Best wine value eveah!

[kenny]

Charles Shaw wines are really good even if they did not cost only $1.99 a bottle in most states, $2.99 in some others.
They are also affectionately known as Two-Buck Chuck.

In a 2005 blind taste test their California Chardonnay was judged the state's Best Chardonnay at California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. Link

It was astonishing and scandalous that a two-dollar wine would outrank every high end Chardonnay from Napa and Sonoma, some of which go for $100 a bottle and over.

Well AFAIC today they have a new sleeper.
Their 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon from South Eastern Australia, still just $1.99.
I just bought a bottle and I'm rushing back to Trader Joe's to get a few cases for the cellar.
Imagine an entire case of great wine for $23.88!!!!!

Their Charles Shaw Australian Shriaz is also wonderful.

Run, do not walk, to your local Trader Joe's.
If you don't have a local Trader Joe's . . . MOVE!

 

[missy]

Kenny,
Thanks so much for this info!! My dh loves wine and we are always looking for good wines that don''t break the bank. This sounds fantastic. We do have a Trader Joes not too far from us!! I am very excited right now!!! Thanks again!!

 

[movie zombie]

hubby is from AU and says this is a blend of wines from Victoria and South Australia [and possibly New South Wales] which are both big wine regions. no place that australians call "south eastern australia". a marketing designation only that he laughs about every time he sees it.

however, that does not negate the fact that it is a good wine.

from the west coast of australia comes many fine wines also, especially from the Mt Barker and Margaret River areas....as well as the Swan Valley.

AU wines are very worth exploring [especially at Trader Joe''s prices!].

mz

ps i''ve also heard Charles Shaw refered to as "Up-Chuck"........personally, i prefer "Two buck chuck".

 

[elrohwen]

While I can appreciate the price, I don't think the quality of Charles Shaw wines, in general, is very consistent. I think you get what you pay for with these wines.

 

[TravelingGal]

Date: 6/29/2010 12:51:59 PM
Author: movie zombie
hubby is from AU and says this is a blend of wines from Victoria and South Australia [and possibly New South Wales] which are both big wine regions. no place that australians call ''south eastern australia''. a marketing designation only that he laughs about every time he sees it.

however, that does not negate the fact that it is a good wine.

from the west coast of australia comes many fine wines also, especially from the Mt Barker and Margaret River areas....as well as the Swan Valley.

AU wines are very worth exploring [especially at Trader Joe''s prices!].

mz

ps i''ve also heard Charles Shaw refered to as ''Up-Chuck''........personally, i prefer ''Two buck chuck''.

TGuy says the same thing, every time.

 

[Octavia]

Oh, to live in a state where they sell wine in the grocery store...

 

[kenny]

Date: 6/29/2010 12:55:48 PM
Author: elrohwen
While I can appreciate the price, I don't think the quality of Charles Shaw wines, in general, is very consistent.
I think you get what you pay for with these wines.

I agree with the first sentence but that means the second sentence is not always true.
I've had a couple that were so bad I just dumped the whole bottle down the drain.
That means I got less than I paid for.
But when they are good you get more than you paid for, since you only paid 2 bucks.

In fact I'll often try all the varieties simply because they are so inconsistent.
Just because the Merlot was awful last year doesn't mean it won't be this year's sleeper.

At $1.99 it's painless to give them all a chance.

 

[kenny]

Date: 6/29/2010 1:18:42 PM
Author: Octavia
Oh, to live in a state where they sell wine in the grocery store...

Which states of the US don't sell alcohol in grocery stores?

I spent some time in Ontario where alcohol sales were tightly controlled.
I love Canada but their alcohol laws are downright prudish IMHO.

 

[Octavia]

Date: 6/29/2010 1:25:15 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 6/29/2010 1:18:42 PM

Author: Octavia

Oh, to live in a state where they sell wine in the grocery store...

Are you in Ontario?

I love Canada but their alcohol laws are downright prudish IMHO.

Haha, no -- I''m in Pennsylvania, where they pride themselves on a prudish attitude toward alcohol. We''re subject to the purchasing whims of the state store (aka "Wine and Spirits Shoppe") here.

 

[kenny]

Thanks Octavia (love your name).

I edited my post when I realized you said state.

So, no Trader Joe's and 2-Buck Upchuck in PA?

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 6/29/2010 1:22:52 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 6/29/2010 12:55:48 PM

Author: elrohwen

While I can appreciate the price, I don't think the quality of Charles Shaw wines, in general, is very consistent.

I think you get what you pay for with these wines.

I agree with the first sentence but that means the second sentence is not always true.

I've had a couple that were so bad I just dumped the whole bottle down the drain.

That means I got less than I paid for.

But when they are good you get more than you paid for, since you only paid 2 bucks.


In fact I'll often try all the varieties simply because they are so inconsistent.

