2009 Trader Joe’s Vintjs Oregon Pinot Gris

This is about the pendulum swinging back the other way. In recent years Pinot Gris producers have been making their wines in a very light style and by very light, I mean VERY light. They made it for wine drinkers that really didn’t like wine, Pinot Gris was more of a grape beverage than a wine. Just the same, they sold gallons of the stuff and Pinots Gris with a bit of body to it languished on the store shelves. Just when you were about to usher Pinot Gris over to the White Zinfandel section, it starts to make a comeback. This is a Trader Joe’s wine so there is no information about who grew the grapes or how the wine was made, but the grapes are sourced from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. You don’t usually see Oregon wines at this price point. The alcohol level is a reasonable 12.8%.

Light see-thru golden yellow in color. The nose is citrus and orange blossom along with a hint of strawberry, it would make a good aroma candle. The first sensation you get upon sipping the Vintjs is a large wallop of acidity, this is a food wine. Tangerine, lemon, pink grapefruit, softened by melon, fresh fruit flavors, nothing candied or artificial. The acidity overpowers the tangerine/melon finish, but with the lovely fruit flavors upfront you can live the loss.

This a Pinot Gris that can stand up to food, don’t worry about too spicy, the Vintjs Pinot Gris can handle it, a nice bowl New Orlean’s style Gumbo would hit the spot.

2009 Picada 15 White Blend

An Estate grown and bottled White blend from the Neuquen region of Patagonia in Argentina. The blend is 55% Chardonnay, 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Pinot Noir. Yes, Pinot Noir is a red grape, but they remove the grape skins right after crushing the grapes, so you get none of the red grape color. The wine is aged for 5 months in stainless steel tanks and the alcohol content is 14.3%.

A light wheat yellow with lime green highlights. The nose is grapefruit and oranges, a little green apple and cut flowers. It tastes of light apricot mixed with lemon/lime, then tart apple. The has good acidity, it’s there but it does not get in the way of the flavor. A very light tart apple finish, you can barely taste it, but it last and lasts.

Light, crisp, refreshing, cheap, just how a White blend should be. Would pair well with grilled seafood and light pasta dishes.

2009 Folie a Deux Menage a Trois California Red

The menage a trois referenced here is the coupling of three grapes, Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The actual blend is 46% Zin, 31% Merlot and 23% Cab, the grapes are sourced from vineyards all across California, basically wherever they can get the best grapes for the least amount of money. The wine is aged in French and American oak. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are 2 grapes that dominate most Bordeaux red wines and adding in some Zinfandel is a California twist on the Bordeaux blends. The alcohol level is 13.5%.

A deep dark, clear raspberry jello red. The nose does not give up much, a bit of strawberry, a touch of chocolate and not much else. Nicely fruit forward, soft round black and blueberry flavors, cocoa powder, raspberry and then you can sense the tannins in the mid-palate. The tannins are light, but give the Menage a Trois enough structure and body to hold the fruit together. There is a nice raspberry jam finish.

A good starter red wine for people who don’t know if they like red wine. Nice flavor, soft and approachable, but there is enough going on to please experienced red wine drinkers.

2009 Trader Joe’s Overlake Sauvignon Blanc $6

I have been complaining about how there is never any information on Trader Joe’s wines, and lo and behold, they now have cool tasting notes, technical information and maps showing where the grapes are grown. So, here’s the low down on the Overlake Sauvignon Blanc, it’s 100% Sauvignon Blanc, fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. The grapes were grown in Lake County, which is north of Napa, it’s the coolest (as in cold, not hip) grape growing area in California, which is just fine for growing Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Trader Joe’s even said how they came by the wine, somebody backed out of a contract to buy the grapes, and the Winery turned to Trader Joe’s to salvage the situation. Alcohol content is 13.5%.

Light lemon yellow in color. A big nose, even if your not good at identifying what’s going on with the nose, you will get a few scents out of this one, pineapple, lime, grapefruit, nice fresh fruit aromas. Nice slightly oily mouth feel. Apricot along with pink grapefruit upfront, slightly sweet and tart at the same time. The mid palate is raspberry iced tea, that flows along into a nice long finish.

A nice solid Sauvignon Blanc, it can go toe to toe with most of the under 20 buck Sauvignon Blanc’s coming out of New Zealand. It’s amazing what 6 dollars will get you in wine nowadays.

2009 Alexander & Fitch Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $7

Another Trader Joe’s exclusive. Alexander & Fitch is one of Bronco Wine Company’s (makers of Two Buck Chuck) labels. The grapes are sourced from Alexander Valley, which is located in the Northeast corner of Sonoma, California. Like almost all other Trader Joe’s wines, there is not much information concerning the making of the Cabernet available. Is it 100% Cabernet Sauvignon?, was it aged in oak? Ah, just drink the wine and don’t ask any questions. 13.2% alcohol.

Deep, dark, rich, burgundy red. Intense red berry nose, a hint of leather and a little alcohol. The flavor is strawberry, plum,  dark chocolate and then some blackberry. Light tannins, along with good fruit. The finish is blackberry, not super long, but tastes good.

