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, … Read moreLove at First Sniff – a 90+ Point TJs Red Wine Find for Under $20
2020 Kirkland Signature Series, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, Napa Valley, California ($19.99@Costco, California – Item #866663) This week we are featuring a Kirkland Signature Series wine from the “high rent district” of Napa. Although those references may be redundant. Let’s start with some basics here, which may or may not be new information for … Read moreOakville Napa Cab for Under $20? Thanks, Costco!
Fast facts: 2019 Kirkland Signature Toscana IGT, Italy ($14.99 @Costco; California – Product #1181768) Our reviews of this “Super Tuscan” wine date back to the 2016 vintage, and this one represents our third visitation. It remains one of our perennial favorites bottled under the Kirkland Signature label. But it depletes quickly, so do what … Read moreIt’s Back, and it’s As Good as Ever – KS Toscana 2019
Fast facts: 2019 Levesque Estates Reserve Vidal Ice Wine, VQA Niagara On the Lake, Canada ($14.99@Trader Joe’s; California) You may be surprised to learn that Icewine (the anglicanization of the German Eiswein) is the most famous wine produced in Canada. Heck, for all I know, you might be surprised to hear that Canada produces … Read moreSome January Ice (Wine) for Your Enjoyment
NV Ernest Rapeneau Champagne Brut, Epernay, France ($9.99@Trader Joe’s, California) We celebrated the solstice yesterday by popping the cap on this bottle. We are in the home stretch of 2022 people, and this bottle (or bottles!) would be good to have in your fridge for several reasons. If you’re like us, there are holiday … Read moreTJ’s $9.99 Fun-Size Legit Champagne Will Have you “Drinking Stars” – or Maybe Just Seeing Them!
Fast facts: NV Kirkland Signature Champagne Brut ($19.99@Costco, California – Item #942108) This is our second wine in our December series on sparkling wines. This particular wine also has the distinction of being the very first one reviewed on this site, back in 2018. A lot has changed in the world since then, but … Read moreBargain Champagne?!
Fast facts: Porto Morgado, 10 Years Old Tawny Port, Douro, Portugal ($10.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) Hard to believe (at least to me) that this is our final post in advance of the 2022 Thanksgiving holiday. Some of you may still find yourself at your local Trader Joe’s as part of your preparations for your … Read moreTrader Joe’s Makes Your TG Dessert Wine Choice as Easy as..Pie!
Fast facts: 2020 Schloss Vollrads Estate Riesling, Rheingau, Germany ($15.99@ Costco, California – Item #540982) Sam Sifton of the New York Times Cooking site perfectly captured the holiday vibe for me when he wrote last week: “Thanksgiving isn’t just one day. It’s a season, an incantation, a way of thinking about the world. And … Read moreThanksgiving Wine Numero Dos
Fast facts: 2019 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #111, Estate Single Vineyard Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s; California) Trader Joe’s does a really good job of of masking who makes most of their exclusive label wines such as this one. So imagine my surprise when I pulled the cork on this … Read moreA Trader Joe’s Wine Secret – Revealed!
Fast facts: 2020 Kirkland Signature Red Blend, Napa Valley, CA ($10.99 @ Costco, California – Item #333110) Ever heard of a “brand refresh?” It’s a term I heard regularly in my three decades – and counting – in the wine trade. It basically refers to a “facelift” when an existing wine brand gets a … Read moreIs This the Best $11 Red Wine in America?