Monthly Archives: November 2010

The Top 10 Trader Joe’s Classic Wines

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The Top 10 Trader Joe’s Classic WinesA few days ago when I published the latest Trader Joe’s Top 10 wines list I mentioned that I often hear from folks who can’t find many of the wines included. My news to those people at the time was not to fret for another list was on the way. A list of wines you should be able drop into your local store whenever the need arises. So here you have it. 4+ years of Trader Joe’s wine tasting culminated into a single list of “classics” that produce quality wines at fantastic prices vintage after vintage. Without further adieu…

After looking this over I see two wines that already seem to be missing. Both from Columbia Crest. The Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon of which I recently had the ’06 and found it outstanding and the Two Vines Merlot which is always a nice, easy drinker. Did I miss any of your favorites? Any of these not available in your local market? Let me know in the comments below…

The Trader Joe's Wall of Fame...In the meantime I’ll start pondering my next Trader Joe’s Top 10 Wines List. Perhaps the “Wall of Fame”? Here are some contenders I’ve recently had that would be likely suspects to appear…

Not much to say about these wines other than I wish I had a time machine. If I did I would back up the truck and grab a few cases of each of these. The Clos LaChance Merlot is a fantastic wine of which I sadly only have one more. Time to go find Doc Brown…

2008 St. Lukes Blind River Sauvignon Blanc

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2008 St. Lukes Blind River Sauvignon BlancPrice: $5.99 @ Trader Joe’s imported by Lineage Imports

What They Said:

Per St. Lukes Estate Wines well nothing… We do get this from the bottle: “This elegant Sauvignon Blanc was made with grapes grown on the company’s Blind River vineyards in the Awatere Valley region of Marlborough. The nose shows lifted stone fruit aromas. The richly structured palate has an underlying mineral note and a long finish, expressing the terroir of the region.

What I Think:

It seems this one normally goes for around $24 and has been relatively well respected over the last few vintages. The ’06 was confused with Sancerre (Angela would love to hear your thoughts…) and the ’07 received some positive press as well. The ’08? Missing in action. About the only mention I can find is a “coming soon” from the winery itself. Why the mystery? Don’t know but rather than ponder let’s get to the wine…

(13.5%) This one is more mineral driven than would be expected of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with a flinty, charcoal component immediately prevalent. That said there are still plenty of lemon/citrus notes here and as it warms some of that more traditional grassiness comes to bear. Crisp with bright acidity throughout on a firm mineral structure that leads to a finish which lingers nicely. Not your everyday Kiwi offering and a pleasant alternative (if you drink lots of NZ Sauv Blanc like me) to the status quo. This isn’t a wine for everyone but I’ll likely be grabbing another bottle sometime soon.

Rating: 12th Bottle

Trader Joe’s and Chateauneuf-du-Pape

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Trader Joe's and Chateauneuf-du-PapeEvery time I go to Trader Joe’s I see this, that or the other new mostly generic looking label staring back at me from the shelves promising to deliver expensive wines (e.g. Barolo, Amarone, …) at a fraction of the cost. My initial inclination is always to give it a try and hope for the best but I have been disappointed too may times to succumb to that reaction. As my parents always told me if it sounds too good to be true chances are it is. Nonetheless each time I head down the wine aisle that temptation once again strikes and I have to remind myself to be strong. Such is the case with this Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Now it turns out this is not a generic label. The 2008 is available for $20. I can find mentions of the 2005, 2006 and even a mention of the 1999 vintage. Here’s what Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer had to say about the 2009:

    Châteauneuf-du-Pape – Val De La Pierre:This red Rhône blend holds your palate rapt. What do you expect from a bottle that bears the emblem of the Holy See? Named for “the Pope’s new castle,” Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a landmark wine region in the southern Rhône that burgeoned under the cultivation of the 14th Century Avignon Popes. It produces legendary wines. Present vintage included. A perfect storm of climactic conditions and opportune veraison (onset of ripening) yielded grapes with concentrated acidity and balanced structure. This blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 7.5% Mourvèdre and 7.5% Cinsault presents sweet plum with notes of white pepper and black tea. It’s roll-your-tongue-over-your-teeth juicy. Ready to drink now, it also will age well; so, pour it with your turkey, present it to your friends or cellar it—at our price of $9.99, you can do it all for less than you might find a bottle elsewhere.

