$ 2.99 ???

Yes, that is correct- a Paso Robles Rhone blend for $ 2.99 at Trader Joes . Do they have any more ? Doubtful, but worth a look. It turns out that this "Le Grande Cote" is actually Rabbit Ridge. It might be their "allure de Robles" blend or a Syrah. You can see the Rabbit Ridge brand on the cork and the logo on the foil. My guess is that this wine was re-labeled to hide the fact that a large brand was dumping a good amount of 2014 red wine through Trader Joes. I took two bottles home in November not knowing the real origin of the wine. When I drank it I was really impressed with the quality .....it was $ 3.99 then. I went back to Trader Joes a few days later and it was gone.
A few weeks went by and to my surprise, stacks of cases of this wine were at Trader Joes again. I bought three cases as not the price was $ 2.99. Since then I have had a few bottles- it is just as good as the first bottle- hope that you find some. I'll give it 8 swiggs- an outstanding wine at a giveaway price.

Rutherford Lane- a taste of Napa

Trader Joes form time to time has $ 19.99 Napa wines often enough but not many as good as this one. Rutherford is very much the center of high quality Cabernet in Napa Valley. There are other good areas for sure in the valley but this region gets my vote for my favorite Cabernet bottles 90% of the time. This 2015 Rutherford Lane Cabernet truly has the taste of the spot- complex, rich and easy to drink. At nearly $ 20.00 I only have this one every now and then as I'm pretty thrifty and don't want to go broke drinking fine wine. That said, I don't mind being a little more broke after enjoying this particular bottle. While it may not be the typical under $ 10.00 swiggtator deal, it represents a heck of a deal for what it is- a great Napa Cabernet. 9 swiggs.

Tobin James knocks it out of the park again

We are members of this wine club so I'm not sure what this bottle costs - it is worth whatever they are charging. This 2014 James Gang reserve primitivo really is an improvement over the last one I had a year ago. I didn't like the 2013 as I found it overly tart. This one displays non of the tartness and has big rich flavors and complexity. I'm sure that it would be fine if left to age for another 5 years or so. That said, it is sensational now. Be prepared for a huge wine- 9 swiggs.

Very good Spanish red

Got this one at new leaf and had it with paella- perfect match. It might be a 2016 but it is ready to drink- tastes mature and very dry- perfect with food. This Finca Resalso 2016 is mostly Tepranillo and is $ 16.95. I would give it  8 1/2 swiggs easily- an excellent alternative to domestic wines if you are looking for a less alcoholic and over-saturated red.

Puma Road

Every once in awhile I like to give a shout out to some of my favorite spots to taste wine. Puma Road is not far from here, about 1 hour south in the Salinas Valley. If you drive south on River Road you will see numerous wineries on the road between Hwy. 68 and Greenfield. Puma Road is one of them- a really great place to taste excellent wine. This Meritage was on sale- I don't remember the price but whatever it was it was well worth it. I would give this blend a solid 9 swiggs- very much the perfect blend of Bordeaux grapes and ready to drink now. Their Malbec might be the best I have ever had. Check it out.

Deal of the month

I know that we have only just started July but I think I have the deal of the month already. This is some old world goodness at a really low price. This Paniza Reserva is already 6 years old- this makes it ready to enjoy now. Mostly Tempranillo,  ( with 15% Cabernet and 5% Grenache) this blend is seemingly simple when you first open the bottle but with some exposure to the air it turns a bit earthy and more complex. It's not a really big or dense wine but has ample flavor to keep you coming back. I'll give it 7 1/2-8 swiggs.....remarkable for a $ 6.99 wine. It is at Trader Joes currently and looks to be on the shelves for at least another week or two.

Napa Cabernet deal

Not sure if you can still get this one but it is worth a look. This Technique Atlas Peak 2014 cabernet is very appealing with some bold fruit flavors and not too much tannins. At $ 14.95  ( at least that's what I remember..) it is unusual to find an AVA designated Napa wine like this one. The label does not say much about how the wine was made but at this price it isn't really an issue.

We had the wine with some Gnocci with a bold red sauce with Italian sausage, chili flakes, garlic and parsley. It turned out to be an excellent pairing. This wine was purchased at Trader Joes- I'll give it 8 swiggs.....not outstanding but really good for the price.