Hot Wine Tips at Trader Joe's

I've had several of you tell me that by the time you got to your TJ's, the Hot Tips were already gone.  Sorry about that, but that's the TJ's way.  They tease you and then take away your favorite item.  

However, here are two Hot Wine Tips that you should have time to purchase.  Both are Trader Joe's Reserve Cabernets, but they are quite different in style.

The first is a 2006 Cabernet bottled for TJ's by Stonehedge.  This Cab is not as intense as the Cabernet under their own label.  It's softer and lighter with easy tannins.  It's in a dark bottle with a gold ship on the bottle front.  Cos is $9.99 a bottle.

The second Cab is also a reserve and is bottled by Mozzocco Winery in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County.  This wine is much more intense and heavier in the mouth than the above mentioned.  This is also $9.99 a bottle.  

Hurry to your local TJ's before these Cabs disappear, although I believe that they'll be around for a little while at least.

Tom da Wine Guy

Hot New Wines at Trader Joe's

Lorca 2003 Pinot Noir-$14.99 a bottle.  Lots of intensity and mouth feel.  Not a Pinot for wussies.  A "Tom's Choice" at our Ventura store.

Domaine Alfred 2006 Pinot Noir-Not inexpensive at $22.99 a bottle but well under the retail cost of $38.00 elsewhere.  Again, a very intense Pinot with lots of bite, but with a little breathing, the bite becomes an enticing nibble.  

Canard "Sauvage" Zinfandel-Wow, this is a great Zin at $9.99 a bottle.  Alcohol is high at 15.5% but this wine was not out of balance after slight aeration.  I loved this wine.  It's a Robert Parker style of BIG wine!  Worth every penny.  Also a "Tom's Choice!"

Chariot "Gypsy" red table wine-A blend of Cabernet, Petit Sirah, Zinfandel, and Sangiovese.  An exceptional value at $4.99 a bottle.  This wine flies off the shelves so hurry down to your local TJ to seek this wine out.  It's not as tannic and heavy as the Cab and Petit Sirah, might suggest. The Zinfandel offers soft fruit and and Sangiovese smoothed the finish.  A nice wine at a great price.

Many of these wines are Trader Joe's "Hustle Buys," so they aren't around for long.  I guess the "Hustle" in "Hustle Buys" means that you need to hustle over to TJ's if you want your fair share of the selections.  

Chow, baby,

Tom Da Wine Guy

Some HOT TIPS on recently received wines at Trader Joe's.

(1)  Trader Joe's Reserve Petit Verdot at $9.99 a bottle.  I've never seen a bottle of Petit Verdot for less than $30.  In fact, Ancient Peaks, the bottler for this TJ special, sells it under their own label at $35.00 a bottle. This wine is very heavy and tannic with lots of dark fruit.  I decanted this 1-1/2 hours before dinner and it was still rough around the edges.  Once it softens, it's dynamite!

(2)  Trader Joe's Reserve Syrah at $9.99 a bottle.  A very nice Syrah with medium tannins and lots of dark fruit and black pepper.  A real deal at this price.

(3)  Peter Paul (sounds like a candy bar, doesn't it?) Zinfandel.  At our store, we have both the 2005 and 2006 vintages.  Both are big Zins with lots of alcohol.  The 2005 has 14.6% while the 2006 has 15.7%!!!   The 2006 smells of alcohol when the cork is pulled and I got heat on the first couple of sips, but lo and behold, it quickly mellowed and offered surprising balance.  I decided that I preferred the newer model.  At $9.99 this is a really good wine and value.

Get thee to your nearest TJ's and grab some of these wines.  

Tom da Wine Guy