Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Napa Valley Meritage - Ripe and Ready

Bulk Buy again! It's a new vintage of the Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Napa Valley Meritage Lot 86.

A Meritage (red blend) of Bordeaux varietals from Napa Valley, California.

This wine is available exclusively at Trader Joe's and sells for just $12.99.

As is typically the case with these wines, there's really no info on the label except that it was vinted and bottled by JBA Cellars and that it has 14.5% Alcohol.

Trader Joe's has a nice history of putting out some quality Napa Meritage, especially at the Grand Reserve level, and we loved this one when we first found it last year. Thus we were very happy to find that, unlike many of the TJ's labels, it keeps the same lot designation and producer for 2019. Let's check it out.

The 2019 Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Napa Valley Meritage Lot 86 begins with lots of ripe dark berry fruit, plenty of vanilla, plus licorice, spice and a little coffee. It's quite an oaky aroma but quite good too.

Tasting the wine reveals tons of vanilla-soaked, ripe and juicy fruit. There's certainly no shortage of flavor in this one; in fact, it's almost a bit over the top. It's also really delicious.

It ends dry, long and slightly chewy with lingering tart fruit plus vanilla, chocolate and baking spice on the finish. Just as good as the 2018, this gets a Bulk Buy designation again. At this price, stock up if you see it!