Perhaps a telling tale that they lead with the Châteauneuf-du-Pape designation before mentioning the producer, no? So what did others have to say? Jeff over at Viva la Wino faintly praised (vs. the ’08) but mostly panned it. joshiemac mentioned it wasn’t half bad once spun through the Vinturi. But based on what I have heard to date my perspective remains unchanged. These wines are expensive for a reason and while you don’t have to pay top dollar you are going to have to open your wallet a bit further than normal to acquire a quality product. If I can’t do that I’d rather spend my $10, $15 or $20 on a known commodity that I am sure I will enjoy. How about you? Have you bought it? If so what did you think? Care to try and change my mind?

* photo courtesy of Viva la Wino!

Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving!

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Let’s start at the beginning. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Why you ask? What could be more pure would be my response. Spending a day and sharing a meal with family and friends with as little commercialism as could possibly be imagined. No pressure to deliver the perfect gift like Christmas. Even Mother’s Day needs a card and likely a brunch spot. Valentine’s Day? Yip! Thanksgiving? Happy Thanksgiving Turkey 2010Just show up, preferably with a big appetite, and spend some time with those near and dear to you. That’s it…

And the meaning of the holiday itself? It serves as a reminder to be cognizant of all that we have to be thankful for. I consider myself to be a self aware individual but yet from time to time still find myself getting wound up in the day to day of things and losing perspective of the bigger picture. Sure maybe I would prefer this house or that car. Or maybe those wines! Those all matter little. I am a lucky man with a beautiful wife I love, two great kids that I adore and so much more. If anything it is a shame that there is only one holiday a year to celebrate that. Anyone want to join me in my efforts to start commandeering other holidays? Christmas could be Thanksgiving II. Valentine’s Day could be Thanksgiving III. Anyone?

If Thanksgiving has a single flaw it may be the pressure that is placed on finding just the right wine to accompany the meal. Article after article of Thanksgiving wine recommendations hit the wire. Recommending this Pinot Noir or that Riesling. Now I know these articles are very beneficial to some and for them I am glad they are available. That said when I think back to yesterday I wonder what could possibly be the “perfect pairing” with the foods I saw on the table. Salad, green beans with bacon, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet yams, cranberries, applesauce, jello mold and of course the turkey. Personally I’m not even sure milk could handle all of these pairings…

Happy Thanksgiving Wine 2010So what do I recommend you ask? An easy decision for me! Pick your favorite wines and share the enjoyment you get from them with those you love. Here’s what was on our table:

The NPA Suavignon Blanc was my selection and was as always “fun”. My 81 year old father-in-law digs it as does my 21 year old niece and everyone in between. The ’97 Navarro was nice but certainly passed its prime. My wife’s cousin brought the 2007 Navarro (<- she’s a keeper) which while young is an already an excellent Pinot. This also offered everyone an exceptional learning opportunity to taste these wines a decade apart. The difference was stark. Starting with the color of the wines, from the nose to the plate and all the way through. The Frank Family was new to me but funny enough had a few family tie-ins. From the same Swiss heritage (my wife’s heritage) to their location near Larkmead where the aforementioned keeper cousin got married. The wine definitely let’s you know that it is a Napa Cab straight out of the gate. Big and bold on the palate this one has firm tannins and just enough acidity to keep it balanced. This wine is certainly full bodied and shows some spice throughout before the oak kicks in on a creamy, vanilla finish.

So there you have it. Now it is time to thank all of you. For following along, letting me know what you think and recommending me your favorite wines. I always enjoy hearing from you and would love to hear what was on your table in the comments below. I certainly hope you and your families had a great Thanksgiving!

Top 10 Trader Joe’s Wines: The Holiday Edition

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Top 10 Trader Joe’s Wines: The Holiday EditionYes it is true. After leaving everyone hanging for Thanksgiving and Christmas last year I wanted to make sure I didn’t do the same this year. So with that the new and improved Trader Joe’s Top 10 Wine List is now available. Plenty of choices for Thanksgiving dinner, gift ideas for Christmas or bubbly to ring in the New Year. Hopefully a little something for everybody. And for those that can’t find these don’t fret. Leave me a comment and I’ll do my best to help you find something you like. And just in case you are shy I have a list of the Top 10 classics, those wines that have delivered vintage after vintage, ready to publish in the next few days. So without further adieu I present the latest:

Trader Joe’s Top 10 Wine List

Enjoy! And let me know your thoughts. Stay tuned for the aforementioned classics list as well as my report on my top wines of 2010. Until then may you find something good in your glass!

