A new, big-name wine at an amazing Trader Joe’s price, but does it measure up? We review the Trader Joe’s Gran Reserva Rioja Lot 120.
Primarily Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain. The wine spends 3 years in oak barrels and another 3 years in bottle before release.
We were super excited to see this wine as we were perusing the Trader Joe’s wine aisle the other day, and even more so when we saw the low price, which is pretty unheard of for a Rioja Gran Reserva.
And while it is definitely a Gran Reserva meeting all of the required production rules with 3 years of aging in barrel and another 3 years in bottles, let’s find out how good of an example this is.
According to the back label, the wine was bottled by Bodega Marques de Butrago, which is owned by Manzanos Wines, a very large Spanish corporation with over 1,500 hectares of vineyards throughout Rioja and Navarra.
This wine is available exclusively at Trader Joe’s and sells for just $12.99. It is imported by Evaki Inc.
From the bottle:
Aged for three years in oak barrels and three years in bottle, this elegant Gran Reserva offers silky tannins and layers of flavors. Pair with aged cheese and roasted meat dishes.
14% Alcohol
The 2015 Trader Joe’s Rioja Gran Reserva Lot 120 opens with a pleasing aroma of dark fruit and leather along with a little spice, mint and vanilla.
Taking a sip reveals a smooth and tasty wine, but we found it to be a bit thin. It has a just a hint of that aged Rioja character on day 1 and a bit more on day 2. This wine definitely improves with air.
It ends dry and long with a touch of a savory, balsamic note at the very end.
Overall, we can’t really say it’s a great example of Rioja Gran Reserva. You’re pretty much getting what you pay for here (a $13 bottle of wine), but it is still very cool to be able to try a Gran Reserva at this low price.
In a way, it’s a similar experience to the Trader Joe’s Diamond Reserve Pauillac – the big name surprises you, at a price you didn’t expect, but then it’s a bit of a letdown when you taste it. Still, just like the Pauillac, this wine shows some authentic character for the region, so kudos to Trader Joe’s for succeeding in that at a fraction of the normal price.
2015 Trader Joe’s Gran Reserva Rioja Lot 120
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.
You can also find more of our favorite Tempranillo here!
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