2011 - La Finca - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mendoza - Argentina

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $3.99 or $4.99

Variety: Cab

Lori's score: 

Nate's score: 7.5/10

Comments: Much like the last one a very drinkable bottle of wine; I'd get it again. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to really complain about. Bottle says deep red with sweet pepper aromas. I can see that. Says it's aged in oak barrels for 3 months.

2010 - Panilonco Merlot Malbec Reserve

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $3.99 or $4.99

Variety: Merlog (60%), Malbec (40%)

Lori's score: 

Nate's score: 7.5/10

Comments: From what I remember this was a decent bottle of wine. It wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't horrible. And, at this price, if it's not horrible, that means its pretty decent. I'm writing this well after I had my last sip, so maybe I'll get it again sometime.

2010 Villa Cerrina - Montepulciano D'Abruzzo

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $4.99

Variety: Montepulciano

Lori's score: 8/10

Nate's score: 8/10

Comments: This is a great bottle of wine. Very simple and clean, not much to it, but both Lori and I enjoy it. I wouldn't want it with an extremely spicy or meaty dish as it may get lost, but as a night time drinking wine, which is when I drink 90%+ of my wine, it's especially soft on the tongue and I have no worry of heartburn. I'd definitely get this one again if it's available.

2009 Aquila D'Oro - Toscana

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $3.99 (I think... Lori threw away the receipt)

Variety: Unknown Blend - some say Sangiovese

Lori's score: 6.5/10

Nate's score: 7.5/10

Comments: This is somewhat similar to the last bottle I reviewed. Nothing much phenomenal about it, but nothing bad about it. I'd definitely have it again. Clean, light taste where I don't have to worry about major heartburn. It's been in the fridge for a week now and still drinks nicely.

2009 La Granja Tempranilo

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $3.99

Variety: Tempranillo

Lori's score: 

Nate's score: 7/10

Comments: It's been a while since having a glass of wine, but even still after that last purple moon wine, this is a pleasant surprise. A very clean taste. Some people note an earthy smell to it. I guess that's true, however I wouldn't have come up with that. It is a bit sweet. I really think Lori will like this one, we'll see. I'd definitely get it again if we could. For $4 a bottle I could see a glass of it on a near every couple week basis. Just simple and good.

2009 Purple Moon Merlot

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $3.99

Variety: Actually a blend, 77% Merlot, with Petite Syrah, Malbec and Petite Verdot

Lori's score: 4/10

Nate's score: 4/10

Comments: Not the worst TJs bottle I've had, but right up there. Just a bit too smoky or something. I'm not saying I like sweet, but a little something would be nice. As you drink, it does get better like any, but too much of "all of the same" taste. I remember the first sip I tasted, I was excited since it's a cool bottle and name (I know, I know....) but it was just too.. ugh..it burns and yeah.  There must be something about it that is specific to my tastes as other reviewers give it more like a 5 or 6 and say that it's decent. Not again for us.

2009 - Cocobon - California Red

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $6.99

Variety: 61% Zinfandel, 17% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, 6% Petite Verdot, 4% Petite Sirah

Lori's score: 9.5/10

Nate's score: still waiting, but maybe 7/10

Comments: Lori said right away, "This is what I'm talking about. Really mellow and a little sweet."

There's no doubt about it it's sweet. I'll try and update my post later when we finish the rest of the bottle. I do agree there wasn't much burn, but I don't know that there was that much taste to it either. Seemed a bit simple, but that's fine in some cases. I did notice the "vanilla" to it.

Reviews by others online are very positive as well. Almost everyone likes the wine and its a good typical drinker.

Update: Don't remember what it was like, I just drank it. We'll have to buy another bottle :)

2010 Charles Shaw - Nouveau

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $2.99

Variety: Valdiguie? Gamay?

Lori's score: 

Nate's score: 6.5/10

Comments: 

You know, it's hard to rate this one. When you get a Beaujolais Nouveau you know that you are getting an extremely light wine with very little, well... taste. Sometimes that can be good. It depends what you're looking for. It's like pizza. Thin crust and thick crust are both good, but usually a person is looking for one over the other. The opposite one probably isn't as appealing as it normally would be.

To be honest, to me it seems pretty decent. Of the many reviews I've read, many people say to serve it slightly chilled (55 degrees). I suppose I could try that, but I again, I think its definitely drinkable. Sure, it's very simple with not much there, but compared to many of the cheap wines you get, that taste horrible and you want to end, this is a great red to get someone into wine that might not normally like it. It is fairly sweet, upon first taste, reminds me a bit of cherry cough syrup, so it might get a bit much after a full glass. After taste is really non existent (at first). If you wait about 15 seconds though, you do taste a light "blah" taste (morning breath?).

This 2010 may be gone now, after the new year, TJs will stop selling and you never know how long it will last. I'd definitely try again next year. Each year can be quite different. Overall, I'd do it again, knowing what I know.

Pairing: 

Anything that isn't too strong or that isn't too sweet, as this is so light and already sweet.

