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?
Fast facts: 2020 Kirkland Signature Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina ($6.99 @ Costco, California – Item #1239144) See that 91 prominently displayed on the foil of that Kirkland Signature Malbec? That was awarded by the esteemed James Suckling. I am not a slave to others reviews and point systems (heck, I almost always have to deduct … Read moreCostco has a Perfect Wine for your Late Summer BBQ – for $6.99!
Fast facts: 2020 Oakville Bench Merlot, Oakville, Napa Valley, California ($16.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California) Despite being somewhat out of fashion here in the U.S., the Merlot grape is still one of the most important grape varieties in the world of fine wine. It shares this distinction with Cabernet Sauvignon which together “power” the … Read moreThis Might Just be the Best Red Wine We’ve Reviewed All Year – and it’s just $16.99 at TJs!
Fast Facts: 2014 Poggio al Casone, Toscana, Italy ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s in California) Frankly, every time I take a first sip of this wine I exclaim (often to myself): “I don’t know how they do it!” For starters, this brand is always well-aged. In this case 8 (!) years. That rarely comes cheap. And … Read moreYour House Wine for Pizza and Pasta Nights
Fast Facts: 2020 Kirkland Signature K Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope, Columbia Valley, Washington ($13.99 @Costco, California – Item #1462908) You’d be forgiven for thinking that virtually all of the wine produced in the United States is produced in California. Because 86% of it is. In distant second and third places are Washington state … Read moreA Great PNW Cab from Costco – K?
Fast facts: 2019 Rabble Red Wine, Paso Robles, CA ($9.89* @Costco; California – Item # 922592) *price after $3 discount. Here is one we have reviewed before. It is the closest thing to a perennial feature in the Costco wine selection that you will find. But it is difficult to argue that it doesn’t deserve … Read moreGood Luck Telling this Rabble to be Quiet
Fast facts: 2020 Trader Joe’s Reserve Zinfandel, Lot #233, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) Just in time for barbecue season and the first days of summer. There are few red wine varietals that are as good a match for grilled food as Zinfandel is. It was born for the role! … Read moreGot ‘cue? Then get your hands on this Zin!