When I tell people that I review inexpensive wines a common response I get is, “Oh, you must love Trader Joe’s.”  And every time I hear that, I have to reply with, “No, I don’t.”

It’s not that I have anything personally against Trader Joe’s, but I have yet to find a bargain in their wine department to get excited about.  I’ve reviewed a few TJ wines in the past and none of them were exceptional. 

When most people think of cheap wine at Trader Joe’s they are thinking of Charles Shaw, the famous 2 Buck Chuck.  But there are numerous other Trader Joe’s exclusive wines besides Charles Shaw.  They also carry some good wines that aren’t TJ-exclusives, but their prices are the same or more than I find at other shops.

All of the TJ comments I hear leave me torn.  With all of the raving I hear about TJ’s I think there must be something to it.  If so many people rave about their wines, they must be good… right?  Have I just been trying the wrong ones?  After all, I haven’t tried every wine they sell.  And so, I keep going back from time to time to give them another chance.  It seems like every time I do, I find myself wishing that I hadn’t.  This is one of those times.

This time I tried the 2006 Old Moon Zinfandel from the Trader Moon Wine Company.  It sells for $7.99 — a few bucks more than Chuck.

My assessment is that this is a fairly predictible low-priced zinfandel.  Black cherry and oak on the nose with a little bit of spice heat.  The intensity is moderate.  The palate has more black cherry and some plum.  The fruit is rather artificial tasting.  There’s a touch of vanilla on the finish.  It’s a drinkable wine, but it’s not a great wine.

In all honesty, my description probably made it sound more interesting than it really is.

Wine: Old Moon Old Vine Zinfandel
Varietal: Zinfandel
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 14%
Rating: 79
Price Paid: $7.99