Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Moulis-En-Medoc Review

Another budget friendly French find? We review the Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Moulis-En-Medoc red wine.

The label doesn’t specify but this is likely a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It comes from Moulis-en-Medoc in Bordeaux, France.

We’ve had some wonderful budget friendly French finds at Trader Joe’s as of late, with wines like the Trader Joe’s Reserve Rasteau GSM, the Maison Barboulot Cinsault Rosé, the Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Bandol Rosé, the Jean XXII Reserve Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the Trader Joe’s Reserve Lussac Saint-Emilion and the Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Saint-Émilion Grand Cru.

Today we return to Bordeaux, to the Left Bank appellation of Moulis-en-Medoc, the smallest of the Medoc sub-regions. As you would expect, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the primary grapes here although other Bordeaux varieties are also grown in smaller quantities. In true Trader Joe’s style, no information is available as far as the varietal make-up, aging, or producer.

The Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Moulis-En-Medoc is available exclusively at Trader Joe’s for $12.99. It is imported by Latitude Wines, LLC.

From the bottle:

Appellation Moulis-En-Medoc Controlee
Grand Vin De Bordeaux
Lot #131

14% Alcohol

Let’s check out how it tastes, shall we?

The 2022 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Moulis-En-Medoc Lot #131 opens with dark fruit, leather and a little vanilla, plus licorice, spice, and lots of cedar and other barrel-room aromas. It’s pretty nice once it has time to breathe.

The medium to full-bodied wine tastes rather tannic and has flavors similar to the nose, with the fruit having a touch of juiciness. It’s not bad, and the components are all there, but it’s a bit disjointed in its youth.

It ends dry, long and grippy and was similar on day 2.

I’d say this one is perfectly fine for the price but I wouldn’t call it a great find like the wines we listed above. That said, it does get much better with air so give it plenty of time to breathe and if you have the patience, it will likely score higher in another couple years.

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 red blend wines here!