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Bogle Phantom 2008

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A Wine Moment with Delaina

Hello Trader Joe’s, Living Trader Joe’s & Red Wine Lovers;

We have a real treat for you this time.

Some events have come up in our lives and we chose to celebrate life and totally splurge on a wine. It did not help that while I was looking at the bottle an employee told me that Trader Joe’s only had this wine around once a year, and once it was gone it was gone. So just to let you know this wine was not in my usual price range, but it was also a gift so that also helped.

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The wine is call Phantom produced by Bogle Vineyards in 2008. Phantom is a blend of my favorite – Old Vine Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and an Old Vine Mourvedre. Bogle had a lot of fun with the label and the story of the phantom wine maker. The front of the label boasts “mysterious and hauntingly seductive,” I can second that.  I have never enjoyed a wine more. I dare confess that it was so good I teared up a little. (But hey I am an emotional wine drinker.)

The wine offers a complex dark berry flavor that includes boysenberry notes, spices like cloves, and balanced with vanilla. This wine paired nicely with our Trader Joe’s potato gnocchi in puttanesca sauce and butter lettuce salad. But I am not sure that this wine would be bad, paired anything.

Again, I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed a wine more. If you want the splurge I would recommend not buying five $3.99 bottles to try this one $16.99. But if you are really interested in this wine I would buy now before you have to wait until next year. The holidays are coming around the corner so if you are looking for a unique gift this would get their attention.

If you decide to buy & try let us know what you thought of it.

Thank you for reading,

Dearly Beloved Forever Red 2009

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A Wine Moment with Delaina

Hello Trader Joe’s  & Living Trader Joe’s fans;

We have a fantastic wine to share with you.

Dearly Beloved, Forever Red 2009 from Mendocino County, California is just the treat to trick out your Halloween celebrations. The label features a beautiful Day of the Dead mask but it is the wine inside that will have you convinced you had died and gone to wine heaven.

The label on the bottle sells itself well, with chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon hints; as well as oak spice and dark fruits, but it is the bold Bing cherry flavors that will rock your wine pallet. Although cherry is not a flavor that I pursue, this wine is truly balanced with the warmer flavors. This wine would pair nicely with any meat or pasta dish.

In fact I am enjoying a glass by itself as I write.

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Now let’s rewind. The label is what attracted me to this wine in the first place. If you like the ornate beauty of the Day of the Dead “Death Mask” this wine bottle is worth the purchase on that alone. But seriously don’t waste the wine.

The wine was $6.99 at our Trader Joe’s and worth every cent. I would recommend buying a bottle to have as your own adult treat after all of the candy has been passed out on Halloween.

Enjoy,

Charles Shaw (2 Buck Chuck) Merlot 2009

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Hello Everyone;

As you all know I love a good red.

Merlot is considered one of the standards when it comes to red wine. But to be honest I was becoming a little burned out on Merlots. As a result I have not been buying them. But as I said a reader and friend bought me two red and this was one of them and boy I’m glad she did.

The 2 Buck Chuck Merlot 2009 is a reminder of all of the reasons Merlots are a staple in red wine world.   Charles Shaw’s Merlot does not try to be anything other than a Merlot.

From the moment I opened this bottle and took my first sip I was reminded of all of the reasons that I use to love Merlots. This Merlot’s complexity is subtle yet consistent, the berry and cherry flavors are a perfect marriage, and I found it hard to resist once it was open.

No it is true, just look closely at my picture…yes that is right! I barely managed to get a picture before the bottle was completely empty. (Don’t worry I did not drink it all in the same day).

This wine paired nicely with rice and sautéed vegetables. Yet this wine would complement any meat dish and would be awesome with salmon.

Cheers,

Are you a Merlot drinker? What is your favorite food to pair with Merlot?

Trader Joe’s Wine: Chariot Gypsy, 2007

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A wine moment with Delaina…the sipping continues….

This wine moment features the red wine Chariot Gypsy 2007. Chariot’s Gypsy comes out of Jim Neal Wines in St Helena, California. This red wine is complex and smooth, but with enough playfulness to drink on summer evening.

Now remember, we live in Tucson Arizona so a summer evening for us means that we are inside with the air conditioner running… and staying cool.

The label does not describe the wine’s flavors for you, other then to note the obvious, “Red Wine”.  I am always intrigued by wines that say “Red Wine” or “Table Wine” (the latter is usual for Italian wines). So I thought perhaps the winery from California wanted the Chariot Gypsy to be California’s “table wine.”

So you have only my taste buds to describe this wine for you. The bouquet to me is a mixture of lavender and cherries. The flavor I would say matches the smell.  It is what I would imagine drinking summer would be like in a vineyard.

Yeah…  I do know this sounds ‘cheesy.’ But hey speaking of cheese, this wine would pair nicely with a number of different cheeses. For example, try smoked Gouda, or even a creamy plain and simple cheese like Monterey Jack. We love to serve a selection of cheeses and fun crackers with wine for an appetizer.

If you were thinking about a full dinner paring, then I can tell you that this wine also pairs nicely with a salad and gnocchi tossed in garlic butter.

Either way, bon appétit! And I hope you enjoy drinking yummy wines during the summer nights to come.

Have you tried this wine? Take a moment to leave a comment if you like… we can compare wine tasting notes….

Cheers!

Delaina