Trader Joe’s is a store that is packed with wines that you have probably never heard of, yet there are so many good ones.
From the lightest Pinot Noir and Beaujolais wines to the heaviest Cabs and Zinfandels, from dry to sweet red wine, you can find almost every grape variety on the shelves at Trader Joe’s stores.
Feel free to explore our top choices of Pinot Noir wines available on the shelves in grocery stores throughout the USA. Read more…..
Best Pinot Noir at Trader Joe’s
It might be overwhelming and sometimes even difficult to choose one of Trader Joe’s wines especially if you are not used to their huge selection of wines.
In order to make it easier for you to make the right choice we tasted and reviewed some of TJ’s Pinot Noir wines:
1. La Crema Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2021
- Price: 18.99$
- Vintage: 2021
- Region: Sonoma Coast/California
- ABV: 13.8%
Tasting characteristics: La Crema Pinot Noir is a popular wine among Pinot lovers, and it can be found on Trader Joe’s wine list. It possesses a light body with a pale ruby color and very expressed aromas of dark fruit, figs, and ripe raspberries. The palate is very delicate, with flavors of wild strawberries, mushrooms, and a hint of blueberries.
Food recommendations: The light profile of the wine makes it a great companion to salmon, turkey, all kinds of pasta, and mushroom-based dishes.
2. Trader Joe’s Platinum Reserve Pinot Noir Carneros 2020
- Price: 14.99$
- Vintage: 2019
- Region: Los Carneros/Napa Valley/California
- ABV: 14.5%
Tasting characteristics: TJ’s Platinum Reserve is the 2nd on our list of the best Trader Joe’s Pinot Noir wines. This elegant red wine thrives in the Los Carneros area of Napa, and its dark ruby color offers the perfect contrast to its finesse. It has a sweet aroma of ripe wild strawberries, tobacco, and earth. This Pinot is light to medium bodied and it presents a gentle palate with notes of red berries, vanilla, and spices.
Food recommendations: A great match will be poultry and game dishes, shrimp, and lobster.
3. Meiomi
- Price: 20.99$
- Vintage: 2021
- Region: Sonoma Coast/California
- ABV: 14.6%
Tasting characteristics: Meiomi is aged for 6 months in a French oak barrel, resulting in more structure and complexity to the wine. It is a medium-bodied Pinot Noir with dark ruby color. Meiomi offers expressed aromas of sweet cherry, oak, and chocolate, and a smooth well-balanced palate with dark fruit flavors, and a hint of vanilla.
Food recommendations: Meiomi is a perfect match for venison, lamb chops, and pork loin, and pairs especially well with semi-hard cheeses such as Taleggio.
4. Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Pinot Napa Valley 2020 Lot 110
- Price: 12.99$
- Vintage: 2020
- Region: Napa Valley/ California
- ABV: 14.5%
Tasting characteristics: Grown in Napa Valley, Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Pinot Noir offers an intense ruby red color and well-balanced flavors with dark fruits dominating on the nose. This wine is medium-bodied and elegant on the palate, with notes of sweet cherries, dark strawberries, mushrooms, and a touch of spice and tobacco.
Food recommendations: Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Pinot Noir will make the perfect companion to red meats, pasta with Alfredo sauce, and any Marsala dish.
5. Raeburn
- Price: 24.99$
- Vintage: 2021
- Region: Russian River Valley/ California
- ABV: 14%
Tasting characteristics: Raeburn has a dark crimson color, a light to medium body, velvety tannins, and a smooth balanced finish. It offers jammy aromas of ripe red cherries and vanilla, and a pleasing palate with expressed fruity flavors of wild berries, raspberries, and a hint of plum.
Food recommendations: A great companion to poultry, game, veal, and a soft cheese such as Comte.
6. Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve PInot Carneros 2021 LOT 23
- Price: 12.99$
- Vintage: 2021
- Region: Los Carneros/California
- ABV: 14.5%
Tasting characteristics: The Grand Reserve Pinot from Carneros is a medium-bodied red wine, with a crimson color. It possesses aromas of dark fruits and green apple on the nose, with notes of black cherry, licorice, and baking spice on the palate, followed by a smooth finish.
Food recommendations: It goes very well with roasted chicken, duck, roast lamb, and some red meats such as pork or veal.
7. Trader Joe’s Pinot Noir Reserve 2020 Lot 229
- Price: 9.99$
- Vintage: 2020
- Region: Sta. Rita Hills/Santa Barbara/California
- ABV: 14.5%
Tasting characteristics: Trader Joe’s Reserve Pinot Noir is a great price value wine to try. It has a medium body, dark ruby color, with a pleasant acidity and a well-expressed fruity profile. This wine offers aromas of wild strawberries, cherry, and hazelnuts, and flavors of raspberries, black cherry, and a hint of licorice.
Food recommendations: Some great food recommendations for this wine are roast veggies, poultry and game dishes, and shrimp-based pasta and entrees.
8. Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Pinot Noir Monterey County 2020
- Price: 7.99$
- Vintage: 2020
- Region: Monterey County/California
- ABV: 14.5%
Tasting characteristics: The “Petit Reserve” or the small reserve is a light-body wine, with well-rounded tannins, and a slightly harsher sweet-fruity taste.
It has ripe berries and red plum on the nose, followed by sweet cherry, spice, and vanilla on the palate.
Food recommendations: A perfect match would be pairing it with fish rich in protein such as tuna or salmon, or light vegetarian or vegan entrees.
Pinot Noir is best enjoyed if it is slightly refrigerated before openning!
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