A new Rhone-style blend from TJ’s, we review the 2022 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Santa Barbara GSM Lot 132.
A GSM blend of 42% Grenache, 39% Syrah and 19% Mourvedre from Santa Barbara, California.
The wine is available exclusively at Trader Joe’s for $12.99.
There’s not much info on the producer of this wine, ACE 1542, but Wine Enthusiast lists another wine (a Santa Barbara Syrah) from the same winery as a “collaboration between winemaker Curt Schalchlin and sommelier Emmanuel Kemiji”. The former is a winemaker who focuses on Rhone varietals and has his own label (San Liege Winery) but also makes wine for a number of different wineries. Not a lot to go on, but at least it sounds like the winemaker specializes in these types of blends. Let’s check it out.
From the bottle:
Lot 132
42% Grenache, 39% Syrah, 19% MourvedreProduced and Bottled by 1542 ACE
14.9% Alcohol
The 2022 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Santa Barbara GSM Lot 132 opens with a pleasing aroma of black cherry, a little strawberry, a little licorice, some mint and spice, and perhaps a touch of blood orange.
Tasting the wine reveals it to be a really light, easy sipping example of a GSM. I probably wouldn’t age it too long but it’s a nice, balanced drink right now. It features similar flavors to the nose with some light but well-integrated spice.
It ends dry, soft and long and was similar on day 2.
2022 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Santa Barbara GSM
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 blends here!
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