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Trader Joe's Grand Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley Chile 2014

Trader Joe's Grand Reserve wines are typically domestic US wines.  I was very surprised to find a Grand Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon from the Colchagua Valley of Chile and I hope there will be more imported Grand Reserve wines in the future.

The Colchagua Valley and the Maipo Valley are the two important wine regions in Chile.  The Colchagua Valley is the southwestern half of the Rapel Valley and it is the source of some of Chile's finest red wines.  The dry Mediterranean climate here has warm days cooled by ocean breezes, especially suited to growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere and Syrah.

This Trader Joe's Cabernet Sauvignon has rich flavors of dark fruit with some cocoa and cedar.  I suspect the cedar may come from some carmenere blended into the wine.  The wine has a long finish with pleasant tannins.  I thought the wine was better when I opened the bottle on the second day.  The wine has 14.5% alcohol and sells for 12.99.

SC Wine Joe rating = 89 points



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