trader joe's top 10



about jason

focused on finding those wines that deliver great value to the wallet and the palate

the rating system

two tiered — one on the value end and another for those that I am expecting quite a bit more from...

2007 Vinum Cellars Chenin Blanc

Price: $4.99 @ Trader Joe’s
What They Said:
Per Vinum Cellars “Clarksburg might be called the Chenin Blanc capital of California, and this polished wine shows why. It’s completely dry and mouthwateringly crisp in acidity, with interesting flavors of citrus fruits, ripe fresh green beans, spices and vanilla. Try as an alternative to Pinot Grigio or [...]

Your Take on the Gypsy

With my review of the ‘08 vintage still a few days away (I wanted to give it 3 weeks in the bottle first) I thought it would be fun to highlight some of tasting notes that you all from the community have shared over the last few weeks. Many of those mentioned below are [...]

2007 MacMurray Central Coast Pinot Noir

Price: $13.99 @ Trader Joe’s
What They Said:
90 points Wine Enthusiast: Currently hard and tart in acids and tannins, but loaded with sweet, ripe fruit, this Pinot is silky enough to drink now, which most consumers probably will. But if you give it until sometime in 2010, the cherries, cola, sandalwood and spices will mesh and [...]

The Chariot Arrives

I’m sure many of you are already read my post on the return of the Gypsy. Also guessing those interested are well aware of the multitude of comments confirming sightings of this wine all across California (I have asked my insiders to look into potential arrival in Phoenix and beyond). Michael Rodgers was [...]

It’s (almost) back! The ’08 Gypsy looms…

For those that know this blog the introduction above serves aplenty. For those that don’t, the Gypsy is as close as it gets to a Trader Joe’s cult wine. That’s right, a $5 cult wine. What’s that? A cult wine has to be expensive? I disagree, it only has to [...]

2007 Rootstock Zinfandel

Price: $6.99 @ Trader Joe’s
What They Said:
My initial Google search returned nothing. The back of the bottle noted that this one is made by DnA Vineyareds which I recognized from two previous offerings; Trader Joe’s Captain’s Catch and the TBD Zinfandel. The DnA Vineyards site hardly exists hasn’t been updated in ages. [...]

2009 Zarafa Sauvignon Blanc

Price: $3.99 @ Trader Joe’s imported by Bordeaux Etc.
What They Said:
I was able to track down Mountain River Wines, who is responsible for making this one, on the intrawebs but their site still highlights the ‘08 bottling. They have yet to post any notes on the latest vintage. From previous versions it appear [...]

2008 Sebastopol Hills Pinot Noir

Price: $9.99 @ Trader Joe’s
What They Said:
Nada, the bottle said absolutely nothing. So the detective work began and I think I found my new best friend. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) COLA (Certificate of Label Approval) registry where a search returned these results. This led me to the Owl [...]

Trader Joe’s Sparkling Wines for New Year’s Eve

With New Year’s Eve less than 24 hours away in some places I wanted to take the chance to share my limited insight into the offering in a limited time frame. In an effort to keep this short let’s jump right in. Before doing so I once again want to profess that this [...]

2008 Il Valore Sangiovese

Price: $2.99 @ Trader Joe’s imported by Americal Beverage Group
What They Said:
Per the bottle “This 100% Sangiovese wine from the Puglia region is smooth and fruity with a touch of red berries.”
What I Think:
I had this one a while