Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Nizza Riserva 2020, Piemonte, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
100% Barbera from Nizza DOCG Riserva, produced by Bersano from the “Generala” vineyard in Monferrato. Aged 30 months, with at least 12 months in wood. A strikingly polished and generous expression of Barbera that massively overdelivers for the price.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, plum compote, dried red berries, sweet spice, subtle vanilla, and a touch of cedar. Ripe and expressive, with lovely depth and a smooth oak influence.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full body with supple texture and beautifully integrated acidity. Smooth, rounded, and polished, with enough structure to keep it serious while remaining incredibly easy to enjoy.

Food Pairings
Braised short ribs, mushroom pasta, sausage pizza, aged cheeses, roast pork, or hearty tomato-based dishes.

Verdict
A bafflingly good value. This bottle drinks far above its price point and shows how serious Barbera from Nizza can be when given proper élevage. Plush, balanced, and deeply satisfying.

Did You Know?
Nizza DOCG is considered one of the top appellations for Barbera, focused on a smaller, higher-quality zone within Monferrato in Piemonte.

🍷 Personal Pick
One of those bottles that makes you stop and say, “Wait… Trader Joe’s?” Smooth enough to rival many wines well above its shelf price. — a month ago

David Walser

9.5

What a delicious bottle of wine. I’m not remembering when or where I got this or the cost but I’m impressed with how well it has held up after 23 years. — a year ago

Jamie Lauder

8.9

2017 vintage.
This was a year greatly impacted by forest fires in Okanagan valley though this wine seems to be unaffected by these fires.
Raspberries, tobacco, pomegranate and leather on the nose.
Dark black fruits with plums and dark cherries in abundance.
Juicy and lively with nice acidity on the finish. — 2 years ago

Joan Ziegler

8.9

Welcome addition to our 2025 trim the tree Christmas party. Festive California sparkler. Strawberry on the nose a solid Brut Rose made from Napa Valley Pinot Noir. Perfect to celebrate this holiday season! — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark purple in color with a purplish rim.

Fruity nose and full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and complex.

Showing blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, oak, spices, chocolates, herbs, light tobacco leaf and black pepper.

Tangy finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

Easy drinking and good right out of the bottle.

I had it 3 years ago and it is drinking better now. Will not get any better from this point, so drink up.

Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Kosher.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$30 (current vintage) — 8 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts (6%) of Merlot and Malbec blended in. Dark ruby color. Aromas of black cherry/currants, violets and toffee. The palate is also black fruit focused with additional flavors of chocolate, black licorice and black pepper. Touch of vanilla and fresh herbs on the medium length finish. The tannins have smoothed out and the acidity is quite bright. More medium bodied and subtly sweet. Easy drinker. — 2 years ago

Andrey V Tyutin

9.2

Strong aroma of walnuts at first approach. Strong coffee wn chocolate notes at palate. Fullbodied — 7 months ago

Mark Osmers

9.1

Don’t brush off Merlot‘s. Especially if those Merlot’s are from Yountville, in Napa Valley. The climate in Yountville is particularly well-suited for grape growing. It sits in a sweet spot where it receives warm, sunny days perfect for ripening grapes, while cool evening breezes and fog from San Pablo Bay help too.
Let this wine open up and breathe for 2+ hours and you’ll be delighted with a similar complexity to a Cabernet, with Oakey notes and bright raspberry and plum flavors

An excellent choice from the same area as Stag Leap vineyards

Try it and tell me what you think — happy drinking! — 8 months ago

David Walser

9.3

Had this Cellar Scraps for awhile and decided to open it. Not disappointed! These bottlings are always fun. — 2 years ago

John Willison

8.9

Ripe lime, grapefruit, crisp acidity. (as seen on Somm TV ‘Sparklers’) — 3 years ago