The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Pinot Noir 2023 is a $12.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. This is a wine that TJ’s has offered in other vintages. Here is a link to the 2020 vintage. The 2020 was produced for Trader Joe’s by MWK Wine Consultants, the 2023 is from DNA Vineyards.
The Story
DNA Vineyards is Dennis Patton and Andrea Silverstein, who have over 40 years of experience in the wine industry. A quick check of their website shows they have produced some of my favorite Trader Joe’s private labels in the past.
They seem to have estate vineyards in the Russian River Valley AVA, but there is no information available about the vineyards that were used. The DNA Vineyard grapes are certified sustainably farmed, and the Trader Joe’s wine shows no certification.
The Russian River Valley AVA is in western Sonoma County. The valley runs parallel to the ocean and goes all the way to the border with the Mendocino AVA.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is even closer to the Pacific Ocean, and that AVA has vineyards in the rugged coastal Mountain valleys.
The lower portion of the Russian River Valley has a Coll climate that is ideal for growing Pinot and Chardonnay.
The alcohol content is 13.1%, which is low for today’s California Pinot Noir.
The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Pinot Noir 2023 Tasting Notes
The color is a see-through garnet red. The nose is cherry, herbs, dried fall leaves, spice, mushroom, ripe strawberry, with a floral edge. The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Pinot Noir 2023 is silky smooth with roughed-edged spice on the mid-palate, a nice contrast.
This Pinot Noir tastes like tart cherry, plum, a hint of vanilla, and cranberry. The mid-palate offers a nice slap of exotic spice, rounded black cherry, and pomegranate.
The tannins are soft, and the acidity allows this Pinot Noir to have a good length.
The Summary
- The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Russian River Pinot Noir 2023 is a very drinkable, well-priced California Pinot Noir.
- The flavor and texture are reasonably complicated to make this a Pinot worth trying.
