Posts Tagged ‘Charles Shaw’
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: California – USA
Cost: $3
Light, crisp, and with an ever so slight citrus flavor, this light white wine will pair with appetizers, seafood, pork, or chicken.
Recommendations: This may sound weird, but while I know this was a Sauvignon Blanc, it tasted more like a Pinot Grigio to me. Granted a half-way decent Pinot Grigio (especially for the price), but it lacked the citrus and acidity that I usually associate with Sauvignon Blanc.
Much like the Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s hard to argue against this wine for the price if you’re already in Trader Joe’s, but it’s also not hard to do better than this Sauvignon Blanc for the price (Ponga and Terra Andina are both under $10 and taste better)
If you’re already in Trader Joe’s it’s worth it to pick up a bottle of this to pair with an afternoon snack (my wife and I drank this wine with cheese, crackers, hummus, bread, and sausage), but keep in mind that you can do better for not much more money.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: California – USA
Cost: $3
The house wine brand of Trader Joe’s grocery store, this wine is very fruit forward in the style of most California Cabernet Sauvignon with a smooth finish with very light tannins.
Recommendations: As a general rule I’ve become less a fan of California Cabernet Sauvignon as I don’t like the fruit forward flavors they tend to exhibit. This Cabernet from Charles Shaw is no exception.
If you like your Cabernet fruit forward and are looking for something that you can buy a case of for under $50, this may be up your alley, but don’t delude yourself into thinking this is any kind of top quality Cabernet. That being said, as a wine to cook with or if you’re stocking up for a party you’re throwing and quality isn’t the biggest concern, the Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon will fill that void.
All in all, there are better Cabernets out there, but for the price it’s hard to argue against at least picking up a bottle of it while you’re in the store. Don’t go out of your way, but go ahead and grab it for a table wine on a lazy Sunday.
