Show Notes

Episode 132: Are Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Wines Good?  00:00

Hello! And welcome to The Wine Pair Podcast. I’m Joe, your sommelier of reasonably priced wine, and this is my wife and my wine pairing partner in crime, Carmela. And we are The Wine Pair! 

If you are new to our podcast, here is a quick orientation! Each week, we explore a different wine varietal or blend or brand —like Pinot Noir or Bordeaux or Trader Joe’s — and dive into what makes it unique, special,and worth learning about. Our goal is to help you expand your wine knowledge in a fun way that normal people can understand. We also taste and review 2-3 wines under $20 each, and share our scores and recommendations to help you find great wines without breaking the bank. So, thank you so much for joining us! And, we are proud to say that Decanter Magazine calls us fun, irreverent, chatty, and entertaining. 

Carmela, it’s been a bit, so it’s time to do another review of Trader Joe’s wines to see if we think they are any good and worth buying. The last time we did this, we tasted and reviewed three of their Platinum Reserve wines, which is their second highest tier, and for that tasting and review, we chose the Saint-Emilion, the Carneros Pinot Noir, and the Sonoma County Sparkling Brut. And we liked two of them a lot, and one we were meh on. And believe it or not, the one we were meh on was the Pinot Noir - which is usually my favorite wine. I think I am just a very harsh critic when it comes to Pinot Noir.

This time around we are going to taste the next tier down which is the Grand Reserve, which are generally in the $12.99 range,  and we are really going out on a limb because I went out of my way to choose wines that I think the average wine drinker would choose, and not wines that I or we would normally gravitate to - so I picked out their Meritage - which is a fancy term for a Bordeaux style blend - a GSM - which stands for Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, and a Chardonnay. I know. Chardonnay. 

So, it turns out that we have a listener who wants us to do some reviews of oaky Chardonnay, and even though it may be my least favorite wine in the world, we are going to review the Trader Joe’s 2022 Grand Reserve Chardonnay, and then next week we are going to do a whole episode on oaky Chardonnay to see if we have been too judgy about them. So a big shout out to Dean for the suggestion, and for everyone else, hold onto your butts. 

Back to the topic of the day, though - I know a lot of people love to shop at Trader Joe’s, and I see a lot of people hanging out in the wine section, which is not huge, but is full of well priced wines that I know a lot of people buy. And Trader Joe’s has a pretty good mix of their own wines and wines that are available in other places, and I will also say again something I have said in the past which is that their wine section offers a lot of different wine types and styles from a lot of different regions around the world. So I appreciate that, and it can be a relatively inexpensive way to get exposed to different wines that you may not usually try.

And for people like us, who really want to find good wines in that $20 or under range, the house brand wines at Costco and Trader Joe’s are really intriguing because the expectation is that they are about half to a third of the price of wines of similar quality - what we would call high QPR wines (quality to price ratio) - something that is sort of our holy grail. And, again, at $12.99, the Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve wines are kind of perfectly priced. 

Now, on that note, I will not spend a lot of time on it today, but I have also discussed in the past my reservations about Trader Joe’s - and my POV is that there is a price to pay for cheap. In other words, if things are inexpensive, there is always a reason why - but you can go to our previous Trader Joe’s episode if you want to hear that diatribe.

Today, though, today we are focusing on their Grand Reserve wines, and, as I mentioned, we have three Grand Reserve wines to taste and review that I think are really tests for us and valuable for our listeners because they are wines I expect people to be interested in buying or at least learning about, and at the end of the episode, we’ll give a quick overview of our trip to Spain which Christine and Jennifer reached out to us about - and we have a great review of a tour of a Cava house that we took . . . 

But first . . . we have to do our shameless plug.

Thank you for listening to us and for supporting our show, and if you haven’t  had the chance to do so yet, now would be the perfect time to subscribe to our podcast  - it is a free way to support us - and a huge thank you to all of you who have subscribed already! 

And, another great way to support is to leave a nice rating and review on our website or on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or other podcast service so we can continue to grow our listeners.

You can also follow us and see pictures of the wines we are tasting and trying today and weird AI pictures I like to make on Instagram at thewinepairpodcast, and you can contact us on our website thewinepairpodcast.com, and you can sign up for our email newsletter there and get news and food and wine pairing ideas and more! And you just missed our August send, so, like listener Dean you can email me and I will send it to you if you are not on the email list. 

And we want to make content you care about and you like, so send us a note and tell us what you like and don’t like, if there are wines you want us to try or wine making areas of the world you are curious about - and we’ll take care of it! And a shout out to listener Adrienne who wants us to look into Portuguese wines, which is a great idea. Love all of the shout outs we have been making today - keep your ideas coming!

