Trader Joe’s – Grand Reserve Pinot Noir 2023
Carneros AVA – California, USA 🇺🇸
Overview
An entry-level Pinot Noir from Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve series, designed to be approachable and wallet-friendly, yet sourced from Carneros, a region with a strong pedigree for Pinot Noir thanks to its cool climate influenced by the San Pablo Bay.
Aromas & Flavors
Ripe red cherry, cranberry, and a touch of strawberry compote. Subtle notes of baking spice and a faint hint of cola.
Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied, soft tannins, and moderate acidity. Smooth and approachable, leaning more toward fruit-forward than earthy complexity.
Food Pairings
Roast chicken with herbs, Margherita pizza, Mushroom risotto, Soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert.
Verdict
A casual, weeknight Pinot Noir that shows off the Carneros fruit in an uncomplicated way. Don’t expect Burgundian elegance or layered depth, instead, it’s a friendly, fruit-driven Pinot that hits the right notes for its price. Cheers! — 2 months ago
10/25/25 - Steak, loaded potato & Brussel sprouts — 2 months ago

Produced from the "mosto flor" ("free-run juice") of sustainably grown and hand-harvested grapes. Ya means "yes!" in Spain. Straw yellow with good flow of tiny bubbles and light mousse. Stone fruit aromas with a vanilla nut fragrance. On the palate peach and citrus flavors, good balance, plenty of acidity and lingers nicely. — 4 months ago
Merry Christmas 2025! 🎅🎄🎁 🍷 ❄️ ⛄️
23 yrs since birth and 21 yrs in bottle and the evolution is beautiful. Perfect w/the ribroast.
Fruits still holding with excellent integration. Blackberries, black plum to pudding, strawberries, raspberries, black cherries, sandalwood, soft, dark spices with gentle heat, mocha powder, some milk chocolate, caramel notes, understated graphite, anise to some black licorice, gravel, dry stone, used tobacco & leather, mid berry cola presence, dry twig, moist clays, red, dark florals with a violet frame, excellent acidity, well; made, balanced, tensioned, structured with an elegant finish that lasts nearly two- minutes and falls of soft earthiness & soft spice. — 11 days ago
Probably my favourite rum - it’s from Guatemala. They use virgin sugar cane honey - the first pressing of the sugar cane, unlike most rums which use molasses. As I’ve mentioned in previous notes on Delectable, aromas of burnt caramel, tar and molasses. Aged in a Solera system at 2300 metres above sea level. Firstly in American Oak Barrels then in charred American Oak barrels, then in barrels that previously aged Sherry and finally in barrels that previously aged Pedro Ximinez. Very smooth and dangerously drinkable. — 9 months ago
Norman
Delightful — 13 days ago