Costco – $3.33 per Bottle!

Front label of Educated Guess 2018 Rose of Pinot Noir from Costco

Fast Facts on this “Fast Friday” Featured Wine: 2018 Educated Guess Rosé of Pinot Noir, Napa Valley, California  ($3.33* @Costco in California – Item #1456531) *requires case purchase Remember our Fast Friday posts?  They are all about brevity, and we only publish when we have something so good that we don’t think it should wait … Read moreA Perfectly Good Rosé from Napa and Costco – $3.33 per Bottle!

Napa vs. Sonoma Sauv Blanc – A TJ’s Match Up

2017 VINTJS Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc & 2017 Trader Joe's Petit Reserve Russian River Valley Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc

Fast facts: 2017 VINTJS Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($6.99 @Trader Joe’s,  California) 2017 Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Russian River Valley Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc ($7.99 @Trader Joe’s,  California) So maybe a few days ago you resolved to drink “less alcohol”? Well, we’ve got you covered, since compared to the wines we have been featuring leading … Read moreNapa vs. Sonoma Sauv Blanc – A TJ’s Match Up

A $10 Real Deal Chardonnay from the High Rent District of Napa – and TJs!

2014 St. Clement Chardonnay, Napa Valley

Fast facts: 2014 St. Clement Chardonnay, Napa Valley $9.99 (@Trader Joe’s; California) For a brief, but wonderful, several years in my wine career I was fortunate to spend a fair amount of time working in and around the Napa Valley.  Wine (and food for that matter) don’t get much better than they do in Napa, … Read moreA $10 Real Deal Chardonnay from the High Rent District of Napa – and TJs!

Locking Horns – TJ’s and Costco go Head to Head with Napa Red Blends

2015 Trader Joe's Reserve Meritage Lot 176, Napa Valley & 2015 Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Red Blend

Fast facts: 2015 Trader Joe’s Reserve Meritage Lot 176, Napa Valley ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s,  California) 2015 Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Red Blend ($10.99@Costco; California) What’s in a name? Sometimes, not much. Let’s start the difference between a Meritage and a “Red Blend”.  A Meritage is always a red blend, but a red blend is not … Read moreLocking Horns – TJ’s and Costco go Head to Head with Napa Red Blends

Begging for a Brawl – A Costco Pinot Noir Face-Off

2016 Goyette Sonoma County Pinot Noir & 2016 Goyette Sonoma County Pinot Noir

Fast facts: 2016 Goyette Sonoma County Pinot Noir ($9.99 @Costco; California) 2016 Kirkland Signature Carneros Napa Valley Pinot Noir ($9.99@Costco; California) Finding Pinot Noir under $10 from a desirable appellation is no small feat these days. So when I came upon one from Napa and one from Sonoma at my friendly neighborhood Costco – both … Read moreBegging for a Brawl – A Costco Pinot Noir Face-Off

Giving Merlot a GOOD name

2014 Franciscan Napa Valley Merlot

Fast facts: 2014 Franciscan Napa Valley Merlot $8.99 (@Costco; California) So often, plumbing the shelves, bins and pallets of mega wine retailers for extreme value wines yields brands/labels we’ve never heard of. This recent wine find from Costco is an exception… Speaking of exceptions, there were several clues that suggested that this bottle could be, … Read moreGiving Merlot a GOOD name