And, as we do every week, we’ll tell you someone we think you should recommend The Wine Pair Podcast to so we can keep growing listeners. This week, we want you to recommend us to anyone you see carrying around a Trader Joe’s shopping bag because they’ll probably want to learn the knowledge we are dropping today!

ARTICLES and LINKS

• https://www.reddit.com/r/wine/comments/bct4ii/trader_joes_reserve_wines/

Topic: WTF is a Meritage, and WTF is GSM? 09:43

Before we talk about the specific wines we selected today, I did want to spend a little bit of time focusing on the names of a couple of these wines because they may not be familiar to everyone, but I will note that the vast majority of red wine blends that you see on store shelves are based on one of these two blends, and we covered that in Minisode #7, which is called A Quick Primer on Red Blends

First, let’s talk about what Meritage is, and where the name came from. And, today I learned that the word is pronounced like heritage, which I find annoying. 

The name Meritage is a portmanteau word, meaning a word that is a combination of two or more other words, like brunch or spork or podcast, and the words that make up Meritage are “merit’ and “heritage.” 

Meritage wines are wines that are made from Bordeaux grape varieties, and so, as would follow, are made into Bordeaux style blends, and are supposed to be similar in taste and quality - at least that’s the goal. The difference is that they are not made in Bordeaux, or from grapes actually from Bordeaux itself, but instead from regions in the “New World.”

We did an episode on Bordeaux Bargain wines a bit ago, and we definitely need to do another, and in that episode we went into some depth on what Bordeaux blends are, but the quick version is that most of the time, Bordeaux red wines are made from what are called the five Noble grapes, which are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Like wine blends in Bordeaux, knowing the exact blend can be tricky, and is usually based on the region of Bordeaux the wine is from and the specific winemaker.

In the same way, Meritage’s only rules on blending are that the wines need to be made of at least two of the Noble Grapes. And, by the way, Minisode #12 is all about the Noble Grapes. In case you were wondering. 

According to the Meritage Alliance website which you can find a link to in our show notes, Meritage first appeared in the late 1980s after a group of American vintners joined forces to create a name for New World wines blended in the tradition of Bordeaux. 

So, the idea is that if you want something approaching Bordeaux quality and in alignment with the Bordeaux style of wine, you should look for a Meritage. And, BTW, the name Claret, if you ever see that, means basically the same thing as Meritage.

Another of our wines is a GSM, and that is a blend we have talked about before as well, and a little more than a year ago we did an episode called GSM Wines Demystified.  The quick and dirty story here is that the classic home of the GSM blend is in the Côtes du Rhône region of France. In the Côtes du Rhône they can actually use up to 19 different varieties of grapes in their blends, but the most classic combination is Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre - hence the abbreviation of GSM.

If you see a wine labeled GSM, you know that it is predominantly made of those three varietals, but you may not see that particular abbreviation on wines from Côtes du Rhône. So, you just gotta know that is what you generally get in Rhône style blends.

Again, both of these are classic red wine blends, and I would say that neither of these are our favorite red wine blends, but they are the blends that you need to know as you learn more and more about wine.

So,  on that note, I think it’s time to learn a little more about the specific wines we are drinking today. Whaddya say?

ARTICLES and LINKS

• https://www.meritagealliance.com/what-is-meritage/#:~:text=Meritage%20combines%20%22merit%2C%22%20reflecting,wine%20must%20meet%20certain%20criteria. 
• https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portmanteau 

 
Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Wines We Chose for This Episode 15:21

As usual, all of the wines we have chosen for this episode are under $20, and all of them should be relatively easy to find because I bought them all at Trader Joe’s. And because they are all Grand Reserve wines, at the local Trader Joe’s I went to here in Seattle, they were all $12.99 as I have said several times.

I will also say that finding a Meritage or Bordeaux style blend, a GSM or Rhône style blend or an oaky Chardonnay should not be difficult. Finding good ones at $12.99 might be, and we are going to find out if these are good ones or not. 

The first wine we are going to be tasting and reviewing today is the 2022 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Chardonnay. This wine comes from Sonoma County California, and in case you were wondering, Trader Joe’s does put Lot numbers on their wines, this is Lot #128.

The Russian River area is known for making Burgundy-style wines - meaning Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The website Vinopointer noted in their tasting that this is a not an overly buttery or oaky Chardonnay, so I am looking forward to that. We tend to really like unoaked Chardonnays, which in France are also from Chablis, so we’ll see how this stacks up. I also pulled this wine out of the fridge about 20 minutes before drinking, which is what we would suggest for white wines, particularly oaked white wines, because when they are too cold, they taste super oaky.

