The Copilot Carneros Chardonnay 2023 is available exclusively at Trader Joe’s for $7.99. A little internet sleuthing found that this wine was produced by some component of Fior di Sole, a family-owned and operated wine company headquartered in Napa.
The Story
Trader Joe’s has recently offered bargain wines from Carneros vineyards. Last month, they featured a $9.99 Chardonnay sourced from Duckhorn’s Carneros vineyard. Then I found that Duckhorn is revamping its lineup and putting an end to some of its current brands.
We now have the Copilot Carneros Chardonnay 2023, which TJ’s Fearless Flyer is sourced from a respected Los Carneros vineyard. The Carneros AVA is located in both Sonoma and Napa, and Los Carneros is in the Napa side.
We do not have production details on the Copilot Carneros Chardonnay 2023. Trader Joe’s wines seldom offer insights into the wine. They do mention aging the wine in American oak.
American oak has a wider grain than French oak, which can impart more oak influence into the oak faster than French oak with its tighter grain.
American oak has vanilla and chocolate flavors, which many value-price wine drinkers enjoy, while French oak has subtle spices.
The alcohol content is 14.5%. The Copilot mentioned in the name is a very good dog wearing a WW2 fighter pilots leather helmut.
The Copilot Carneros Chardonnay 2023 Tasting Notes
The color is almost clear with just a hint of yellow. If the color is a judge, this Chardonnay saw oak for only a short time. The nose has pretty, ripe aromas. There is peach, pear, apple, and a hint of honey, coconut, melon, pineapple, and a soft floral edge. The Copilot Carneros Chardonnay 2023 is a fresh, lively Chardonnay with some interesting flavors on the mid-palate.
The Chardonnay tastes like lemon, green apple, Anjou pear, and stonefruit. Followed by peach, nectarine, spice, and guava.
The acidity is well controlled and does its job well.
The Summary
- The Copilot Carneros Chardonnay 2023 is a bargain at $7.99. Single-vineyard Los Carneros Chardonnay never sells at this price, unless it’s from Trader Joe’s or Costco.
- Wine such as this at these low prices ar must buy wines. Even if they turn out to be less than a favorite they are quality wines that deserve your attention.
This currently (9/9/25) reveals itself as a delightful wine, worthy of the Carneros, c. 89/100, with a degree of complexity, ONCE it’s decanted for 5 hours!
Drink it with less airing than that and you would naturally conclude that it’s a grade B- wine; but you would be short-sighted and *wrong*!
Where can I buy Co-pilot wine? White or red. Trader Joe’s told hubby that they were not carrying anymore!?
It was a Trader Joe’s exclusive wine. My Trader Joe’s still carries the wine. It may be a one-time. deal since Carneros wines rarely sell for $7.99