2009 - Blue fin - California Petite Sirah

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $3.99

Variety: Durif (most likely)

Lori's score: 5/10

Nate's score: 4/10

Comments: 

This is probably the most interesting TJs wine I've had to date. The taste is very unique. The first thing I noticed was the color. Probably the brightest true magenta color I can remember in a wine in some time. It's definitely lighter in color and just more.... well.. magenta.. than a typical red.

Upon smelling the bottle I thought it smelled very sweet. Typically this isn't a great thing, so I was a bit worried. The taste, is again, unique. Now, how to describe it. The good news is there isn't a lot of burn. Some tanin taste, but not all that bad. So from that part for 3.99 its pretty good. Where it fails is just the main taste that you get when you swallow. It's a bit like burnt wood or something and even though there's no burn, that taste (whatever it is) sticks onto your tongue for some time. I dunno. Not outright horrible, but by no means great.

Pairing: 

Probably anything strong that makes it so that taste doesn't sit in your mouth. I'm drinking it by itself and struggling.

2007 Mission Point - Pinot Noir

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $8.99

Variety: Pinot Noir

Lori's score:

Nate's score: 8/10

Comments: 

I think this was a very drinkable bottle of wine. While nothing stuck out as amazing, it think it was just very solid with a clean finish, no burn and a fair amount of different flavors. I've read some different reviews that really put it down saying it tastes tomatoey and things like that; maybe my palette isn't that mature. Definitely get it again, although it is a bit on the higher side for a "low cost" TJ wine.

Pairing: 

Tuscan Moon Sangiovese - 2009

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $5.99

Variety: Sangiovese

Lori's score:

Nate's score: 5.5/10

Comments: 

I remember this being an ok, semi bad taste but acceptable and then as usual, it got better over time. A good bottle of wine shouldn't have to do that though and should be enjoyable at the first drink. Many others have given this wine a bad rating as well, although I wasn't as harsh. For $5 its OK, but sadly my taste buds prefer some of the even cheaper wines at TJs over this one.

Pairing: 

2006 Valore Chianti (Riserva)

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $5.99

Variety: 75-100% Sangiovese, up to 10% Canaiolo and up to 20% any other approved red grape variety

Lori's score: 

Nate's score: 7.5/10

Comments: 

Don't totally remember the very first sip as usual, except thinking that overall this was a very good bottle of wine. I dont ever remember anything bad about it and would love to have it again.

According to the bottle, "Soft and silky chianti with lot of cherry aromas and vanilla, hits [sic] of violets and long finish"

Pairing: 

2006 Salice Salentino

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $5.99

Variety: 80% Negroamaro and 20% Malvasia nera

Lori's score: 

Nate's score: 2/10

Comments: 

This is just bad, well to me anyway. I'm sure some people would like it. It was too oaky and too berry flavored. Almost sweet like syrupy cough syrup. I could even smell it from across the room. Wow. No thanks.

Pairing: 

2008 Charles Shaw - Shiraz

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $3.99

Variety: Syrah/Shiraz

Lori's score: 

Nate's score: 5.5/10

Comments: 

Peppery smell. First drink within seconds of corking had way too much of a tannin/acidic taste. As usual with these types of wines, got better as it was able to breathe. Still, I think I'll pass on this one if given the choice again.

D'Aquino Chianti DOCG - 2009

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $4.99

Variety: 75-100% Sangiovese, up to 10% Canaiolo and up to 20% any other approved red grape variety

Lori's score: 6.5/10

Nate's score: 6/10

Comments: 

Don't totally remember the very first sip, and drank too much of it since then, but I remember thinking that it must be really young because it was a bit sharp. It obviously got better as I drank it, but it shouldn't have to be that way. 

Pairing: 

Gaetano D'Aquino Chianti Riserva (unknown - 2008?)

 

Leaving this as a place holder

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $?? < $9

Variety: 75-100% Sangiovese, up to 10% Canaiolo and up to 20% any other approved red grape variety

Lori's score:

Nate's score: 

Comments: 

I drank this and didnt document. Need to buy again. It was pretty good. Dont remember the vintage.

Pairing: 

Tisdale Merlot

Place to buy: Unknown

Cost:  < $5

Variety: Merlot

Lori's score: 6.5/10

Nate's score: 5/10

Nate's Comments: 

First thing you notice is wow, its very very berry tasting. I saw someone mention bubble gum, and while thats a bit extreme, it's not far from that. There are some tannins noticeable after the swallow. To me, they were more from the tongue and nearly no throat burning. The aftertaste is the problem. There's just not much to it other than this tinny/slight tanniny taste. 1 minute after I swallowed the wine, I would have never known I drank any wine. I think maybe its just the young age. It's ok, but for the same price, I've tasted better.

Pairing: Bottle says favorite salad, pasta or grilled meat.

2008 Archeo Nero d'Avola Ruggero di Tasso Sicilia IGT

Place to buy: Trader Joes

Cost: $4.99

Variety: Nero d'Avola

Lori's score: 7/10

Nate's score: 6.5/10

Comments: 

First thing that we both noticed was how "clean" the wine tasted. Almost no tannins. This increased while it sat, but definitely very light overall. The bottle mentions a light "jam" like taste, which I noticed at first, but not after half a glass.

Pairing: Bottle says Red Sauce Dishes and Grilled Meats