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Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands 2016

Trader Joe's August 2017 Fearless Flyer describes this Grand Reserve Chardonnay as crisp and elegant, with fruit forward bouquet, citrus notes up front and a bit of butter and oak on the finish.  I have to disagree with that description.  This is not a crisp, fruit forward wine but instead it is mildly creamy with notes of oak and butterscotch and a nut flavored finish.  This does not imply that it is not a serious Chardonnay.  I think it is, but just not the wine described in the Flyer.

This Chardonnay comes from the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA which is part of the larger Monterrey AVA.  50% of the grapes are aged 6 months in American oak and the rest are aged 6 months in French oak.  The wine contains 14.5% alcohol and costs $12.99.

If you are a fan of creamy, soft butterscotch Chardonnay, this is definitely a keeper.  However, it is not my favorite style of Chardonnay and I will look elsewhere.

SC Wine Joe does not assign numerical ratings to white wines.





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