A solid cheap bottle of wine. A very drinkable, everyday Cab. The lack of tannins make it a bit soft and lacking in structure, but for an everyday wine that’s not all that bad. The Alexander & Fitch Cabernet would pair well with burgers and steaks cooked on the backyard grill.

NV Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc

Every time I see someone put out a list of Best Buy Cheap Wines, there will inevitably be one Barefoot Wine or another on the list. I have been walking past the Barefoot Wine display at the local liquor store for years, but I figure now is a good time to see if Barefoot Wine delivers. The Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from vineyards all over California and NV means at least 2 different vintages of Sauvignon Blanc are blended into to bottle. Alcohol content is 13%.

Very light straw yellow in color. A pretty nose, orange, grapefruit, lime and slate. Rather light bodied, tangerine and lemon/lime with a late touch of pear with the lemon/lime and pear going along till the rather decent finish.

Pretty good bottle of Sauvignon Blanc for $4.99. Not too sweet, not too much acidity, good flavor and a cheap price.  I have had $15 Sauvignon Blanc that didn’t bring anything the Barefoot doesn’t have.

2007 4 Vines Old Vine Cuvee California Zinfandel

In a word: Cankles. The soft, rich, smooth red color spreads over your tongue like dimples on cellulite. Dark and warm with a hint of sparkle. She beckons. Feels like home fries. Behind the glass, her legs are so long. It’s rich without being pretentious. She’s picked blackberries in the hot sun and nuzzled under an oak tree. Her story is yet to be told and landing pad still unknown. Ambitious but knows her place. This Zin feels like a marabou negligee without the feathers. Good thing too, they would only go to my head later. Just wrap those cankles around my neck and….escape. For at least a glass or two.

2009 Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc

I don’t know about you kids, but I don’t trust my Sauvignon Blanc to any old country. New Zealand is the only way to go. I’ve gone from vine to vine all over this island country and while the Kim Crawford, Groth and Starborough are wonderful, I always go back to my roots. For the price, under $10 and averaging $8.99, this little monkey always delivers. Let’s start with her looks. She isn’t showy so don’t expect a circus. However, she’s not a supermodel either so don’t think she’ll just sit there. She’s subtle but glows. Meadow grass, lemon and sunshine. She’s crisp without being a tart, witty but not insulting, and she can handle herself just fine. Just ask the creepy, leering ex-father-in-law with the freshly manicured pink slap across his face. No cheeky monkeys here, boys. She knows when to hold ‘em, knows when to….well, you get the picture. Her zings are always tempered by a hint of sweetness. She smells like fresh cut grass during morning brunch. The first sip can be arresting but the bite spreads to the sides and then the back of your tongue. Makes you thirsty but quenched all at once. Take her to a nice summer barbecue, introduce her to your loved ones, be complimentary. In return, you’ll get more than you bargained for.

2009 Trader Joe’s Vinas Chilenas Cabernet Sauvignon $4

I think I’m getting addicted to these Trader Joe’s cheapie wines, every couple of weeks I have to try another one. I can’t pass up a new wine on display by the entrance door. The cheap wines are not always to my liking, but at 5 bucks and under, I can’t get to worked up about so-so wine. The good thing about Vinas Chilenas  is that cheap wine from Chile tends to be better quality than cheap wine from just about any other place, so Vinas Chilenas may bring more to the table than Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw wines can. This Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the Central Valley in Chile. Like most other Trader Joe’s exclusive wines there is almost no other information available. Alcohol content is 13.5%

The color is crystal clear dark plum red. The nose is on the simple side, some red fruit, a little chocolate and a grassy aroma. Some strawberry, a little plum, dark chocolate and then a slight bite in the back of your mouth from the tannins. The finish is dark chocolate and berry and disappears in a hurry.

A very drinkable Cabernet, not exciting by any means, but far better than it needs to be for the price. The Vinas Chilenas Cabernet Sauvignon would do just fine with pizza and burgers and a bottle of this stuff will cost you less than either the burger or the pizza.

NV Blanc de Blancs Vin Mousseux Brut

I was walking through the aisles at the local Wine Shop, Binny’s, and I came across a display of French Sparkling wine selling for $4.99, I had to give it a try. It does not say Champagne on the label, because only sparkling wine  from the Champagne Region can be called Champagne. It is classified as a Brut, which means dry or unsweet. Blanc de Blancs, indicates the wine is 100% Chardonnay. This Sparkler is sold by a French Negociant (a private bottler or re-labeler) and is bottled exclusively for Binny’s.

Very pale gold in color, there are plenty of bubbles. The nose is toasted bread, apricots, green apple and pear . Nice sharp bubbles, light citrus, some juicy ripe macintosh apple, with a late dose of banana and then a very light lemon finish. Very dry, very crisp, the flavors are all real fruit flavors, nothing artificial tasting.

Wow, five dollar Champagne never tasted like this before. Good bubbles, interesting nose and a delicate and refreshing taste. This is not a good for 5 bucks wine, it’s a solid, no excuses Sparkling Wine. This is the bubbly you need to order cases of for that Wedding or Anniversary Party. Your guests will thank you for it.

you can only find this a any Binny’s location or www.binnys.com

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