Deep garnet hue with aromas of blackberry, (butterscotch) red fruit, sweet red berries above the rim.
Palate--Stately first impression, mature structure with balanced integration of all things with big rich dark berry flavors galore, with a finish that lingers.
This previously reviewed nice Zin, is worthy of many purchases and at $9 (Trader Joe's) it is a great value.
I am pairing it with one of our favorite dinners--Maine venison chili--and we already know from many iterations of this that it goes GREAT so raise a glass!
*Lodi-- is one of California's many "AVA's" (American Viticultural Areas) which must meet certain standards to be able to put that on the label. At $9 it is a go-to for my favorite dishes! Raise a glass!
Purple hue with aromas of tightly wound fruit, cherry cream bon bons, cranberry, and finessed savory spice.
Palate--Impressive stately first impression, with luxuriant texture and balanced structure for such a young wine. Fruit still very tightly wound and needs time to open up and more time in bottle to arrive at what I think is a berak out waiting to happen.
At $8 (a Trader Joe's bargain) this is the kind of wine you grab a half case at least and lay 4 away for maturing, and enjoy the other two now. Raise a glass!
Previously reviewed this lovely French delight is a pale straw hue with aromas of ripe pineapple, stone fruit, perfumey baby powder and a kiss of citrus.
Palate--Off-dry, sweet front with loads of solid acidity to carry the sweet foundation with a fleeting but definite finish of summer fruit.
Vouvray is made with Chenin Blanc and is one of my fave white wine varietals. A Trader Joe's offering at $7-$8 and it would be a bargain at $15 and it is a definite Raise a glass!
Light garnet hue with aromas of strawberry sweet spice,
Palate--Watery first impression, light bodied, flavors of strawberry juice and gentle spices with sweet nuances. Finishes quickly leaving only a fleeting taste of strawberry.
This $10 French Pinot is not spectacular nor should it be at this price point. It's "meah" so you decide...
Ruby hue with rustic cherry and forest floor, boysenberry and sweet black cherry.
Palate--Unremarkable first impression, with astringent fruit, dried berries, quickly finishing.
$9 Trader Joe's offering and not great but ok with pizza and pasta with heavy tomato base.
Ruby/Garnet hue with aromas of tart red berry and cranberry fruit and deep brooding dark berry waiting to burst out with full fury. Black tea, and dried leaves follow.
Palate--A so-so first impression with lots of acidity, bold berry front with a very assertive structure. There's alot going on here and it needs some time to breathe and open up.
My first impression is a lot better than expected. This may very well be my first wine from Bulgaria! I have to give "kudos" to this obscure (to me) wine region which I never knew existed. I paired it with a charcoal grilled chuck eye steak and it was excellent!
I Paid $11 for this experience and I am glad I tried it. Raise a glass.
Youthful purple hue with aromas of light Pinot notes of strawberry and gentle spice.
Palate--Pleasant first impression with some nice acidity, balanced papate, with fruity strawberry and a better than expected structure and overall flavor profile! Finishes abruptly.
This $7 Pinot from California fruit is not great but then again it is a $7 dollar Trader Joe's offering which gives you a lot for the money. Chill it a bit and enjoy it by itself. For this price, I am raising a glass!
Decent dark cranberry jelly hue with aromas of dark ripe blackberries, nuances of evergreen at the rim, savory spice
Palate--Nice cherry berry first impression with solid structure, angular due to its youth, but thickish texture. Needs to breathe as there's a lot there.
This Washington state Cab is robust, young, but with time should hold its ground. At $12 it is a value wine as I would expect from Columbia Crest wines. I'll update this review if it opens up... Raise a glass!
Palate--First impression is acidic and disappointing mouth feel, with bitter mid palate, dark berry fruit and a touch off putting.
This Trader Joe's offering at $10 was quite disappointing so we'll see how it does with our Sunday night pizza ritual. It is very young and having had wines from Tilia, this seems out of sorts so it may just need another year.
It was "OK" with our pizza but I won't be returning to this wine.
Light golden hue with very nice bouquet of ripe pear, vanilla, melon and the slightest touch of grass.
Palate--Bright pear first impression with hints of summer fruit on a lovely acidic base, and a finish of a (nice) kind of biter mid palate.
At $7 this is another ridiculous TJ's value selection. It is vastly different than our domestic S. Blancs lacking the intense "grassiness" that many of our west coast wines display but that is what makes wine so fascinating. This is a no brainer so "raise a glass!
Black cherry aromas on a ruby hue.
Palate--Watery with black cherry, and spice. Not much else to say.
$7 at trader Joes it worked well believe it or not with my homemade pasta with parmesan, and caraway.
If you're on a budget and you need wine this can get you by but better to raise a different glass.
