Between indulging in great holiday wines and being in Canada, I’ve been quite behind in my Trader Joe’s wine recommendations. Fortunately I can direct you to a far superior replacement: Jason’s Wine Blog, where every year Jason publishes a very popular list of his top 10 Trader Joe’s wines. Jason’s affection for the 2009 Perrin Côtes du Rhône Reserve caught my eye and last week at Trader Joe’s I picked up a bottle of the 2010 for $9.99.
My verdict: This is another solid bargain from the Côtes du Rhône region and I would recommend it unreservedly to Trader Joe’s fans. This is slightly rounder and more fruit-forward than my TJ’s standby Valréas Côtes du Rhône and will appeal to those who find the Valréas too dry. At the slightly higher price, Perrin won’t replace Valréas as our favorite everyday “pizza wine,” but I will definitely grab a bottle when I’m in the mood for something with a bit more fruit on the palate.
Thanks for the mention; much appreciated! Bummer it is $9.99 locally for you. It runs $6.99 here in Northern California. Hope your new year is off to a good start!