This $10 Trader Joe's exclusive gets our unanimous approval, the Tribunal Red Wine from the North Coast of California.
A blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Barbera, Grenache and Petit Verdot from the North Coast of California. Neither Trader Joe's nor the winery gives any info on oak aging, but based on the taste and the vintage it appears to be substantial. The wine has 3.36 g/L of residual sugar.
The Tribunal Red Wine is available exclusively at Trader Joe's and sells for just $9.99. Tribunal Wines is owned by Vintage Wine Estates who also own Cameron Hughes, Cosentino Winery (Cigar wines), If you see kay, Layer Cake and Qupe just to name a few. (They also produce the Chariot Gypsy red blend from Trader Joe's.)
"Delightful!" Said Fox.
"Superb!" Said Unicorn.
"Glorious!" Said Dog.To this, Judge Cat rose his glass and said, "All shall be free and great wine will be served!"
Cellared & Bottled by Tribunal Cellars
15.1% Alcohol
The 2019 Tribunal Red Wine begins with a pleasing aroma of black cherry and prunes along with plenty of vanilla and chocolate. It smells a lot like a big, rich Zin.
The wine tastes a lot sweeter than I would have thought for 3.36 g/L of residual sugar but is full of juicy, ripe, dark, jammy, raisiny fruit. This is a big, rich wine with a soft and smooth mouthfeel and lots of oak influence of one sort or another. It's quite nice for the price and the style. This would probably be great with a bacon cheeseburger drenched in bbq sauce.
It ends with a touch of heat on the long finish of lingering dark, jammy fruit and oak. It's truly a kitchen sink blend with 7 different varieties represented and while we aren't quite as enamored with this vintage of the wine as previous, it works well enough.
You can also check this list for more of our favorite red blends.
