Comments on: Bronco Wine Company & Trader Joe’s Wine

By: J

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:45:00 +0000

Just in response to an earlier comment… Bronco does use different blends for different labels. Generally, the higher price points coincide with higher quality base wines.

By: jason

jason — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:03:52 +0000

@Don I added Green Fin to he list above, thanks for the tip! Appreciate your analysis on this one. At 12th bottle and $4 I'll give it a try and let you know my thoughts. In the mean time here are some notes on a Trader Joe's crew tasting of this one that I thought were worth sharing. Stay tuned!

By: Don

Don — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 06:51:50 +0000

You can add Green Fin to the list. http://www.trademarkia.com/green-fin-77792795.html

It’s a $3.99 organically grown “white table wine,” and the inaugural 2009 vintage will be in the February Fearless Flyer for east coast stores with a liquor license. Bronco asked Trader Joe’s not to reveal the varietal composition.

That said, it tastes like chardonnay. Flavors of pear and peach, with hints of fig and butter. Decent level of acidity and relatively full-bodied.

Similar quality and same price as the steely Blue Fin Chardonnay, so is this the organic version? Not exactly- Green Fin has evidence of moderate oak, seemingly more malolactic fermentation, and probably a little more residual sugar. I’m very impressed they pulled this off with organic grapes at such a low price, but I’m not enough of a CA chardonnay fan to quite rate it higher than 12th Bottle.

By: jason

jason — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:28:25 +0000

I'll get back to the remainder of these comments shortly but wanted to respond to @Mimi quickly. When I'm trying to track a wine down I turn to WineZap or Wine-Searcher. You may want to give them a try. Good luck!

By: Mimi

Mimi — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:48:30 +0000

Where can I find Oak Vineyards chardonnay? It is the only wine the whole family agrees on. I live in Klamath Falls, OR and the nearest TJs is in Bend two hours and forty five minutes away over an icy highway.

By: Don

Don — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:46:34 +0000

Oh and in response to your other question, I haven’t seen Quail Creek at my east coast TJ’s. I should add Napa River as another good label that I suspect uses higher quality grape sourcing.

By: Don

Don — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 06:40:36 +0000

Bart, there are big differences as I imagine there are different winemakers involved and often different grapes. For example Alexander and Fitch and Three Knights are apparently clearing labels for excess juice from much more expensive non-Bronco brands. And Black Mountain delivers some of the best value you’ll find at Trader Joe’s, at least for their shiraz and pinot noir. On the other hand, Bear’s Lair Merlot tastes like it could have been produced from Shaw grapes with only slightly better quality control.

Even the brands that are only $1 more than Shaw like JW Morris and Blue Fin can taste very different (whether they’re worth the little extra varies). There’s a generic sameness to a lot of cheap wine, but that’s not a phenomenon unique to Bronco.

By: Bart

Bart — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:55:23 +0000

Are the wines in all of these brands from the same vat or are there differences?
Is the cab in Charles Shaw the same as the Quail Creek cab for $1 more?

By: Dave Douglass

Dave Douglass — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:09:35 +0000

Where can I buy JW Morris Cabernet Sauvignon, now that Trader Joes no longer carries the brand? Do you ship, and if so, what is the cost per case to Tucson,Az.?

By: osisbs

osisbs — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:39:20 +0000

The important thing to remember is that Napa vineyards often become distressed and need to unload high-quality juice and Bronco is there to snatch it up like Robin Hood to distribute it to people like me who cannot afford $20 for a bottle of Charles Shaw or similar wine.
Thank God for the Franzia family and their ability to bring me quality wine and an affordable price.