The 2010 Sugar Pie Red Wine is a Trader Joe’s $5.99 exclusive, sourced from grapes grown in the North Coast of California, which encompasses 48 wine growing AVA’s, including Napa Valley, Sonoma and Mendocino. The label says this wine was produced by Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch Cellars. Trader Joe’s does not give out much information on the making of the Red Blend, but they do mention Petite Sirah and Syrah as some of the grapes used to make Sugar Pie Red. The alcohol content is 12.5%.
The color is a rich dark black cherry red with a pink halo. The nose is blackberry, coffee bean and mulch, of all things. Ok, it is not sugary sweet, I guess the name refers to the song by the Four Tops and not residual sugar. It tastes of juicy blackberry and blueberry with a light touch of Altoids spice. The mid-palate brings a bit of chocolate covered strawberries. The tannins are soft and the acidity is mild. The finish is subdued and not particularly long.
The Sugar Pie Red Wine is a simple, but pleasing wine. Rich dark fruit, a touch of spice, a bit of chocolate, nothing challenging, but very drinkable. I don’t think the Sugar Pie Red has enough structure and acidity to be a good choice to pair with food, but the price is right and it will drink well on a tuesday night.
