Trader Joe's Wine Bargain

I've never viewed Trader Joe's as a destination for wine. I fell prey to curiosity about the Charles Shaw wine they got so much publicity about, and thought it was swill--not even good for cooking. I also purchased a Barolo a while back that tasted more like mediocre Chianti. So, it was with some trepidation that I bought a 1998 Argento Amarone this weekend. Still, for $11, I figured I had nothing to lose.

Wow! I'm glad I got it. An absolutely fantastic bottle for the price. Thick, chewy fruit, with a stiff backbone that opens up as you drink it. Definitely a wine to serve alongside a hearty meal--I had it with Bari's medium-hot Italian sausage (not the Barese sausage--the regular), rapini and beans, along with a loaf of Trader Joe's sourdough. A perfect combination--the bitterness of the rapini, the mild taste and soft texture of the beans, and the pork flavour of the sausage really brought out the best in this bottle. And for $11. A good Amarone for $11!

I buy a few Amarones a year, generally saving them for special occasions. The Trader Joe's bottle is not, of course, the equal of the ones priced at $50 and up, but its not far off. However, in my very humble opinion, it is head and shoulders above the ones I've had in the $30 to $50 range. I think I'll be exploring Trader Joe's other wine offerings in the future.

Edited: It was a 1998 Amarone--Not a 1999.

Thanks, John! I agree that TJ's sells a lot of crap, and I'm not entirely convinced about the consistency even from one bottle to another.

But I also find it impossible to believe that there aren't some pretty good bargains to be had. I don't mind searching for the bargains at $5-6, because the downside is so small. At $10-15, I know I can get a pretty nice wine from somewhere else, so I'm unlikely to take the risk at Trader Joe's. But I really think that spreading out the risk in a forum like this has a lot of potential. In fact, I'll link this post back to another topic devoted to finding bargain wines. And I look forward to the Argento Amarone.

Cheers,

Aaron

I love the $3 Chuck... enough to write it up and take a pic of the cork.
The Nouveau is realllllllllly weak but I have a 2nd bottle and I'm willing to risk it. Maybe tonight even!

full $3 Bill Chaz Re-View:
http://www.chicagofoodies.com/2005/03/got_3.htm

for a few months back there TJs was selling a 2000 chateuneuf du pape for $16 or so. A really very good wine. They've since replaced it with 2001s, which are decent.

-ed

I caught a case of Jean Veselle Reserve Champagne at Sam's for $12 a bottle...

-they have the "eye of the pheasnant" ?! Rose for $13 a bottle... gotta give it the Bernard Massard $13 challenge...