The Bad And the Ugly — Trader Joe’s Under $10 Reds Final Opinions

The question: Can you find a decent bottle of red wine at Trader Joe’s for less than ten bucks?

Right, so we’ve been over this, right? We’ll yes, and no. After drinking all the leftovers (except for the crap that got dumped on the first night because it was wretched) over the past week, something changed. And that’s part of what makes wine so great — it changes. At least the good stuff does.

After a full week under inert gas preservative, one wine changed for the better! This happens with young wines. They don’t show you everything on the first night because the tannic acids hide what’s underneath, that will come out as the tannins subside with time. And the einw that did that was… WAIT FOR IT!  The Valréas Cuvée Prestige Cotes du Rhone Villages 2009 — 14% Alc  @ $5.99! Here’s the original review and rating I gave this wine, a week ago:

Valréas Cuvée Prestige Cotes du Rhone Villages 2009 — 14% Alc $5.99

COLOR — Purple red with slight fading to pink on the edge, medium depth

NOSE — Red cherries, Mission Figs, a bit of lavender crushed black pepper

TASTE — Tart red cherry with a touch of plums, ginger & soy. Medium body

FINISH — Bright and juicy cherry, mouth-watering medium length some tannins

RATE — 3 Stars. Pretty good for $5.99 Try It. A good way to try a Cotes du Rhone

How’d it change? Well, it gained weight in the body, the flavors got bolder and darker. But the nose was a huge change! The lavender component really came out, with deep black cherries, and hints of soy, ginger and cracked pepper.

In the mouth, the red fruits got bigger and less tart, fuller, more mouth-filling. The texture grew more velvety, but the tannins showed a bit more, too.

The finish wasn’t tart anymore, but long and velvety, with currents, soy and pepper. Oh yeah, tannins. This wine actually needs a bit of time to show all its got.

Final verdict, 4 STARS! At $5.99, this is a no brainer bargain. In a great vintage, this underachiever, no-name wine hit a home run. YOU HAVE TO TRY TIHIS! But pour a glass, and let it sit for at least 45 minutes before you touch it. trust me on this. Or pour two glasses, drink one right away, and try the second after 45 minutes. You’ll be amazed what happens.

Cheers!