As mentioned, in my twitter feed I pulled in a nice 26 bottle haul, the details are below. Just another example of me backing up my talk with my wallet. The two I noticed as missing were the Chariot Gypsy and the Gravity Hills Syrah. Hoping the Chariot at least offers me one more buying opportunity but looks like I am out of luck. That is why I wanted to make sure I don’t get caught short of the Franc Merlot.
The haul:
12 – 2006 The California Wine Party Franc Merlot ($5, Bulk Buy)
2 – 2007 Chateau des Cleons Muscadet Sevre et Maine “Sur Lie” ($6, Buy It)
1 – 2007 Handley Vineyard Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc ($6, Buy It)
1 – 2007 Novella Synergy Blanc ($5, Buy It)
1 – 2005 Epicuro Aglianico ($5, Bulk Buy) – review for the ’05
1 – 2003 Epicuro Salice Salentino Riserva ($5, Buy It) – review for the ’03
1 – 2006 Chiusa Grande Tommolo Montepulciano d’ Abruzzo ($5, Buy It)
1 – 2006 Rabbit Ridge Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ($6, 12th bottle) review for the previous version of the NV (I call this the ’07)
2 – 2003 Raimat Tempranillo ($6, TBD)
1 – 2007 Condesa de Sarabella Viura ($5, TBD)
1 – 2005 Capolan Sonoma Merlot ($4, TBD)
1 – 2005 Trellis Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon ($4, TBD)
1 – 2005 Trellis Sonoma Chardonnay ($4, TBD)
Stay tuned for details on these soon!
*photo by Matthew Oliphant
Thanks for your comment, and recommendations on my blog! I know NOTHING about wine, so it’s great to learn of your site! Thanks!
Just wanted to say your wine blog blows mine out of the water, though I aspire to be as consistent/detailed as you. I’m finally back to the blog after too long of an absence. Just realizing I need the wineblog to counteract the dissertation. In my quest for drinking/dissertating am very sad that I can’t find any more of the California Wine Party and am kicking myself for not buying more. Keep up the great work!
Hi Jason,
Great blog. Have you tried a wine aerator? If so, what do you think?
http://www.amazon.com/Vinturi-1053-Essential-Wine-Aerator/dp/B000UPOJ5W/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1226416940&sr=8-1
Wow–this is great! I’m totally going to print out this list–I’m doing my Trader Joe’s shopping trip on Saturday. Thanks for stopping by our blog!
Guess what? Trader Joe’s in Federal Way, WA got in more Chariot Gypsy!!! I had a bottle loved it, went back, gone?!?!?!? Eeek.. They said no more…. I went back a week later? They had gotten in a new shipment!!! I bought 2 cases, one for me and one for a friend. Though instead of being corked, it was screw top. Same label, same berry tastes.. Go figure?!
Jason,
As a fellow San Franciscan and self-proclaimed wine novice, this blog is a great treat. Which TJ’s do you typically go to, or which do you think is best for wine purchasing? I normally find myself at the North Beach TJ’s…
Thanks!
Milby
@Carrie Link, @buonaserah and @TavoLini thanks for the compliments, look forward to hearing your thoughts on these wines as you try them. Carrie, I am no expert but always feel free to ask any questions you might have. Chances are I’ll have an opinion and be able to point you to an answer…
@Mike Haven’t tried the aerator, you? What do you think? Seems like a much better deal than the Wine Wand.
@Kelly lucky! Wish you could have grabbed an extra case for me! I’ll be on the lookout for the screwtop…
@Milby love the NB store cuz parking is always easy. I am usually on 9th and Brannon but pace the city for the right wine. I think that is the best place to find the newest offerings in Trader Joe’s Wines. As for where to get them after everyone else is out, well don’t really want to share that secret ;) just kidding, on Camino Alto in South San Francisco.
Jason,
I can’t beleive you don’t like or haven’t recommended from Wa state the 2007 .St. Michelle riesling @ $5.99 for your top ten. Very drinkable and top 5 contender, in my opinion. In any case, it’s very available at the three TJ’s here in Irvine (Culver, Sand Canyon and UC Irvine) in Southern Calif
My T.J. in Southern California just rec’d many cases of Chariot Gypsy 2006 this week. Upon Jason’s glowing reviews of the 2005, I was lucky enough to grab a case of the 2005 a few weeks ago. Delicious! Bought one bottle of the 06 last nite, but have not tried it yet.
Jason, thank you for this blog and your reviews. I, like you, love the California Wine Party Franc.
I noticed 2 new offerings and wanted to know if you had tried them yet and had any opinion.. Clay Station 2006 Zinfandel at $4 and Brancott 2007 SB from New Zealand at $9? My favorite SB is still Kim Crawford, but it’s expensive for my taste ($15 at TJ, $13 at Costco)
Hi everyone,
Tried the Clay Station Zin a few days ago. It started out nice, but the end was not so good. Their Viognier is much, much better.
Try the Rendition Zin & Peitie Syrah ($9) a little more $$, but definitely worth it. Haven’t had the Brancott yet.
