$4 Green Fin 2010 White Wine California Trader Joes Organic

Okay, so I have to admit that the 2009 vintage of this wine was less than stellar. But I decided to try the 2010 vintage just in case. Boy, am I glad I did... the 2010 got the vague-ness of "white wine" spot on. Just the right amount of fruitiness, sweetness, tartness... you name it, it has it. It's right up there with a good pinot grigio. I'm usually not a fan of white "table wine" but this one is a winner. I will be buying several more bottles. Did I mention that this wine is made with organic grapes? Well that's just icing on the cake. Drink up!

I give this wine 4 stars out of 5.

$2 Charles Shaw Pinot Grigio California Trader Joes

I am a fairly big Pinot Grigio fan and was elated when Charles Shaw came out with their own Pinot Grigio. Previously the only white wines they offered were Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. It has a decent nose, fruity, melon-y with a touch of green apple. The first few sips are a bit astringent with very little of the promised fruit. After a few more sips, my palate adjusted, and the wine became more enjoyable. I still prefer the Sauvignon Blanc, but this is a decent runner-up.

I give this wine a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Vinas Chilenas $3 Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Chile Trader Joes

Delightful nose of grapefruit, mango and bursting with bananas. I thought I might need to add an umbrella to my glass. The first couple sips were a bit on the harsh side, very acidic and overly floral. After it had time to be swirled around a bit and mellowed out, it became very likable. The mango and bananas really stand out after you get past the strong bitter floral notes. Drinkable, but not stellar.

I give this wine a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Il Valore $4 2009 Sangiovese Italy Trader Joes

I just love a good Sangiovese and I was excited to try this one- so affordable! The nose was absolutely yummy with the richness of figs, the fruitiness of black currants and hint of dark chocolate and black pepper. But on the first sip, the disappointment set in. It tasted nothing like it smelled... there was an intense bitterness right off the bat, totally lacking fruit and a medium finish of more bitterness. Yikes, this was really bad. Before dumping it, I popped on my wine soiree (aerator) and poured a bit through it. It softened the bitterness quite a bit, but it still overwhelmed the wine. I was ready to give this wine a 2 out of 5 stars, but then I forgot about it on the counter for four days. I figured I would give it one more shot before the drain, and poured a bit in a glass. And you know what, it wasn't half bad. It still wasn't great, but definitely drinkable. So the moral of this story is that if you get a bottle of this, plan ahead to decant and aerate the heck out of it before attempting to drink it.

I give this wine 3 out of 5 stars

$4 Archeo 2007 Nero d'Avola Sicily Trader Joes

I absolutely loved the 2005 vintage of this wine, way back before I even had a wine blog. I went and bought a bunch of wine at Trader Joes a couple of weeks back and I was saving this one for last. It has a nice bottle too, so if someone did not frequent Trader Joes, then they might assume this is a more expensive bottle just by the look of it. Anyway, onto the tasting!

At first is smells of smoky, woodsy notes, more specifically, pine. But after letting it breathe after a hefty swirl, subtle cherry notes came through. The first sip is quite delicious, a bit hearty and grassy with subtle layers of eucalyptus and molasses. The finish is long with a touch of fruitiness. The more I tasted it, the more the fruitiness came out, without losing it's character.

Overall, this wine is an excellent price for the complexity and balance. I think if it was in a blind tasting, it would rival much more expensive wines.

I give this wine a 5 out of 5 stars.

$4 Abrazo Del Toro 2008 Garnacha Tempranillo Spain Trader Joes

After a horrible experience with the 2005 Abrazo I was really worried about what I would encounter in this bottle.

The nose is nicely smoky with a bit of meatiness. The first sip yields light blackberries with a bit of herbs and tobacco. The Garnacha softens the Tempranillo, perhaps a bit too much for those who like a bold Tempranillo. Dry, yet fruity, this wine is far cry from the '05 vintage but in a good way. I do think this wine is pretty much at it's peak, so I would drink it up now. No point in saving this bad boy.

I give this hearty wine a 4 out of 5 stars

$4 Purple Moon 2008 Shiraz California Trader Joes

I was so excited to try this Purple Moon Shiraz as the last vintage I tasted, Purple Moon 2004, was stellar. This one is kind of a dull, deep red and smells very grassy. It is slightly bitter, but mellows out after a few sips. It tastes of nutmeg and half-ripe cherries. I decided it was in need of some aeration, so the next glass I poured through my Wine Soiree to clean it up a bit. The aeration helped it quite a lot and it helped bring out some of the subtle cinnamon, blackberry and black cherry notes. It is definitely bold, and complex but it needs the aeration to really open it up. It doesn't live up to the 2004, but is still intriguing.

I give this a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
But, I give this a 4 out of 5 stars when aerated

Check out my friends thoughts on the same wine at ZinbytheSea

$5 Tuscan Moon 2008 Sangiovese California Trader Joes

This is a pretty pinkish purple and very transparent. It smells of berries, spice and grass. I took a sip and it's not bad at all! It's full of fresh, ripe fruit but it has a nice balance of tannins and acidity that all work very well together. (Basically, the fruit balances the dryness.) There is even some residual smokiness on the finish. It is a lighter bodied red, with a medium finish.

I give it 4 stars out of 5

$4 Rendez-Vous 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau France Trader Joes

This wine is a lovely jewel tone of reddish purple and is quite rich looking. It smells of subtle plums and cherries. The first few sips yield layers of black currant, black cherry and blackberry. It is also very peppery with heavy spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. This Beaujolais is medium-bodied with a very long, spicy finish. It is very nice indeed... I would definitely keep a bottle of this on hand.