It can be hard to find out a lot about some of these wines, but the website CheapWineFinder did a really nice job of sleuthing. They say: The back label says this wine was “vinted and bottled by”Aril WInes of Oakville, Napa. They are a small boutique high-end winery with winemakers from Turley and Silver Oak. So, if Turley is involved, we may really like it. 

The next wine we are going to try is the 2022 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve GSM which is from Santa Barbara County in California, and this is Lot #132. I like that TJs shows the blend, which is 42% Grenache, 39% Syrah, 19% Mourvedre. However, I really had a hard time finding out anything else about this wine other than a couple of tasting notes from a few websites and the fact that it is produced by 1542 Ace wine which looks to be a winemaker that has made some well reviewed wines on Wine Enthusiast but I can’t find their website, so let’s move on!

The last wine we are tasting and reviewing is the 2021 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Meritage which comes from Paso Robles, California. This one is labeled with Lot #129, and the blend is pretty interesting with 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, A very Bordeaux style blend with all those grapes in there. 

Again, not a lot else I can tell you about the wine other than the label says it was produced and bottled by Bozzano & Co which are described as a wine business that specializes in sourcing and sales of bulk wine and wine grapes, as well as wine product development for national and regional retailers. Doesn’t feel super awesome to me, bulk wine and all, but, what the hey, we are going to keep an open mind. 

So, I think that is enough information - let’s get to drinking! We’ll take a quick break and be right back. And, if you have these wines or similar wines, drink along with us!

ARTICLES and LINKS

• https://vinopointer.com/2022-trader-joes-grand-reserve-chardonnay-lot-128-russian-river-valley/
• https://cheapwinefinder.com/trader-joes-grand-reserve-russian-river-chardonnay/03/2024/ 
• https://pasowine.com/member/bozzano-co/
• https://sippedreviews.com/trader-joes-wines/

Trader Joe’s 2022 Grand Reserve Russian River Chardonnay, Trader Joe’s 2022 Grand Reserve GSM, Trader Joe’s 2021 Grand Reserve Meritage Wine Tasting, Pairing, and Review 21:03

Wine: Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Chardonnay
Region: California, Sonoma County
Year: 2022
Price: $12.99
Retailer: Trader Joe’s
Alcohol: 14.10%
Grapes: Chardonnay
Professional Rating: 

What we tasted and smelled in this Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Chardonnay:

• On the nose: Rich smell, butterscotch, apple, orchard fruit, apple turnover, cream, vanilla, kettle corn, salinity, spice
• In the mouth: Rich taste, butterscotch sundae, butter rum LifeSaver, creamy, not terribly acidic, not terribly oaky, bigger mouthfeel, buttery, good balance

Food to pair with this Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Chardonnay: Lobster tail with butter sauce, shrimp or scallops in butter, pasta with cream sauces, pesto pasta, creamy chicken dishes, French-style dishes, Fall wine
 
As a reminder on our rating scale, we rate on a scale of 1-10, where 7 and above means that we would buy it, and 4 and below means that we are likely to pour it down the sink, and a 5 or 6 means we are likely to drink it and finish it, but we are probably not going to buy it. 

Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Chardonnay Wine Rating: 

• Joe: 7/10
• Carmela: 7/10

Wine: Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve GSM
Region: California, Santa Barbara County
Year: 2022
Price: $12.99
Retailer: Trader Joe’s
Alcohol: 14.9%
Grapes: 42% Grenache, 39% Syrah, 19% Mourvedre
Professional Rating: Sipped Reviews: 90

What we tasted and smelled in this Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve GSM:

• On the nose: Spice, pepper, blackberry jam, smoke, cinnamon, dark plum, currant, rich smell
• In the mouth: Very jammy, church wine, fruit salad, grapey, Sangria, fruit juice, pepper, incense, berry pie, burning a hole in my stomach

Food to pair with this Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve GSM: Something greasy, cheeseburger, beef and bean burrito, salty

Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve GSM Wine Rating: 

• Joe: 4/10
• Carmela: 4/10

Wine: Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Meritage
Region: California, Paso Robles
Year: 2021
Price: $12.99
Retailer: Trader Joe’s
Alcohol: 14.3%
Grapes: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot
Professional Rating: Sipped Reviews 92

What we tasted and smelled in this Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Meritage:

• On the nose: Hot, rose perfume, potpourri bathroom spray, black cherry, plum, iHop fruit pancake syrup, wood, incense, gunsmoke, spicy, chocolate, mocha
• In the mouth: Earl Grey tea tannins on the end, not very full bodied, seems young - let it sit for 4 more years, good fruit on front, gunsmoke, overpowered on the backend right now

Food to pair with this Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Meritage: Pork tenderloin, medium rare steak,  Korean Kalbi beef ribs, charred meats and grilled foods, Carne Asada, pasta, pizza, pretty versatile wine, pasta puttanesca, charcuterie meats and cheese, would do much better with food


Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Meritage Wine Rating: 

• Joe: 7/10
• Carmela: 7/10

Which one of these are you finishing tonight?

