Until recently, our white wine buying at Trader Joe’s had been in a bit of a rut. The problem was that our local Trader Joe’s carries some of our favorite nationally distributed whites, like Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc and Hogue Fumé Blanc, at really good prices! We’d inevitably reach for the old standbys rather than branching out. But no more! Here are three new-to-us white wines that we’ve tried in the past few weeks, all for $8 or less. (Sorry for the poor photo quality. I clearly haven’t gotten the “photographing wine labels” thing down.)
Tres Pinos Tierra Blanca White (2008), $5: Another winner in the blended wine category! This little gem is a combination of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Gewürztraminer. The Gewürztraminer gives it a rich, slightly sweet taste, but there’s plenty of acidity in there to balance out the fruit. Not complex, but yummy and drinkable, and likely to appeal to people who don’t usually drink white wines.
Honey Moon Viognier (2008), $6. I absolutely adore Viogniers, but I passed this one by several times before giving it a try. I tend to think of Viogniers as being relatively expensive wines, and I was concerned about picking up one for $6. Once again, my price snobbery was unnecessary. Honey Moon lacks the floral complexity of my favorite Viogniers, but it’s a round, robust, very satisfying white wine that delivers lots of flavor without being flabby or too sweet. It’s a very good buy for the price (and, with a name like Honey Moon, would be a great pick for a wedding!).
Jacques Bourguignon Chablis (2008), $8. Of course we had to grab this one off the shelves. It’s a Chablis! And, since neither of us has ever seen a Chablis for under $20, we were pretty excited to try this one. It didn’t disappoint. It’s got tangy acidity, crisp minerals, and notes of grapefruit and lime. This is a great wine for a really hot summer day.
Mr. B is going to be beside himself — he loves white wine. He especially loves viognier and gewürztraminer, and you found a blend that has both of them!
THANK YOU! Thank you thank you. I’m starting with the viogniers, which is in my fridge RIGHT NOW, and then I’m working down your list! xoxo
I must agree, this $8 bottle of Chablis, could come directly from that village.
It is so clean and not too crisp.
I am out buying a case or two while it is still available.