Trader Joe’s Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Gris Review

Last Updated on October 13, 2024

A smooth and flavorful example of Oregon Pinot Gris, we review the Trader Joe’s Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Gris Lot 258.

Trader Joe's Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Gris Review

Pinot Gris from Willamette Valley, Oregon.

The wine is available exclusively at Trader Joe’s for just $9.99.

According to the label today’s wine comes from DW Hinman Cellars, which started as Hinman Vineyards, one of the early wineries in the Willamette Valley. By the 1980s it was one of the biggest producers in Oregon. In the 1990s they sold the vineyard. DW Hinman Cellars was born in 2005 focusing primarily on private label wines along with their own Five H label.

All this doesn’t give us much to go on (par for the course with Trader Joe’s wines) except that the producer of today’s wine does have deep experience in the Willamette Valley. Let’s check it out.

From the bottle:

Lot #258
Fresh aromas of lemon and pear lead into floral notes, with a crisp finish and bright acidity.

Produced and Bottled by DW Hinman Cellars
13.5% Alcohol

The 2023 Trader Joe’s Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Gris Lot 258 opens with a little tropical fruit, a little melon, a touch of a floral note and sea salt minerality on the nose.

Taking a sip reveals a tart, flavorful example of Pinot Gris. It features similar flavors to the nose with more tropical fruit in the mouth and a smooth, round mouthfeel. This is really quite good.

It ends with a dry, rich, lip-smacking finish full of lingering lemon notes.

2023 Trader Joe’s Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Gris

Taste: 8 (89-90 points) Cost: 8
OVERALL RATING: 8.0

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.

The Best Wines at Trader Joe's - The Reverse Wine Snob Picks

You can also find more of our favorite wines from Oregon here!

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Jon Thorsen

ABOUT JON THORSEN

Author and independent wine consumer helping millions of people find great wines without breaking the bank since 2011. Sign up for my FREE GUIDE to learn how! Read more about me...