The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Brut Rosé is a $14.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. It is produced and bottled by Rack and Riddle, located in Healdsburg, California.
The Story
The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Rosé Brut is made entirely from 100% Pinot Noir. If this wine were not a Rosé, it would be a Blanc de Noir or White from dark grapes.
Pinot Noir grapes in Napa Valley are farmed almost exclusively in the Carneros sub-AVA, which is a few miles north of the San Pablo Bay. Most of Napa is too warm for Pinot Noir vines; Pinot Noir requires cooler temperatures to achieve the long growing season that yields the best grapes.
Rack and Riddle is a custom Sparkling wine house that produces Bubbly for a long list of wine brands. This Sparkling wine is made in the Traditional Method, also known as the Champagne Method, but they have the ability to make the Charmat Method or the Prosecco Method.
Sparkling wine grapes are harvested early, before they become ripe. Since the juice is fermented twice, it is brought up to the desired sugar level. Here it is a Brut Bubbly or Dry, not sweet.
Since Sparkling wine grapes are handled differently, it can be assumed that the grapes here came from a Sparkling wine grape vineyard.
Champagne prices (French) rise if a Cru vineyard is used or if 2nd fermentation is extended, sometimes for years.
Why this Bubbly is in the Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve category is never explained. Rack and Riddle is an excellent producer, but they are best known for value Bubbly. There is no mention of this Sparkling wine receiving an extended 2nd fermentation. I guess that the grapes came from the same vineyard as some pricey Bubbly producers and there are some top-quality Napa Napa makers.
The alcohol content is 12.3%.
The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Brut Rosé Tasting Notes
The color is a pale salmon pink, and bubbles are plentiful. The nose is crisp apple, lemon, brioche, light spice, raspberry hard candy, and soft black cherry. The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Brut Rosé is crisp, balanced, and rather tasty.
The Bubbly tastes like tart cherry, a slap of spice, stone fruit, a hint of cream, and crusty bread. The mid-palate adds red licorice (not sweet) and pink grapefruit.
The acidity is well-controlled; this is an excellent Bubbly.
The Summary
- The Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Napa Valley Brut Rosé is a very good Sparkling wine.
- Taste is subjective, but I think this Sparkling wine came admirably compete with the entry-level French Champagne.
- Give it a try before the Holiday rush.