2007 Roustabout Meritage

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2007 Roustabout MeritagePrice: $5.99 @ Trader Joe’s

What They Said:

Per the bottle “With silky tannins and exceptional texture, this wine opens with notes of black cherries, wild blueberries and cigar box, finishing with nuances of dark chocolate and espresso. Serve with food made by your own hand. Decant for up to an hour.”

What I Think:

Yet another find from the folks over at the Central Coast Wine Warehouse. Looking at the blend percentage I once again start dreaming of a follow-up to the Franc Merlot. Could it deliver on that potential? Let’s check the notes…

(14%) 56% Cabernet Franc, 26% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petite Verdot, 2% Malbec – Dark purple in color with brown sugar, blackberry fruit and spice on the nose. This one starts smooth with juicy blueberry flavors and silky tannins. Towards the middle the fruit turns jammy and slightly sweet before starting to dry out with nice cedar notes. The finish shows sweet tobacco and dry, tangy tannins. A true successor (or as close as we can hope for) to the aforementioned Franc Merlot. This one is nice, warm and comforting. A wine well suited for a winter evening. I’m so close to loving this one… Just a bit more acidity to see this through on the finish and I am buying by the case. Despite that I’ll still be grabbing a few more on my next visit as this is a enjoyable wine for the price.

Rating: Buy It

*a quick footnote here that this is a review of the ’07. It looks like the ’08 may be available in some areas as well. I have yet to try that vintage. If you have let us know what you think!

Another Trader Joe’s Wine Shopping Run

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As some of you may have guessed based on recent reviews I squeezed in a recent Trader Joe’s shopping trip. What did I see? A whole new end cap of the 2009 Sebastopol Hills Pinot Noir (my review on the ’08), a handful of new offerings from Poet’s Row (which appears to be a Kunde Estate’s offering) and an interesting placement of a Bridgeway Cellars Merlot. For one reason or another I passed on all of these. Say what? So what exactly did I pick up you ask? Let’s see…

Another Trader Joe's Wine Shopping Run...

  • 2007 Picket Fence Pinot Noir (3 @ $8.99) – Just following my own advice to “Buy It” here. I cleaned the shelves off at my local Trader Joe’s and would still grab another half case or so should I come across it. A worthy wine selection for those looking for something to pair with Thanksgiving turkey…
  • 2008 Trader Joe’s Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir (1 @ $9.99) – This one came recommended from Angela as a worthy competitor to the above mentioned Picket Fence. Andy and Matt agreed. Carneros Pinot is very unique in style to me so looking forward to giving this one a try…
  • 2009 Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Cabernet Franc (3 @ $5.99) – Still trying to figure out why I grabbed three of these. As per my review I was not a fan. Worried that I was overly harsh on the wine based on my personal shopping decision I tried this one again last night. It didn’t do anything to change my initial opinion…
  • 2007 Roustabout Meritage (2 @ $5.99) – Another one from the folks over at the Central Coast Wine Warehouse. Looking at the blend percentage I once again started dreaming of this one as a follow-up to the Franc Merlot. My initial taste last night was very promising. Looking forward to spending some more time with this one tonight.
  • 2008 Steelhead Sauvignon Blanc (3 @ $5.99) – I never got to try the Zinfandel of this offering (which is a Quivira Vineyards label) and I wasn’t going to let the same happen with the Sauvignon Blanc. And I am glad I jumped on it as this turned out to be a really nice wine! As mentioned in my review this is another one worth considering for the Thanksgiving table. If that is already full don’t worry as this one is well suited for everyday sipping as well…

How about you all? Have you had anything of interest at Trader Joe’s lately that I am missing? Let me know in the comments below…

2009 Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Cabernet Franc

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2009 Trader Joe's Petit Reserve Cabernet FrancPrice: $5.99 @ Trader Joe’s

What They Said:

Per the bottle “The cool nights and warm days of Paso Robles bring out savory currant and dry cranberry nuances in our Petit Reserve Cabernet Franc.”

