The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017 is a $12.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. The back label indicates that this Shiraz was bottled by Orbach Family Wines ( established in 2001). Bottled by means just that, they only bottled the wine. But, Orbach sells their wines under the Side Gate label and Side Gate just happens to offer a 2017 Barossa Shiraz with a very similar bottle.
Is there any relationship between the Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017 and the Side Gate Shiraz (list price $18)? I don’t know and Trader Joe’s ain’t telling. The Side Gate line of wines was created to offer high-end wine from top-growing areas for a value price.
What Napa Valley is to Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley is to Shiraz/Syrah. Barossa Valley is located in the South Australia wine region. Most of the vineyards in Australia are situated near the southern coast, but Barossa is slightly more inland than other South Australia regions. The average temperature in the growing season is between the low 80s and the high 50s.
The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017 does not have technical production notes, but we can guess a few things. Since this vintage, 2017, is the current vintage, it was produced in a way that took the wine longer to find its balance.
Typical drink-it-now wines often found in this price range are produced to come together quickly without the need for extended aging. That usually means that the tannins and acidity are manageable and the grape extraction process was lighter than in more age-worthy wines. So it looks like this Shiraz had more extraction, more tannins, and more acidity, all of which needed time to balance. The alcohol content is 14.5%.
The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017 Tasting Notes
The color is black cherry red. The nose is rich and detailed, there is spice, herbs, black cherry, blackberry, licorice, and chocolate powder. The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017 is a full-bodied wine, it is five years old and still could use a year or two more age, though it does sip well.
This Shiraz tastes like extracted blackberry, cool blueberry, a slap of spice, black pepper, and plum. The mid-palate brings jammy raspberry, mocha, tart cranberry, another flavor of interesting spice, and faint vanilla cream.
The tannins are part of the flavor profile, just as they should be, but they do not pull or bite. The acidity allows the flavors to unfold completely.
The Summary
- The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017 is a very satisfying Shiraz.
- It has all the spice and rich flavors that you want from a Shiraz wine.
- Another Trader Joe’s Reserve wine that delivers.
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