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The Dearly Beloved I Thee Red Lodi 2021 sells for $7.99 at Trader Joe’s stores and seems to sell for as high as $14 in places that TJ’s does not cover. This is a wine that returns to Trader Joe’s vintage after vintage. We typically review the latest version of this Red Blend at this time of year because of the silkscreened Day of the Dead label.
The label is red ink and is an image of a skull made from flowers and leaves and the title has a sub-title, “Back to the very earth”, which makes this wine a Cinco de Mayo and a Halloween party wine. We reviewed the 2020 vintage and the blend for the 2021 vintage has changed.
The 2020 vintage was a mix of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Sirah, while the Dearly Beloved I Thee Red Lodi 2021 has a blend of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Tennant, and Tempranillo, a markedly different blend. The 2020 vintage was sourced from vineyards in the Central Coast AVA, the 2021 version is sourced from Lodi which is in the Central Valley.
In checking the CWF archives it seems the Dearly Beloved I Thee red blend stayed steady from the 2011 vintage to the 2020 vintage, so the 2021 vintage is a major departure. The fearless Fllyer mentions oak spice and spicy vanilla bean which come from some sort of oak aging.
The Dearly Beloved I Thee Red Lodi 2021 was a quality Red blend in the past so it will be interesting to see what the changes will bring. The Day of the Dead label stays the same and that is a good thing. The alcohol content is 14.2%.
The Dearly Beloved I Thee Red Lodi 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is strawberry jam red with some serious black highlights. The nose is big and bold, there are dark berries, spice, vanilla, cold coffee, cranberry, and a light floral edge. The Dearly Beloved I Thee Red Lodi 2021 starts sleek and smooth and then the spices grab you.
This Red Blend tastes like blackberry, blueberry, raisin, black pepper, a slap of spice, and plum. The mid-palate adds orange zest, a little bit of toasted vanilla, pomegranate, and exotic spice. The tannins are in the mix and provide structure but do not bite, the acidity allows the flavors to unfold and give this red Blend a decent length.
The Summary
- The Dearly Beloved I Thee Red Lodi 2021 is a tasty Red if you like your Blends bold and spicy.
- This is one of those wines where each sip gets better and better.
- The New Dearly Beloved I Thee Red Lodi 2021 is still a trader Joe’s bargain.