What I Think:

I’m not exactly sure why I had such high hopes for this one but something made me buy three bottles on sight. Granted I am a big fan of Cab Franc but that is some aggressive buying. Did it pay off? Let’s see…

Made by Familia Nueva Vineyards this one is light purple with translucent violet on the edges and has a pleasant nose of berries and spice. The palate starts nice with dried cranberry notes but quickly turns thin and becomes disjointed. On the finish heavy barrel driven tannins emerge with only a hint of the sour cherry fruit surviving. Even if it survived in full glory this one leaves a lot to be desired. I bought three of these hoping for good things. I am now plotting on how I can return the other two. I suggest you steer clear but if you happen to give this one a try I would love to hear your thoughts.

Rating: Skip It

Ortman Family Vineyards “O2″ Wines

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I’ve heard many good things about Ortman Family Vineyards but never had the chance to try their wines. So when offered the chance to sample the inaugural release of their “O2” series I was glad to have the chance. The “O2” wines were positioned to serve as “A fresh, new generation of affordable wines from the Ortman family”.

Before we answer whether or not they lived up to their positioning there are two important disclaimers. The first being that this is their second label and I have never tasted their first. Given that I can’t offer any comparisons. The second being that this is their inaugural release. Like opening night at a restaurant there are always some kinks to be worked out. With that let’s get to the wines…
3 from Ortman Family...

  • 2009 Ortman Family “O2″ Chardonnay ($18) – (14.2%) This one, hailing from the Central Coast, starts promising when I read “Simply put, overly oaky, cloying Chardonnay is just not our style” from the winery brochure. And this delivers as well. Not your standard butterball turkey here. Nice crispness with peach and apricot on the nose. Crisp on entry with the same fruit flavors before mineral and oak components emerge on the mid-palate. These lead to a first oaky & creamy then tangy, tart lasting finish. This is not your regular Chardonnay as it shows racy acidity throughout. Pleasant but pricey at $18.
  • 2008 Ortman Family “O2″ Sangiovese ($20) – (13.8%) Short on notes for this one hailing from Paso Robles but this was indeed again a nice wine. Starts lively and juicy with cherry cola flavors and dark fruit. A nice acidity emerges mid-palate and leads to dry sage notes on a soft spice finish with lingering tannins. This one shows nice balance throughout.
  • 2007 Ortman Family “O2″ Cuvée Eddy ($20) – (14.2%) Syrah 42%, Grenache 30%, Mourvèdre 19%, Petite Sirah 9% – This one, hailing from San Luis Obispo, starts with plush fruit and barrel spice on the nose. Bright fruit on entry that turns almost creamy on the mid-palate where a nice acidity emerges before a spicy, blackberry briar finish with just a touch of sweetness. A nice wine and an easy drinker but at $20 I can’t say it is worth stretching your budget for.

Now keep in mind when it comes to $20 wines there are few harsher critics out there than me. These wines all offer a fair quality to price ratio, are well made and I enjoyed each one of them. That said at this price point I want a wine to distinguish itself and I didn’t see that here. Reminder that this is the inaugural vintage so as the “kinks” get worked out I am sure we can look forward to better things. Either way if $20 is within your price range give these a try. You’ll be sure to enjoy and they are twist off to boot!

Interested in reading more about the Ortman “O2″ Series?

*as indicated above these wines were indeed received as press samples

2004 Twenty Bench Cabernet Sauvignon

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2004 Twenty Bench Cabernet SauvignonPrice: $14.99 @ Friend/Gift

What They Said:

Per Nine North Wines “The 2004 Twenty Bench is one of our more pronounced vintages to date. Aromas of black currants, plums and chocolate accompany the wines dense, inky color, while the palate shows great structure, richness and depth that comes with the first ever addition of Cabernet Franc to the blend. This wine drinks well now and will age gracefully over the next 7 -8 years.”

What I Think:

I’ve heard a lot about this label and no wonder why. This is a very nice Napa Valley Cab for less than $20 and certainly one I will be revisiting soon. If I like the current release as much this may end up on my Christmas giving list. Stay tuned for my thoughts on the 2007 which is available at K&L Wines for $16. In the meantime here are my notes on the 2004…

(14.1%) – 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc – Great, aromatic nose that shows loads of black pepper and dark fruits on top of herbal notes. The palate is still very lively with slightly sweet plum flavors and nice acidity. The finish is dry and leathery showing spice, barrel notes and lingering dusty, chocolate tannins. Good structure throughout but it seems the fruit is thins toward the end of the palate which to me means you should be drinking this one if you have it…

Rating: Wow!