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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.

bogle_wines_phantom_2008

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,

Trader Joe’s Wine: Grower’s Reserve Zinfandel 2009

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Trader Joe's Zinfandel

Trader Joe's Zinfandel

A wine moment with Delaina…the sipping continues….

I believe I have mentioned that I for the most part love Zinfandels. I am seduced by their smooth flavor and enchanted by their complexity. Don’t get me wrong you will often read me saying the same thing about other red wines but I have never met a Zinfandel I did not love.

Here is a wonderful example of a great zin: Trader Joe’s  Grower’s Reserve Zinfandel 2009. I was very impressed by this $5.99 Zin. I shared this bottle with a friend, as we worked on a project and we were both impressed. The wine came from ASV Wines in San Martin, California. I have never heard of that vineyard, but will tell you I won’t soon forget it.

Funny….I have not even told you the best part.

Beyond this wine being one of the most enjoyable with all of the right things- smoothness, complexity, and under $6 – it is also organic. Yep! you read that right- organic. I could not believe it. Another value bonus from Trader Joe’s

So the label talks about the wine’s flavor as a mixture of berry and plum with a hint of pepper.  I always look for reds that are described with berry, plum and sometime cherry tones, but as I rule I stay away from peppery. I just find that my taste buds will latch on to the peppery and taste nothing else. This usually puts me at odds with many Chilian wines. Never mind,  the point that I am trying to get across,  is that I could not taste the pepper, or maybe more to the point if there was a hint of pepper it only enhanced the berry and plum flavors.

Trader Joe's Delish Zinfandel, 2009

Trader Joe's Delish Zinfandel, 2009

So just in case you were not sure…I highly recommend the Trader Joe’s Grower’s Reserve Zinfandel. I would serve it with anything or just sip it by itself because it is a very drinkable wine. I hope you enjoy this wine at least as much as I have enjoyed talking about it.

Cheers!

Delaina