The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir 2023 is a $14.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. Not to be mistaken for the Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir, which has been a Trader Joe’s staple for 15 years. We reviewed the 2021 Platinum Caneros Pinot Noir. This is the 9th year for this offering.
The Story
The back label says this Pinot Noir was vinted and bottled by Carneros Cellars. Vinted and bottled essentially indicates they bottle the wine and not much else. I ran into a dead end trying to figure out the producer. It isn’t easy to find definitive information on these store-brand wines, but I can often see the parent company, if not the actual producer.
The Carneros AVA is in Southern Napa, just a few miles above the San Pablo Bay. It is Napa’s coolest growing region and routinely gets morning fog, which helps moderate the heat of the day. This is the sub-AVA where Napa gets its Pinot Noir. It is also known for Chardonnay, but Chardonnay is also grown in other parts of NAPA.
The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir 2023, according to the Fearless Flyer, had an unusually long growing season. Pinot Noir grapes need time to fully ripen and be their best.
This Pinot Noir was oak barrel-aged, with 1/3 of the barrels being new oak. New barrels impart more influence on the wine than used barrels. More expensive wines tend to have more new barrels, which are more expensive, up to $1000 and beyond.
The alcohol content is a stiff 14.5%. A higher alcohol content can lead to a fuller-bodied wine, and Pinot Noir is a delicate wine that excels with a lighter hand.
The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir 2023 Tasting Notes
The color is a just about see-through garnet red. The nose is interesting, cherry, spice, cooking herbs, and mushroom. Followed by tea and cranberry. The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir 2023 is smooth and sleek upfront and rough and ready on the mid-palate, a nice combination.
This Pinot Noir tastes like tart cherry, red hard candies, licorice, Dr. Pepper (not sweet), a slap of spice, and rounded plum. The mid-palate adds cranberry, a little cream, and another type of spice.
The tannis are soft and sweet, and the acidity does its job well.
The Summary
- The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Carneros Pinot Noir 2023 is a excellent Pinot Noir and a bargain.
- I thought the 2021 vintage was the best $15 Pinot Noir of that year, and this wine upholds that tradition!
