2023 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Meritage | Lot #129

Trader JoesTJ TuesdayRed WinesMeritage
Written By Catherine Courtney

2023 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Meritage | Lot #129

GRAPES: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec, 8% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot

VINTAGE: 2023

REGION: Paso Robles, California

ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE: 14.5%

PRICE: $12.99

Super Bowl Sunday has long been marketed as a contact sport for the couch: jerseys, nachos, and something aggressively fried balancing on a paper plate. But somewhere between the third cheese dip and the seventh replay, I realised I’m less interested in touchdowns and more drawn to top notes. Who am I kidding? I didn’t recently discover that; it’s been an ongoing theme. While the crowd debates defensive strategy, I am quietly debating decant time. Call it personal growth or just better taste.

So this year, the only flights I’m committed to are the ones lined up on the coffee table. The game hums in the background, halftime show optional, but the real play-by-play is happening in my glass: swirl, sip, and repeat. It’s still Super Bowl Sunday, just with fewer foam finers and a bit more Bordeau energy. Luxe, low-stakes and infinitely more delicious.

As I wandered through Trader Joe’s picking up snacks for the weekend, I spotted the 2023 Grand Reserve Meritage perched on an end cap. Since it was one of their Grand Reserve bottles, and I hadn’t enjoyed a Meritage in quite some time, it slipped into my basket without hesitation. After all, beverages are just as important as snacks on Super Bowl Sunday.

For those who aren’t familiar with Meritage…Meritage ( pronounced mare-uh-tij, like “heritage”) is essentially America’s answer to Bordeaux-style blends. Created by California winemakers in the 1980s who wanted a name for their high-quality red and white blends without borrowing the protected “Bordeaux” label, the term combines “merit” and “heritage.” These wines are made from classic Bordeaux grapes, think Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc for reds, or Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon for whites, and must be blended rather than dominated by a single varietal. The results are typically layered, balanced, and elegant.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the tasting details, shall we?

Tasting Notes:

  • Deep ruby/garnet hue

  • Notes on dark red fruit on the nose - imagine blackberry, raspberry, subtle notes of plum and spice

  • Medium body with balanced acidity

  • Lingering hints of chocolate

Verdict:

If you are looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing red that feels a touch more polished than your average weeknight pour, this 2023 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Meritage is a great bottle to tuck into your cart. It delivers classic Bordeaux- inspiried charm without overthinking it or overspending!

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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