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The Trader Joe’s Reserve Arroyo Seco Chardonnay 2023 is a $9.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive. Arroyo Seco AVA is located inside the Monterey AVA, which is inside the Central Coast AVA.
The Story
As a Trader Reserve wine, there aren’t production notes available, but there are a few paragraphs in the current Fearless Flyer. They mention that the producer used 50% French oak barrels and 50% American oak barrels to age this Chardonnay. French and American oak are two separate species of oak. The American oak has a much wider grain and when the barrels are toasted these two oaks impart different flavors into the wine. The French is subtle and spicy, while the American gives a variety of chocolate flavors along with vanilla.
The front label of the Trader Joe’s Reserve Arroyo Seco Chardonnay 2023 shows some tasting notes, “Bright notes go citrus and green apple balanced with pear hints of vanilla and a toasty finish.” I guess they gave us more information than I thought. The citrus and green apple, along with pear and vanilla, suggest that a portion of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation and the remaining portion didn’t. Malolactic fermentation changes the tart acid (citrus and green apple) to a more rounded, softer acid (pear and vanilla).
The Arroyo Seco AVA is located about 40 miles from the Pacific Ocean in the Salinas Valley. The coldest spot in the entire Pacific Ocean is located off the coast and those cool/cold wines sweep down the Salinas Valley.
The AVA is named after the Arroyo Seco River, a seasonal waterway that is dry for part of the year. This AVA was designated in 1983, which makes it one of the older AVAs and it also one of the smaller AVAs. There is a long, cool growing season that allows the grapes to slowly become ripe.
The back label says The Trader Joe’s Arroyo Seco was “vinted and bottled by” Vinoenology LLC, which seems to be a one-stop website for all this wine. You can buy grapes and winemaking equipment and see employment opportunities. Vinted and bottles indicate that the name listed did not make the wine by maybe a little aging and then bottling.
The Trader Joe’s Reserve Arroyo Seco Chardonnay 2023 has an alcohol content if 14.3%.
The Trader Joe’s Reserve Arroyo Seco Chardonnay 2023 Tasting Notes
The color is a sunshine yellow. The nose is lemon curd, vanilla, apple, a little butter, peach, and pear, along with spice and a nice floral edge. The Trader Joe’s Reserve Arroyo Seco Chardonnay 2023 is a darker-tasting Chardonnay, not bright and juicy. There is more weight on the palate and the flavors are pleasing.
This Chardonnay tastes like a mix of lemon and ripe apple, Anjou pear, juicy peach, rich vanilla, soft spice, a hint of butterscotch (not sweet), and stone fruit.
The acidity is in the pocket; it lets the flavor unfold without intruding.
The Summary
- The Trader Joe’s Reserve Arroyo Seco Chardonnay 2023 is a lot of wine selling for $9.99.
- This is a well-made wine that is very tasty.
- As a bonus, you get to learn a little about what the Arroyo Seco AVA has to offer.