Tried the Clay Station Viognier-whew! for me, it has a dominating, but disagreeable gasoline flavor that just didn’t dissipate or settle down. Can’t say I enjoyed it.
Also, I’m still looking here for any review of the 2006 (not the 2005) Chariot Gypsy.
Any review would be appreciated. Thanks
@Danny Next time I stop at TJ’s the St. Michelle Riesling is on the list….
@Dip Danny is dying to know about the ’06 any thoughts? We haven’t seen it up here yet. Angela, have you seen it at your store? Haven’t tried the Clay Station Zin, at $4 I will, despite Angela’s opinion, for the price seems it is worth a try… Haven’t tried the Brancott either. Will grab both. In the meantime I recommend the King Shag which is my current favorite New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc…
@Angela thanks for helping everyone else out in my absence, very much appreciated. I am going to keep my eye out for the Rendition… Where is your store located, sorry I am a curious cat!
@Danny x2 – Had the Clay Station tonight, better than the Bear’s Lair, think I might prefer the Honeymoon but the Clay Station is worth $4…. As for the ’06 Gypsy, see my reply here…
Hiya! Alameda is my locale. Usual schedule: Tuesdays, most Wednesdays (after 6:00 pm), Thursdays & Sundays after 4:00 pm.
Wow, gasoline was nowhere near my bottle. I guess I’ll just have to get another bottle and do a re-taste. Yes, the Honey Moon is lovely and I like it a litte better than the Bear’s Lair. I still need to try the Smoking Loon and the other one that starts with a “C”. (Castoro?) I LOVE Viognier! Kerner too, but I seriously doubt I’ll ever see one at work.
BTW, the St. Michelle SB ($6) was quite popular amongst the Crew last week and the TJ’s Reserve Pinot Noir ($13) which just came in is lovely. Definitely worthy of all the fuss our new Captain was making over it.
I’ll be doing a Pinot Tasting for the Crew soon that might include this one as well as the German one ($7) and a few others. The Estancia ($13) we had the other day was nice, but I think I like the Reserve better. Might need to do a side-by-side to compare. I’ll definitely report back.
The Finnish Wine Lady at my Trader Joe’s recommended Chateau Meric 2006, with advice to decant at least an hour before. (I think it was $8) We did, but the wine was just plain too young, in my opinion. I’m not great at predicting what will be good. Love to know what you think. . .
accessed this shopping list at trader joe’s last night and picked up some california wine party. for $4.99, that stuff is really good…i had a $50 bottle of wine the night before that was crap in comparison. thanks for letting me keep accessing your thoughts while i’m in the shopping mode.
@Angela Alameda, if I am ever in your ‘hood I will stop by and say hi! Thanks for the tip on the Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc, sounds like I should give a few of those wines some attention. As for the Pinot’s if I am feeling spendy perhaps I’ll grab a bottle of the TJ’s reserve. Think I tried that German one (can’t find a record to prove it though) and remember the results being poor… Can’t wait to hear more on the Pinot side-by-side.
@Sparkleball_Lady I will give the Chateau Meric a go sometime in the near future and get back to you.
@rj Glad to hear it, especially given our impending swap so I can try out that $50 bottle. Assuming it is the same one we were talking about here…
i left a reply on the 2006 chariot gypsy on your other thread, but to reiterate, I liked it a lot. Not quite as much as the 2005, tho.
I opened the Clay Station Zin a couple of days ago and did not like it at first. Had a glass, but it tasted bitter. As I said on my other thread, I am very much a novice and cannot discern flavors as well as many of you, but I’m learning! :) I put the cork back in and put it into the fridge and just pulled it out again and poured a glass about 30 mins ago. Surprisingly, I am liking it much better today than I did when I first opened it! Chilling it seems to have mellowed it, but it still has a slightly unpleasant aftertaste to me. Probably will not buy it again.
By the way, I do love the King Shag Sauv. Blanc as well as the Kono SV.
Glad to hear good things about the newest offering from Epicurio. Did you pick up the Vermentino as well? Can’t wait to try both or heck, all four side by side. I’ll update y’all by the end of next week about the Pinots and Ports & Sweets will be next after that.
@Angela took me a bit to piece things together but if you are in Alameda and like Viognier run on over to Rosenblum and grab a bottle of this Kathy’s Cuvee, easily my favorite!
@dip thanks for the notes on the Clay Station, just slid way down, and likely off, my shopping list. Who am I trying to kid> This will still end up in my cart. It’s been like 8 years since Trader Joe’s had this Pepperwood Zin for $4 that was to me, as least from a nostalgia perspective, the best value bottle ever. Seems like a snowball’s chance this is the next coming but guessing I am dumb enough to try anyway…
We buy the 2005 Epicuro Aglianico and the 2003 Epicuro Salice Salentino Riserva as our house wines, they are both great values in times like this. Just bought the new Rendition Zin, I like it, very upfront and in your face, and when you like ZIns, you usually appreciate that. But I can’t find any informaion on Rendition on Google. For a very cheap white I like the Kono Baru Riesling from Australia, $3.99. And there is the Casillero de Diablo from Chile that is rather good value at 6.99.