Castle Rock 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

I picked up a bottle of Castle Rock Cab, Columbia Valley, at Trader Joes recently. I had previously tried a bottle of their Pinot Noir and I thought it was a good value. It turns out the Cab is also a very good value, costing $5.99.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine had given the 2006 vintage a 87, and I think that rating holds for the 2007. The flavor was overwhelmingly plum, with some cherry and tart berry, with a hint of oak. The back label states that it has had 18 months in french oak barrels, but the wine wasn't overly oaky. As I normally due, I put a small amount in my wine glass to start, and gave it a sip. It was a little closed up with a hot finish, so I broke my Vinturi and gave the wine a little air. It opened up nicely, with a better finish.

The label states that the wine is cellared a & bottled by Castle Rock Winery. Usually that means that another winery produces the wine, either under contract, or as a bulk wine. That doesn't mean the wine is of lesser quality. In fact, if the buyer has a discerning palette, the wine can be very good. Just be aware that year to year consistency can be a challenge.

If you're close to a Trader Joes, pick up a few bottles. You won't regret it. Supplies are limited, so the sooner the better. They also have a Merlot and a Zinfandel available. I plan on trying the Zinfandel next.

Santa Rita 120 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006

I tried a new Cabernet Sauvignon I purchased at Trader Joes called 120 Santa Rita. It's a 2006 vintage from the Rapel Valley in Chile.



Chile has become a prime importer of red wine to the US. And the price was great at $5.99. In my retirement I'm always looking for good value. And Trade Joes is a prime outlet for good wine values.


I really enjoyed this product. It has a full body with reduced tannins due to the oak aging. The nose has cherry, tobacco, and plum overtones. It has a clean finish with a nice aftertaste. And the best part is that the cost is $3.99. Pick up a bottle and enjoy it with a good steak. In fact, purchase some rolled stuffed skirt steaks at Trader Joes at the same time. A perfect pairing. And let me know what you think

Holiday Sparkler-Prosecco

With the holidays here and many opportunities to share the season's joys with our friends, choosing what wine to serve can be intimating. The perfect, simple solution is sparkling wine. It turns any gathering into a festive event.

An interesting, different choice of sparkling wine is Prosecco. It's an Italian sparkling wine that is different than the spumates that most of us know. First, it's a dry sparkler, not sweet like spumate. That means it pairs well with a variety of foods, from appetizers to main courses to desserts. It has a slight fruitiness, which makes it different from french Champagne, and a delicate bouquet.

It might be a little difficult to find Prosecco. Most major chains carry at least one in their sparkling wine sections. The prices range from $10 to $20. If you have a Trader Joe's near you, they are featuring Zonin Prosecco at $5.99. Give it a try and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Fresh and Easy Markets

A new grocery store opened up in SoCal. It's Fresh and Easy Markets, owned by Tesco, a British retailer. It's very similar to Trader Joes, on a slightly larger scale. And it carries some national brands, not all private labels. Most of the packaging fits well with small families or empty nesters, as they serve 2 to 4 adults. There's a lot of freshly prepared ready meals that you can heat and serve.

Now you're probably wondering what this has to do with WineQuest. They have a good sized wine department. It's not as extensive as Trader Joes, but they have a good selection and fair pricing.

The item I want to highlight is one of their private labels. It's Recoleta, an Argentina wine. It's a blend of Malbec, the main red wine of Argentina, and Bonarda. It has a ripe cherry bouquet and a light body. Clean finish with little tannins. A good everyday red wine, especially at the price of $3.99. Much better than any of the reds I've tried from Two Buck Chuck. It's imported by Cornerstone US Wine Imports of Riverside, CA, exclusively for Fresh and Easy Markets.

If you're looking for a Fresh and Easy near you, they're currently in Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada. Check their website for locations close to you. It's always fun to explore something new and innovative