2022 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Cairanne | Lot #147

Trader JoesTJ TuesdayRed WinesCairanne
Written By Catherine Courtney

2022 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Cairanne | Lot #147

GRAPES: Not disclosed, but my best guess is Grenache, Mourvèdre

VINTAGE: 2022

REGION: Rhône Valley, France | Appellation Cairanne Contrôlée

ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE: 15%

PRICE: $12.99

With the excitement of the Winter Olympics still lingering, especially after watching the U.S. Hockey team’s win, now feels like the perfect time to open a wine that bridges the season. Tonight we're sampling 2022 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Cairanne | Lot #147. Frankly, I wasn’t familiar with Cairanne and had to do a little digging to fully understand this wine.

Cairanne is a small wine region in France’s Southern Rhône Valley, known for its rich and smooth red wines. Most Cairanne wines are blends, with Grenache leading the way and bringing juicy flavors of cherry and raspberry. These wines are commonly bold yet easy to enjoy, so they’re a great choice if you’re just getting to know Southern Rhône reds or just curious about wine in general. After all, for $12.99 a bottle, you can’t really go wrong.

As I took my first few sips, I found it only fitting to enjoy this as it offers an element of coziness that we’ve relied on all winter, yet still feels vibrant enough to welcome spring.

Before I share too much, let’s jump into the tasting details, shall we?

Tasting Notes:

  • Deep ruby, almost garnet hue with slight opaqueness

  • On both the nose and the palate, prominent dark red fruits come through, particularly ripe black cherry and juicy blackberry aromas offering a fresh, fruit forward impressions

  • Subtle hints of spice and even a bit of chocolate/cocoa on the palate

  • Medium body with moderate acidity

Verdict:

While this was my first foray into Cairanne wine, it did not disappoint. It's the type of bottle that transitions effortlessly from hearty cold-weather meals like soups and stews to lighter evenings ahead, making it an appealing choice as we transition to spring. While this isn’t a bottle that I would stock up on, simply because there are other red wines that I enjoy more, it’s worth exploring and expanding your palate.

If you grab this bottle, drop your thoughts in the comment below!

Until Next Time!

Disclaimer: All wines mentioned in this post were purchased independently. I am not an agent or representative of Trader Joe’s and cannot assist individuals in sourcing or obtaining wines featured in my posts. All opinions shared are my own and based on personal experience.

Catherine Courtney

Welcome to Blonde Voyage Nashville!

I am so excited to finally see this dream become a reality.  Between the destination restaurants, the copious amount of food photos and insanely crazy travel stories, I have decided to share my journey. 

My name is Catherine Courtney and I am a Nashville native with a penchant for culinary creativity and epic travel adventures. I'll admit... I also have a slight obsession with handbags.

Two years ago, my life changed completely.  Everything that I knew to be was completely turned upside down.  I quickly realized that time is our greatest commodity and it's not to be taken for granted. I couldn't wait for the perfect time, who knew when that would be.  I needed to take the leap and explore the world on my own.  There were so many places I wanted to go, but where would I start. 

France was always one of those places that I had romanticized.  Wandering the streets of Paris and seeing the Eiffel tower were at the top of my list. Without hesitation, I booked a two week trip to the French Rivera and Paris.  It was a journey of a lifetime.  Not only were amazing friendships cultivated, but it was on that trip that i discovered that food and travel are the embers that that keep my soul on fire. 

It wasn't until I arrived back in Nashville with my passport that I realized I had been bit. Wanderlust had completely taken over.  I already started thinking about where I wanted to go next.  It was then that I decided that it was more important to have camera full of photos and a tattered journal full of stories than anything else. My heart was overflowing.

One of my favorite quotes that resonates is from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland:

"Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures...."

Join me as I explore near and far away places, filling my passport full of stamps and satiating my appetite with some of the most amazing cuisine the world has to offer. 

Thanks for reading! 

       

 

 

http://blondevoyagenashville.com
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2023 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Meritage | Lot #129