Freddy R. Troya

8.9

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! — 3 days ago

Vicki Ausloos

9.1

Smooth red many different fruit flavors. Will not disappoint. — 4 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.0

Plenty of tannins left. 25bucks. Those were the days! 14%| Quite classic. Browne tinge. Needs at least 2-3 hours of air. Quite harsh and astringent. Roses, earthy and dusty, very dry. Hint of truffles. - Not super exciting at first (15min) so wait. Will last another 10 years - but i do worry about the fruit component if you need space in your cellar - i would suggest drink up. I will. Some folks tend to hype these wines i don’t - after all this is their most basic version with a large production volume. Total volume is 500,000 bottles a year at this cooperative. My guess they to make a lot of this one. — 5 months ago

Greg Andrew

9.0

10/25/25 - Steak, loaded potato & Brussel sprouts — 2 days ago

with Beth

Vino Joe

9.6

Layered exotic and supple. This is definitely in the zone. There is a lot going on. Rich dark fruit. Ripe currants, smoke and earthy. Decanted. Give it 20-30 minutes to open. — a month ago

Eric K

9.5

Direct follow up to 2020 vintage. Much more earthy terroir taste than the 2020 fruit bomb. Very enjoyable with more complex hints of flavor — 5 months ago

jesus g

Hospitality Schramsberg Vineyards

9.3

Been a long time, got a lot to catch up on — 6 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.5

Truncated cookout notes. Damn this is spectacular. The flavor density and balance is so old school. The nose is ethereal. None of that 15% alc. chocolately bullshit that now seems to permeate Napa Cab orthodoxy.

UPDATE: Next morning, the wine long gone, I’m sitting here watching college football highlights from yesterday still thinking about how much I liked this. There’s usually only one wine per year that has that effect on me. — a month ago

Paige Donnell

9.5

Are with beef, great flavor - rich and delightful — 2 months ago

Suneal Vishnupad

9.1

Great still needs a lot more time — 5 months ago

with Kayla