So, Texas finally got ourselves a few Trader Joe’s. Well, Houston and The Woodlands and Dallas and Fort Worth and Plano got them. San Antonio’s store is scheduled to open in a couple weeks, and poor old Austin has to wait until 2014! Such an injustice.
And, as your intrepid reporter, I made may way to the Houston location to pick up a few bottles of wine. For research purposes.
And I have good news and bad news, dear ones. Let’s start with the good news, shall we?
Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw Chardonnay is about the best $3 wine you’ll find. Unless you’re in California, where it’s only $2. Either way, it’s a decent, cheap wine for a decent, cheap price – pale for a Chard, but tastes nice with a little butter and melon. Try it, I think you’ll like it!
And you’ll also find that TJ’s Merlot is a decent red for the money. Straight up fruit, nothing complex, easy to drink. Give it a whirl, too.
But…and you knew there was a but coming. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
You would be wise to steer well clear of the Trader Joe Sauvignon Blanc, which smells delightful but is so acidic, it’s difficult to drink. If you want a good, cheap Sauv Blanc, stick with Target’s Wine Cube. Trust me here.
And, their Cabernet Sauvignon leaves a lot to be desired. It’s like drinking watery cough syrup, I’m sad to say. If you have an HEB nearby, try their Cul de Sac Cab – it’s a better option for $3.
Well, that’s the run-down of the four varieties I purchased. If you’ve tried the White Zin or Shiraz, leave a note for the rest of us Texans!
I’ve only had CS’s Cab Sav and Merlot, but from what I’ve read about Trader Joe’s and Charles Shaw wines in particular, if you get a bad bottle, try it again in a week or so. Apparently the shipments are so large and so frequent that every bottle you get can be a little different than the last. So, if you find one you like, it pays to pick up multiple bottles. It’s only $3, right? Personally, I haven’t gotten a bad bottle yet, but I’m speaking from a relatively small sample size of only 5 or 6 bottles.
Hey Matt!
You know, that’s been my experience, too, from my days in the Pacific Northwest. Sadly, I was hoping the Cab would have been better than I remembered it. Though I’m glad to hear someone else likes it – maybe I got an off batch.
I went ahead and picked up a mixed case of 3 bottles each of the four varieties I mentioned, and I’ll be back for more Chardonnay and Merlot. I think next time, I’ll also try the Pinot Grigio and Shiraz.
Thanks,
Jennifer
I’m happy to report that the Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw Chardonnay was $2.97 in Alameda, California — so us Texans are getting it for the same price. Their bottles look like the ones in the photo. The bottles I picked up in Houston have “Trader Joe’s” above the Charles Shaw. I am curious why they label them differently.
I also had the Old Moon Zinfandel (not a white zin) from TJ’s – I believe it is their brand as well – and it is delicious. Try some if you have a chance! (Or come to my house and I’ll share!)
Hi Christine!
Next time I’m in town, I’ll have to try the Old Moon Zin you mention. Sounds fun. I also tried Josephine’s Rosé, which they sell for about $6. Best Provence-style rosé under $10 I’ve ever tried. I’ll have a review of that one next week.
Life’s too short to drink cheap wine. Proverbs 32:1 (Just kidding) Love your blog…I’ll keep checking in for wine ideas. Yeah, I heard CS is not that great. Probably better to spend a few bucks more a decent wine. Many of them can be had for $7 0r $8. Peace.