The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Eola Springs Vineyards Pinot Noir 2024 is a $14.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. Google has limits on the length of titles, so I had to leave important parts out. This is a single-vineyard wine from the Eola-Amity Hills AVA of Willamette Valley, a short distance SW of Portland.
The Story
This is a wine made for Trader Joe’s by NW Wine Company, who own multiple vineyards and produces several wine brands, including Hyland Estates and Westmount.
The Eola Springs Vineyard is an Estate vineyard; Brooks and Kosta-Browne use grapes farmed here. It is 104 acres and has interesting soil makeup; there is sedimentary soil (used to be at the bottom of an ocean), volcanic soil, and glacial soil. This vineyard has unique growing conditions. This is a top Willamette Valley vineyard.
Virtually all Willamette Valley Pinot Noir wines in this price range are “a Taste of Willamette Valley wine,” meaning the grapes were sourced from multiple AVAs in the Valley. Not a bad thing by any means, and these wines are often smooth-drinking bargains.
Single-Vineyard, single AVA Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley is typically double this $14.99 price.
Wine, spirits, and beer sales are down; total sales are down 1.2 billion in the last year. They still sold over 70 billion in product, but a 1.2 billion drop is concerning.
During these times, wine that would normally be expensive falls into the affordable category. This happened in 2008 during the subprime bust, and it is happening now, though not as drastically.
The alcohol content is 13.9%.
The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Eola Springs Vineyards Pinot Noir 2024 Tasting Notes
The color is a barely see-through garnet red. The nose is black cherry, tar, herbs, exotic spice, red cough drops, and a hint of smoke. The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Eola Springs Vineyards Pinot Noir 2024 is complex and spicy.
This Pinot Noir tastes like black cherry, edgy spice, and a slap of herbs. Followed by soft plum, pencil lead, raspberry, and stone fruit.
The tannins are soft, and the acidity allows the flavors to fully unfold.
The Summary
- The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Eola Springs Vineyards Pinot Noir 2024 is a steal at $14.99.
- This is a well-made and interesting Pinot Noir, with challenging flavors that are worth deciphering.
- Not an easy wine, but a good one.
