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The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2022 Lot 124 is a $12.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. Unlike most Trader Joe’s Reserve wines, we know who produced this Pinot Noir. The back label says this wine was: Produced and Bottled” by DW Hinman Cellars.
Doyle Hinman planted his first grapes in 1972 and by 1982 had one of the largest wineries in Oregon. He sold Hinman Vineyards in 1992. Since 2005, DW Hinman Cellars has been a successful private-label producer and a Negociant. He has 51 years of experience in Oregon wine and was awarded the Oregon Wine Industry Founders Award.
While we have information on who made the wine we do not have any details on the production of the Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2022 Lot 124. Doyle Hunman has contacts with over 1,000 wineries in the Northwest so that the grapes could have been sourced from multiple locations.
Produced and Bottled indicates that the named winery made at least 75% of this Pinot Noir. Meaning that 25% of the Pinot Noir could have been made by someone else.
There are some excellent hints concerning this Pinot Noir. The producer has over 50 years of experience in the region and excellent contacts, there is no reason not to have very good grapes in this wine. And the producer put their name(at least on the back label) on this wine, most Trader Joe’s Reserve wines are mystery wines. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2022 Lot 124 Tasting Notes
The color is a see-through garnet red. The nose is earthy, with cherry, herbs, tea, soft spice, mushroom, and lightly floral. The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2022 Lot 124 is sleek, dry, and tasty.
This Pinot Noir tastes like cherry, a little vanilla, a hint of ripe plum, a little sharp spice, and herbs. The mid-palate adds pomegranate, a hint of tea, orange zest, and blueberry.
The acidity gives this Pinot Noir excellent length.
The Summary
- The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2022 Lot 124 is a solid example of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir wine.
- It sells for $12.99 and is a legit Willamette Pinot Noir.
- Light to medium-bodied with excellent flavor and good structure, this wine is a bargain.