• Carmela: Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Chardonnay
• Joe: Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Chardonnay

Taste profiles expected from Chardonnay, GSM, and Meritage   39:06

• Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Chardonnay
  • General: Lemon, yellow apple, butter, vanilla, pineapple
  • Winelabel: Notes of lemon and brioche open up to a rich, yet vibrant palate with hints of vanilla and spice on the finish
  • Vinopointer: Nice middle weight Chardonnay.  More green apple and pear vs. drawn butter, but there is some butter there.  More citrus notes than heavy oak, but there is some oak there too. Notes of lemon and brioche with hints of vanilla and spice on the finish.
  • Cheapwinefinder: . The nose is lemon, apple, dried pineapple, honey, vanilla, and a light floral edge. The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Chardonnay is a subtle, yet tasty Chardonnay. This a darker style than the usual value-priced Chardonnay.
• Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve GSM
  • General: Raspberry, blackberry, rosemary, baking spices, lavender. May get cured meat, pepper, red cherry, herbs, black plum.
  • Sipped Reviews: The nose has strawberry, raspberry, cocoa, leather, licorice, baking spices, spicy peppery earth.
  • Vinopointer: Nice clear red plum color in the glass with aromas of licorice, red raspberry and blackberry.  In the mouth, more of the same with some added notes of vanilla and strawberry.  Long, smooth finish that unfolds revealing more bright red fruit flavors. Very little oak influence allows the fruit to shine through.
•  Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Meritage
  • General: black currants, black cherry and plums and flavors present rich, mature black fruit flavors - ripened blackberries and ripe plums.
  • Wine Label: Notes of black currant, raspberry, and toasted oak layered with hints of spice, dark chocolate, before finishing with silky, fine-grained tannins.
  • Sipped Reviews: The nose is Med+ pronounced with cinnamon, licorice, baking spice, cocoa, blackberry, black cherry, cassis and kirsch.  There is a soft oak texture as well. It has good body, silky tannins, medium acid, concentrated flavor with lovely, sweet kirsch
  • Vinopointer: The nose shows cinnamon, licorice, baking spice, dark chocolate, blackberry and black cherry.  The Cab Franc and Petit Verdot provide some nice floral notes.  It has good body, firm polished tannins, medium acid and concentrated flavor of red cherries. The Merlot provides silkiness on the palate.  The Cab Sauv adds classic cassis and licorice to the finish.

Listener Q&A: A Review of our trip to Spain 42:23

Christine reached out and asked if we had reviewed our trip, and we got a note from Jennifer who is going to the Barcelona area in October and looking for some thoughts on Priorat and Sant Sadurni de Anoia and she asked if we reviewed our trip, so we better review our damn trip!

• Barcelona. Awesome. No squirt guns. In an awesome area of town. Had our oldest sone and his girlfriend with us. 
  • Location between Las Ramblas and Passeig de Gracia
  • Cooking class
  • Gaudi! 
  • La Sagrada Familia
  • Casa Mila
  • Casa Batllo
  • Park Guel
  • Jamon - too much ham
• Wine
  • Basically all we drank was Cava. Very little Priorat I was mentioning to Jennifer which was a real disappointment
  • Cheap! We had a bottle of excellent Cava at a restaurant one night for like $18
  • Sant Sadurni de Anoia - getting there was an adventure. Pronounce it right, not a lot to see in the town other than wineries. We also went on a Sunday.  
  • Recaredo was a tremendous tour. Great wine, excellent people - Enric our tour guide, met Jordi from the family. Amazing. Super accommodating. 

Loved it. Great trip. Super fun. Makes we want to go all over Spain. 

ARTICLES AND LINKS

• https://www.recaredo.com/en/

Outro and how to find The Wine Pair Podcast 49:43

Ok, so, Carmela, it’s time for us to go, but before we do, we want to thank you very much for listening to us - and if you haven’t done so yet, now would be the perfect time to subscribe to our podcast and also a fantastic time to leave us a nice rating and review on our website or Apple podcasts or other podcast service - and it is an awesome and free way to support us and help us grow listeners.

We would also love to hear from you about a wine you would like us to taste and review. You can leave a message for us on our website thewinepairpodcast.com and you can join our email newsletter there - and if you missed our latest newsletter, email me and I will send it to you. You can do that by reaching out at joe@thewinepairpodcast.com. And tell us some things you want to hear us do, or not hear us do!

Alright, with that, we are going to sign off, so thanks again, and we will see you next time. And, as we say, life is short, so stop drinking shitty wine.

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