The Rodney Strong Russian River Pinot Noir 2018 is an estate-grown 100% Pinot Noir. For a little bit of background, Rodney Strong was a dancer on Broadway who came to Sonoma in 1959 and became a modern pioneer of California wine. He was one of the first to plant Pinot Noir in the Russian River and plant Chardonnay in the Chalk Hills AVA. They are also pioneers in sustainable … [Read more...]
Trader Joe’s Reserve Chalone Pinot Noir 2020
The Trader Joe's Reserve Chalone Pinot Noir 2020 is a $9.99 Trader Joe's exclusive. The interesting part of the last sentence was the reference to the Chalone AVA. The Chalone AVA is perched about 1,200 to 2,300 upon a plateau in the Monterey coastal mountains. There are only 300 acres of vines planted with only three wineries situated inside the AVA. The grapes are used … [Read more...]
Don Rodolfo Mendoza Pinot Noir 2019
The Don Rodolfo Mendoza Pinot Noir 2019 is a wine sourced mainly from the Lujan de Cuyo Valley inside the greater Mendoza region of Argentina. The Don Rodolfo Winery was founded in 1870. The Lujan de Cuyo Valley is located in western-central Mendoza and the vineyards are situated 3,300 to 5,000 feet. Lujan de Cuyo is known for producing Malbec wines, which thrive on warm … [Read more...]
Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir 2020
The Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir 2020 s a $12.99 TJ's exclusive. The 2020 vintage is the 12th edition of this Pinot Noir, here is a link to a CWF review of the 1st edition, it was ten bucks then. Every Carneros Grand Reserve is Lot #23, so it seems all 12 vintages are linked. The Carneros AVA is located north of the San Pablo Bay, half inside the Sonoma … [Read more...]
Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2020
The Trader Joe's Platinum Reserve Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2020 is a $14.99 Trader Joe's exclusive. I am not sure the difference between a Platinum Reserve, a Diamond Reserve, and the good old Grand Reserve Trader Joe's wines. But they do have a track record of being solid bang-for-the-buck wine. The Santa Lucia Highlands is situated in the foothills on the east … [Read more...]