I give this wine 4 out of 5 stars

$4 Green Fin 2009 White Table Wine California Trader Joes

This cute 'lil bottle was practically clamoring to get into my cart. So I brought a bottle of "table wine" home. But on the plus side- it's made with organic grapes. The first sniff smells a bit of syrupy Moscato followed by crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Interesting so far. The first sip yields definite sweetness followed by... well, nothing. There is nothing to pick out, it's just a generic white wine... I guess the label was correct.

I give this wine a 3 out of 5 stars.

(I had to throw on an extra star because it's organic.)

$5 Now and Zen 2008 Alsace White France Trader Joes

Melon and citrus on the nose, with a bit of papaya. Upon sipping, it is a very well-rounded blend. There is a bit of just about everything in there... fruit, crisp flavor with a touch of sweetness. There is a bit of a Moscato-ish flavor with some flavors of Pinot Grigio too. This would be a great table wine, when you are serving a lot of different people with different tastes.

I give this wine a 4 out of 5 stars

For a more in-depth review of this wine, check out Jason's review at Jason's Wine Blog

$4 Albero White Sparkling Wine Spain Trader Joes

First off, it gets a big thumbs up for being organic. Even though it's sparkling wine, it looks to be just an ordinary white wine, except for the slightly bulbous cork. The nose is somewhat sweet and flowery. And then.... what a let down. It is completely flat. Maybe a slight fizz on the tongue but on the whole, more like a stale champagne than a sparkling wine. The flavor is a bit on the sweet side and tastes more like a Gewurstraminer.

I give this wine a 1 out of 5 stars

$4 Cabernet Sauvignon Talus 2004 California Trader Joes

The nose is vibrant and peppery with hints of roasted red peppers and green grass. the first taste is definitely grassy with a sweet undertone that I can't put my finger on. It has a strongly metallic finish which is quite unpleasant. The second sip is very herbaceous and a lesser metallic taste and by the third sip my taste buds have adjusted and it becomes bright and grassy. It also has very high tannins and is very astringent. I think this wine could definitely benefit from a day on the counter.

$4 Zinfandel Napa River Trader Joes

The first night I opened this wine, I didn't pay that much attention to it. It sat overnight and then I poured a glass the next evening. I smell hints of blackberry, raspberry and coffee after I swirl it around for a moment. A bit of smokiness perhaps. The first sip brings some slight dark chocolate which was quickly replaced with ripened apricots and plums. The next few sips bring out some slightly grassier flavors with a hint of maple. This wine is delicious now and I think it will be even better in 3-4 years. Buy one to enjoy now and three to store in the cellar.

I give this wine 5 out of 5 stars.

$3 Shiraz Chasing Clouds Trader Joes

The nose is quite astringent making it difficult to discern any other aromas. I detect a bit of fruit, but it's hard to say what kind. The first sip is strong with raspberries and a hint of apricot and dried figs. It is a very green wine and I expect it might be better in a few years, unless the fig overpowers it. It's also quite bitter and I think this is one better left on the shelves.

I give this bitter Shiraz a 3 out of 5 stars.

$4 Sangiovese Tuscan Moon 2005 California Trader Joes

The first scent of this wine is earthy and smells of leather, figs and apricots. I can't wait to try it as I am a big fan of Sangiovese. I was surprised by the big apricot flavors that hit my tongue immediately. Black currant and blueberry flavors quickly followed. There are some lingering flavors of strawberry and raspberry and a pretty quick finish. It is very tasty, though it is a bit fruity for a Sangiovese. The flavors are unexpected, but I would buy it again. Definitely a great buy for $4... but don't expect the usual Sangiovese flavors.

I give this tasty wine a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

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$4 Malbec Barrio La Boca 2005 Argentina Trader Joes

Not bad, not bad at all for a bargain Malbec. Rich and earthy flavors with quick tannins and a green astringency. Robust and bitter flavors of coffee and unsweetened cocoa combined nicely with some lighter flavors of dried fruit. Definitely a spicy wine.

I give this wine 4 out of 5 stars.


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$3 Carménère Panilonco 2005 Chile Trader Joes

Here's an interesting tidbit- Even though they may not be very popular, Carménère grapes are considered part of original six noble grapes of Bordeaux, France. Now that we have that out of the way, on to tasting it! A nice, peppery nose greets me with some notes of rich, smoky, meatiness. The flavor is strong, grassy, and bright. A quick finish wrapped it up tightly. The first taste was so quick I have to go in for another. The next few tastes brought out some bell pepper-y flavors, but all in all, the first taste is what you get. It's a simple, dry red. Not bad, though.

I give it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.


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$4 Cabernet Sauvignon Trader Joes Coastal 2005 California Trader Joes

This wine is delicious! Okay, let me back up a bit. The nose and color were typical Cabernet. The first taste was a nice tangy fruity flavor. Then it became very smooth with a medium finish. Not a very complex wine, but defintely worth trying.

I give this bargain wine 4 out of 5 stars.

$5 Syrah Rose Josefina 2006 Paso Robles Trader Joes

This Rose has a very tangy nose. A lot of melon... a little apple...some blueberry. The first sip was unusual... very sour and a quite bitter with a charcoal aftertaste. I gave it another try later in the evening, but to no avail. Not a very good Rose.

I give this bitter wine 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.

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