Caretaker Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley - Cheap But Not Cheap Tasting

An earthy Pinot Noir from Trader Joe's for just $10, the Caretaker Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley.

Pinot Noir from Santa Maria Valley, California. The wine is aged in French oak for an unspecified amount of time.

This wine is available exclusively at Trader Joe's and sells for $9.99.

From bottle:

There is an intimate relationship that exists between the land and those who have farmed it over decades and generations. This wine is about personality - the character and nuances of a vineyard that can only be expressed by a a true…Caretaker.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Deep, bright ruby color with violet highlights. Aromas of black cherry, plum, and macerated strawberry. Touches of clove and nutmeg are contributed by the French oak for complexity. The palate shows medium body, balanced acidity, and fine-grained tannins that support an extended, lengthy finish.

Pinot Noir Clones: 115, 667, 777, 5, 113, 2a, Pommard
Soils: Shale, Limestone and Sandy Loam
Growing Season: Late February through Mid October
Winemaking: Small lot fermentations
Oak Treatment: French

Cellared and Bottled by Central Coast Wine Warehouse
13.8% Alcohol

10 bucks is a pretty much unheard of price for Pinot Noir from Santa Maria Valley, where the average price of a bottle runs around $35 with many of the most popular wines fetching much more than that. The Caretaker Paso Cab we recently reviewed, which was also $10, was able to pull it off, let's see how the Pinot fares.

The 2018 Caretaker Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley hits the earthy notes on the nose. There's tomato plant, some almost mushroom like notes and a bit of musty fruit.

Taking a sip reveals a bit more fruit compared to the nose but is otherwise similar with some added licorice and spice. We didn't expect it to go this direction but this is a solid choice for those that like an earthy Pinot Noir.

It ends dry and with decent length. For Pinot Noir, especially one from Santa Maria Valley, this is a great deal at just $10.

2018 Caretaker Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley

Taste: 7 (87-88 points) Cost: 8

OVERALL RATING: 7.3

RECOMMENDED BUY

As always you can find an updated list of our recommended wines from Trader Joe's as well as more info on their pricing model and some tips and tricks for shopping the store in our giant guide.