Trader Joe’s Blanc de Blancs Brut Sparkling Wine

A Trader Joe’s exclusive, a $4.49, Sparkling Wine imported from somewhere in France. The term Blanc de Blancs normally indicates that the Bubbly was made from Chardonnay grapes, but the back label only mentions “white grapes,” which in France could also mean Chenin Blanc (Cremant de Loire) or Mauzac (Blanquette de Limoux) grapes.  A Brut Sparkling wine is a dry or not sweet wine, but Brut contains the most sugar of the 3 Brut designations, Brut, Extra Brut and Brut Natural. The alcohol content is 11%.

The color is Miller Lite yellow, with small but plentiful bubbles.  The nose is apple and pear, lime and a touch of bakery bread. The flavor is clean and crisp, the bubbles bring tart lemon and green apple to your taste buds then disappear. There is a transition to buttered sourdough bread on the mid-palate, but not heavy flavors, think light and refreshing. The acidity is kept in check, cheap bubbly can be acid bombs. The finish is way longer than any four dollar and fifty cent wine has a right to have.

Is the Trader Joe’s Blanc de Blancs Brut Sparkling Wine the best bubbly you ever had? Well, no, but is it the best $4.49 Bubbly you could ever hope to find, hell yeah. This is a $4.49 wine that does not have issues, it does what it does in a very competent manner, it’s depth and complexity will not blow you away, but the quality at this price sure will.