The Liberté Paso Robles Pinot Noir 2023 is a $9.99 Trader Joe’s wine, though it seems to be available for around $16 in places Trader Joe’s does not service.
The Story
Liberté Wines have been sold at Trader Joe’s, by my reckoning, since 2011. They offer a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Pinot Noir, both sourced from the Paso Robles AVA.
They had a distinctive 1890s Art Deco (?) portrait of a woman, and the current Pinot Noir label shows wildflowers. It is an equally pleasing label.
The back label shows vinted and bottled by Familia Nueva Vineyards, which is now a part of Ancient Peaks Winery, a family-owned and operated winery also in Paso Robles.
Liberté Wines has its own website, and while it isn’t jam-packed with information, it does say the vineyards are located 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean in San Luis Obispo County.
I believe there are 16 sub-AVAs in the County, which would make this Pinot Noir a blend of more than one of those AVAs.
The back label mentions oak spice as a flavor; this Pinot Noir had some sort of oak conditioning.
The alcohol content is 13.5%
The Liberté Paso Robles Pinot Noir 2023 Tasting Notes
The color is a little dark for a Pinot Noir; it’s a garnet red with black highlights. The nose is cherries and spice, with some herbs and crushed fall leaves. The Liberté Paso Robles Pinot Noir 2023 is smooth upfront, then spicy and fruity on the mid-palate.
This Pinot Noir tastes like black cherry, a little vanilla, spice, cranberry, pencil lead, and plum.
The tannins are sweet, and the acidity is well-controlled.
