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: