The Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel 2022 is a wine I found at Trader Joe’s, selling for $13.99. A check of the web saw prices between $14 and $20. The Story Cline Family Cellars was founded in the early 1980s and is still expanding while owned and operated by the Cline Family. Cline started as a…
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Send us Fan Mail Josh Reserve Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel 2021 Bourbon barrels are charred. Wine Barrels are toasted. Bourbon barrel flavors can overpower wine, unless handled properly. The bourbon flavors here are handled in textbook fashion! Barrel flavors are not everything in wine. But they do add texture and flavor. These wines are fun to…
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The Josh Reserve Bourbon Barrel Zinfandel 2021 is a wine that lists for $21.99, but I found it on sale for $9.99. The Story The Josh reserve wines are the top-tier wines and are part of the bourbon barrel-aged series. Joseph Carr created the Josh brand in 2006 in honor of his father. I have…
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Send us Fan Mail Loveblock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 You have heard of Kim Crawford. He sold his brand in 2003, but it is still going strong. In 2006, Kim and Erica Crawford started Loveblock Winery. I think it was originally a sheep farm. Today, the vineyards are certified organic, sustainable, and vegan-friendly. And the…
Read MoreSend us Fan Mail Côté Mas Sauvignon Blanc Vermentino 2024 This is a one-liter bottle, not the usual .750 of a liter, so you get a little extra. I usually don’t want the extra in liter bottles, but I’m happy to accept it here. Vermentino is an Italian wine that is not unlike Sauvignon Blanc….
Read MoreSend us Fan Mail Ruta 49 Albarino 2024 This is a wine from a family-owned winery in Northwest Spain, the traditional home of the Albariño grape. This wine sells for $9.99 at Trader Joe’s but is often twice as much in palces trader Joe’s does not serve. Albarino is one of the great White wines…
Read MoreSend us Fan Mail Honey Moon Viognier 2024 Viognier is a Northern Rhone Valley (France) blending grape. It has a very fragrant scent and excellent natural acidity. It can help both Red and White wines that need a little boost. But when you put a chill on it, it makes a seriously good summer wine….
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The Honey Moon Viognier 2024 is a $5.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive; it has kept the $5.99 price since at least the 2019 vintage. The Story The Honey Moon Viognier 2024 is produced for Trader Joe’s by some faction of Delicato Family Wines, which also makes Gnarly Head and recently purchased Coppola Wines. They make the…
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Send us Fan Mail Kirkland Signature Russian River Pinot Noir 2024 There have been several vintages of this wine offered by Costco, and they have differed from year to year. A top winemaker made this wine, and the grapes are of good quality. I think this is more of a food wine than a sipping…
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The Kirkland Signature Russian River Pinot Noir 2024, a $10.99 Costco exclusive. It is one dollar less expensive than past vintages. The Story This is more of an update than a new review. Here is a link to the CWF description of the 2023 vintage. The Kirkland Signature series of wines is similar to Trader…
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Send us Fan Mail Dry Creek Vineyards Sonoma Fume Blanc 2023 Fume Blanc goes back to the 60s and early 70s when folks didn’t want sweet Sauvignon Blanc. Robert Mondavi did a name change, and the rest is history. Please check out the podcast to understand why it is called Fume Blanc and why “meaning…
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The Dry Creek Vineyards Sonoma Fume Blanc 2023 is a wine I found selling for $12. Dry Creek Vineyards has been family-owned and operated since the early 1970’s. The Story The first thing I need to explain is what Fume Blanc is. The Sauvignon Blanc grape originated in France, and there are two types of…
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Send us Fan Mail Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Organic Red 2024 I am always amazed at how cheap wine can be in 2026. CWF started in 2008, and 6 Buck wines were a horror show. Today, going cheap is painless. Value-priced wine drinkers rejoice! Check us out at http://www.cheapwinefinder.com or email us at [email protected] SPEAKER_00…
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The Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Organic Red 2024 is a $5.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. It is produced for Trader Joe’s by ASV Wines. The Story ASV Wines seems to be the current supplier of Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve line of organic wine. They are a producer located in the Monterey AVA and make wine with…
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Send us Fan Mail 19 Crimes Cali Red-Snoop & Tupac This wine is Snoop Dogg’s tribute to Tupac. It is an easy-drinking California Red blend. On March 10th, 19 Crimes will release Snoop’s tribute to Tupac. This review was released on March 9th. The wine is a smooth, tasty California Red Blend. But fans will…
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The 19 Crimes Cali Red-Snoop & Tupac, full name 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted, is a wine I found for $11.99. The bottle has a scan code (available March 10) for Snoops’s interactive tribute to Tupac. The Story The 19 Crimes Cali Red-Snoop & Tupac is a limited edition wine. The official release is March…
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The Bread & Butter Chardonnay 2024 is a wine I found on sale at a local wine store for $7, but is more likely to be found selling between $12 and $15. The Story Bread & Butter Chardonnay is a brand from WX Brands whose wines include Chronic Cellars and Trapiche (Argentina). Bread & Butter…
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The Big Churn Chardonnay 2024 is a Trader Joe’s exclusive, available for $6.99. It is produced for Trader Joe’s by Fior di Sole, a Napa-based wine company. The Story Fior di Sole has been producing the Big Churn Chardonnay since at least the 2015 vintage, and it has kept the $6.99 price tag the whole…
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The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Paso Robles Meritage 2023 is a $12.99 TJ’s exclusive. This wine was produced for Trader Joe’s by Bozzano & Company. The Story Bozzano & Co has produced multiple wines for Trader Joe’s and is a large maker of custom wines. Trader Joe’s also released the Trader Joe’s Reserve (no grand)…
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Send us Fan Mail Josh Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 This is a special edition wine; the current Josh Cabernet Sauvignon is a California wine. Lodi is a unique AVA in California, not a coastal or a mountain AVA bur a Mediterranean AVA that has more in common with Italy than California. Well, if Italy got…
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The Josh Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is $10.89 at Costco. The .89 price indicates this is a special discount wine from the manufacturer, and this wine once typically sold for between $15 and $20. The Story The Josh line of wines is part of Joseph Carr Wines (started in 2007) as a tribute to his…
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Send us Fan Mail Napa Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 This is a Trader Joe's wine from a long-time supplier, DNA Cellars. That stands for Dennis and Andrea, who have been in the California wine industry for decades. The California wine industry has taken a downturn, and there is an excess of quality wine available. DNA…
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The Rural Mendocino Pinot Noir 2023 is a wine available at Costco for $13.99. It is an excellent price, as most internet retailers charge between $29 and $25. The Story Rural Mendocino Pinot Noir is a label from Masüt Vineyard and Winery, which is operated by the Fetzer Brothers in the Eagle Pass AVA near…
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The Flora and Stone Cabernet Sauvignon is a $6.99 Aldi wine. It is a non-vintage wine made by some division of Fetzer Wines, Mendocino California. The Story Fetzer makes affordable wines and is a certified B Corporation. Here is a quote from the Fetzer website, As a Certified B Corp, we are committed to caring…
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The Aldi Scarlet Path Old Vine Lodi Zinfandel 2023 sells for $6.79, which is the cheapest it has been, and we have reviewed every vintage since 2020. It is produced for Aldi by a large sustainably farmed family-owned winery from Monterey, California. The Story There is no legal definition of “Old Vines.” It is generally…
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