Gambler’s Flash Paso Robles Red Table Wine

The Gambler’s Flash Paso Robles Red Table Wine is a non-vintage $6.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive sourced from grapes grown in the Paso Robles AVA inside the Central Coast AVA of California. The back label says this is a proprietary blend which is a polite way of saying, “we ain’t telling what’s in the mix.” In Europe there are different quality classifications for wine, but in the United States, all wine, from 2 Buck Chuck to Screaming Eagle is classified “table wine.” The Gambler’s Flash was vinted and bottled by Familia Neuva Vineyards (this label has been producing wine for TJ’s for years), which is a label owned by Atlas Peaks Winery, a well-respected Paso Robles winery. The fruit came from 2 different vintages, which may indicate that this is a blend made from left-over wine, which is fine with me since there is a long tradition in California of producing good quality value blends out of juice that didn’t make it into more expensive wines. Since we don’t know the blend of the vintages there isn’t much to go on, except as a $6.99 and a single AVA wine it is worth taking a chance. The alcohol content is 14.2%.

The color is black cherry red with an almost clear halo. The nose is smokier and spicier than expected for an inexpensive Red blend, there is cherry, smoke from a grill, herbs, blackberry, licorice, chocolate powder and pencil shavings (I looked it up, pencil shaving might indicate that Cabernet Franc is in the blend). This is a rounded and smooth, fruit-forward Red, with a decent dose of structure. It starts with raspberry, candy bar chocolate, blackberry, a touch of exotic spice, and black cherry. The mid-palate shows pepper, sweet blueberry, and cold coffee. The tannins are smooth and the acidity is balanced though I think this is more of a sipping wine, it will still pair well with comfort foods. The finish is full but fades before too long.

See also  Farmhouse California Red 2019

The Gambler’s Flash Paso Robles Red Table Wine is a very solid and tasty California Red blend. Non-vintage with Sparkling wines tend to be the rule rather than the exception, but when I see a non-vintage still wine I tend to get suspicious. But here I am perfectly happy with them using 2 vintages, for whatever reason they used multiple vintages, they got it right and it drinks above its price.

 

About the Author
Don’t tell anyone, but there is absolutely no correlation between the cost of wine and the quality of wine.

7 comments on “Gambler’s Flash Paso Robles Red Table Wine

  1. James says:

    To me it is an awful red blend with hints of tractor transmission fluid.
    Trader Joe’s struck-out on this one.

  2. Dave says:

    I like it a lot. I like deep red robust wines. No pinot fur mich. Also liked the $2.99 price at TJ’s. What can you ask for, for $2.99? Interesting comparison: tractor transmission fluid. Had to wonder what else James drinks.

  3. Matthew Lee, 925 mfer says:

    I’ll trust my pallette…

    Bottled and corked: Properly

    Taste: Very drinkable…The WHOOO sniff u get is 13.9% ALCOHOL by volume…aka you’re supposed to get a kick burro.

    It’s smooth. It tastes like a real, not too sweet grape. And I’m on my level.

    Thank you andGod bless America.

  4. Matthew Lee says:

    Hello,

    My name is Matthew Lee, I’m a resident of da mfin 925 (San Ramon, CA)

    I gave this a second buy. $3 at Trader Joe’s.

    It’s good wine. Gambler’s Flash paid off ay? 🙂

    Much love,

    God bless you, God bless your families, and God bless America

  5. Rock-EaZy.Lee aKa Matthew Dat Ninja says:

    Hi All,

    Matthew again.

    I’m just a ninja…I ain’t paid to say this sht. I guess I’m just buzzed and tryna validate my own point.

    I just bought 3 bottles of this one 12/3/2020 from Trader Joe’s…Under $10…HOLY JESUS GOD BLESS AMERICA

    PASSSSOOOO ROOOOOBLEEEESSSSS XD XD XD

    Cheers mfers 🙂

  6. Jose Jimenez says:

    It is so bitter
    I am drinking it as I write this,
    It’s all I have and so I am forcing myself

    Reminds me of the gallon jugs Red Mountain I used to drink the hurl back in the 70’s

    They blend a crap wine with something not so good…

    That’s why 3 dollars at Trader Joe’s
    The bottles and corks and all the manpower to process the wine

    And it sells for 3 dollars

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *