Napa Valley

Trader Joe’s Reserve Meritage Napa Valley Lot #176 2015

The Trader Joe’s Reserve Meritage Napa Valley Lot #176 2015 is a $9.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive, it’s a Red blend with Merlot as the main grape, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec sourced from vineyards in the Napa Valley of Northern California. The word Meritage is a combination of merit and heritage…

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VINTJS Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2016

The VINTJS Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2016 is a $6.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive sourced from a vineyard or vineyards in Napa Valley, California. Trader Joe’s says this Sauv Blanc came from a well-known Napa winery/vineyard with whom they have had a 10 year relationship. I think I know who that is, but I can’t be certain,…

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Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Yountville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Yountville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Lot 74 is a $14.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive, Yountville is one of the 16 sub-AVA’s inside Napa Valley. The typical Yountville Cabernet Sauvignon is a cellar worthy wine that sells for $50 and up, so is this a $50 wine that somehow is priced at…

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Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Meritage Napa Lot 63 2013

The Trader Joe’s 2013 Grand Reserve Meritage Napa Lot 63 2013 is a $12.99 TJ’s blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec (these are 5 of the 6 grapes approved for Bordeaux Red blends, the only grape missing is Carménère) sourced from vineyards somewhere in the Napa Valley of California. When dealing with…

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Avalon CAB California Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

The Avalon CAB California Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Syrah, 7% Zinfandel and 4% Merlot sourced from vineyards located in Napa Valley (the largest % of the grapes come from Napa), Lodi, Paso Robles and Monterey County in Northern California. This Cab was aged for 8 months in French and American oak…

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Caymus 40th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

The 2012 Caymus 40th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon celebrates Caymus Vineyards 40th year of wine-making in Napa Valley, California. Caymus Vineyards is still and family owned and operated vineyard/winery and in 1972, their first vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon sold for $4.50 a bottle. In 1987, Wine Spectator proclaimed Caymus, “The best damn Cabernet Sauvignon in California,” and twice…

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VINTJS Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2012

The 2012 VINTJS Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc is a $6.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive, produced for them by St. Supery Vineyards and Winery, a very well respected Napa Valley wine producer. Now, that does not mean that the VINTJS is a relabeled bottle of St. Supery’s $20 Estate grown Sauvignon Blanc, neither Trader Joe’s or St. Supery…

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Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay 2011

The 2011 Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay is a $5.99 TJ’s exclusive. The Petit Reserve label indicates that Trader Joe’s was offered a one time deal on a relatively small supply of wine, when these wines sell out, they are gone for good. This Chardonnay was “vinted and bottled by” Healdsburg Wine Cellars, vinted…

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Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

The 2011 Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a Trader Joe’s $7.99 exclusive sourced from grapes grown somewhere in Napa Valley, California. Trader Joe’s says one of their long time wine partners needed to sell some of their Cabernet Sauvignon, the price was right, so here it is. Back in 2008, when…

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Whispering Valley Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay 2010

The 2010 Whispering Valley Reserve  Napa Valley Chardonnay is an $8.99 Aldi’s exclusive that is currently on close-out for $4.99. The 2009 Whispering Valley Chardonnay was sourced from the Delle Venezie growing region of northeast Italy, not Napa Valley, California. Aldi’s does not provide much information concerning this bottle, such as who made it and…

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Black Stallion Napa Valley Chardonnay 2009

Ok, the 2009 Black Stallion Estate Winery Napa Valley Chardonnay does not usually sell for the $9.99, more along the lines of $18 to $20, but that is the beauty of wine shops in January, its close out time. I don’t know if this wine changed distributors or if the store had a case or…

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Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Napa Valley Meritage 2009

The 2009 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Napa Valley Meritage is a $12.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. The term “Meritage” (pronounced like heritage) indicates this a Red blend using the grapes approved in Bordeaux wines. Either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot as the lead grape with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot used as blending grapes (Malbec and Carmenere are…

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Steltzner Vineyards Napa Valley Claret 2009

The  Steltzner Vineyards Napa Valley Claret  2009 (English term meaning Bordeaux grapes varieties were used, usually referred to as Meritage in California) sourced from Steltzner Estate vineyards in the Stag’s Leap AVA along with grapes from other vineyards in Southern Napa Valley. The blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc and 13% Merlot. Steltzner Vineyards…

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2008 Castle Rock Napa Valley Merlot

The 2008 Castle Rock Napa Valley Merlot is sourced from several Napa Valley vineyards. Castle Rock has an interesting approach to producing wine, they do not own their own vineyards, but have long term contracts with vineyards all over California, Oregon and Washington. The don’t produce just one Merlot, but 3 Merlot’s from Napa, Mendocino…

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2008 Franciscan Estate Magnificat Meritage

Ok, the 2008 Franciscan Estate Magnificat Meritage is not anywhere near cheap, it lists for $50, but sometimes, a big Napa wine is called for and the Magnificat Meritage is actually well priced for a Oakville AVA, Napa wine. The Franciscan Estate winery is just down the road from Silver Oak, Opus One and Groth….

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