Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2013 Central Coast

Trader Joe's Coastal wines are produced by a California Central Coast Vintner to fit a price range above Charles Shaw wines but lower than the VINTJ's wines. In our location, they are priced at $4.99 per bottle.

I actually like the Coastal Chardonnay very much. It is an unoaked Chardonnay with melon, peach and honeysuckle flavors which makes the wine very appealing in the late summer weather. The wine is not overly sweet and it could pair well with cheese and crackers or with most light seafood. We enjoyed the wine with red snapper and it was great. If you like unoaked, crisp Chardonnay, you should give this bargain priced wine a try.

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Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2018

I was aware of the reputation of Ken Wright Cellars for Willamette Valley Pinot Noir but had never tried one of their wines. The winery is most known for single vineyard Pinot Noirs but their entry level wine is a blend from several vineyards. When I have looked for wine from Ken Wright, I have either found the single vineyard wines costing more than $60 or I have found the entry level Willamette Valley blend priced significantly higher than the $22 price on the winery website. One well known wine shop in downtown Greenville actually sells it for $34. I guess that the wine must be really good to command higher than retail prices. Two things have recently happened. Costco has a Ken Wright premium Pinot Noir for around $40 and Whole Foods Market has the entry level Willamette Valley Pinot Noir on sale for $22 rather than their usual price of $27. I chose the entry level Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and I am sure glad that I did. Ken Wright Willamette Valley Pinot Noir has a deep r

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