Just because the Merlot was awful last year doesn't mean it won't be this year's sleeper.


At $1.99 it's painless to give them all a chance.

I think they're like getting a $5 bottle of wine for $2 - to me that's not much of a value since the quality isn't that high even in a typical $5 bottle. Even in their best vintages, I don't think the quality is very good. But everyone has different taste. Personally, I would rather pay $8 for a higher quality wine and just drink less of it.

There was a huge surplus of grapes during the '09 harvest (in the US), so perhaps the quality will go up for the 2010 vintage of these surplus-grape wines.

eta: Connecticut doesn't sell wine in grocery stores either. I can buy beer, but not wine or liquor. I'm basing my Charles Shaw opinion on what I've tasted in the past, since I can't get it without driving into NY, and on professional wine reviews from vintage to vintage.

 

[Callisto]

Ahhh I miss Trader Joes!!!! They have some really great $5 wines as well that my dad swears by. I can''t remember the brand though. I can''t wait to move back to the Midwest to be near a TJ''s again haha.

 

[elrohwen]

I think taste for "cheap" wine is so individual too. I know there are some cheap wines that I love, but other people aren''t as crazy about them. And there are things like Two-buck Chuck that I''ve never been a fan of, but others love. I think it''s easier to agree on what is high quality than it is to agree on which cheap wines are good.

 

[kenny]

Oh I definitely prefer more expensive wine.
Definitely.

But for table wine, 2-Buck is fine and when it is good it's great.
Like some Europeans I have a glass of wine with most dinners.

I think in the USA wine has more of a luxurious image where people feel it simply must be fine to be worth drinking.
That's fine, but I reserve nice wines for entertaining or special occasions.

If people want to spend $8 or even $30 for their regular daily wine that's fine.
My neighbors do.
To each his own.

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 6/29/2010 1:41:37 PM
Author: kenny
Oh I definitely prefer more expensive wine.

Definitely.


But for table wine, 2-Buck is fine.

Like some Europeans I have a glass of wine with most dinners.


I think in the USA wine has more of a luxurious image where people feel it simply must be fine to be worth drinking.

That's fine, but I reserve nice wines for entertaining or special occasions.


If people want to spend $8 or even $30 for their regular daily wine that's fine.

My neighbors do.

To each his own.

I guess I consider $6-8 wines to be value wines that I can drink every day. I'm always looking for new values though.

 

[kenny]

I spent 6 years in the military living overseas.
In one country I lived in many of the locals grew grapes in their backyards and made home made wine.
I loved that country and the people and frankly that may be why the simpler and less sophisticated wines hold a certain charm and romantic association for me.

 

[kenny]

Date: 6/29/2010 1:43:59 PM
Author: elrohwen
I guess I consider $6-8 wines to be value wines that I can drink every day. I''m always looking for new values though.

Trader Joe''s probably has over a hundred selections in that price range.

 

[elrohwen]

Date: 6/29/2010 1:47:09 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 6/29/2010 1:43:59 PM

Author: elrohwen

I guess I consider $6-8 wines to be value wines that I can drink every day. I''m always looking for new values though.

Trader Joe''s probably has over a hundred selections in that price range.

Well, write to my state senator for me and ask them to allow wine to be sold in grocery stores

I don''t understand why beer is ok but wine is not.

 

[kenny]

Date: 6/29/2010 1:37:45 PM
Author: Callisto
Ahhh I miss Trader Joes!!!! They have some really great $5 wines as well that my dad swears by. I can't remember the brand though. I can't wait to move back to the Midwest to be near a TJ's again haha.

Was it Black Mountain?

We once had a wine tasting in preparation for a huge party so we'd find the least-hideous cheap wine to serve.
I invited several friends, making sure to have an odd number so there could not be ties.

I bought 4 different reds and 4 different whites.
Every bottle was $5.
We put every bottle in a sock and numbered them.

Each person had two glasses.
Comparing two at a time we narrowed it down and the winner for both red and white was Black Mountain.
I forget the varieties, maybe Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.

 

[kenny]

Date: 6/29/2010 1:49:59 PM
Author: elrohwen
I don''t understand why beer is ok but wine is not.

Men are in power and they drink beer.
Wine is for goils and girley-men.

 

[Beacon]

Well...............we had a blind tasting last year where all of us brought wines wrapped in paper bags. We are all quite keen on wine collecting and there were some very fancy bottles in those bags. One guy snuck in a bottle of two buck chuck, a cab, as I recall. It was absolutely awful. Just the smell gave it away. Seriously, it is worth about what they charge for it. There is no comparison.

 

[kenny]

Yes, some varieties and vintages of CS are awful, as are some more expensive wines.

 

[E B]

Two Three Buck Chuck is one of our favorites!

 

[TooPatient]

Date: 6/29/2010 1:43:59 PM
Author: elrohwen

Date: 6/29/2010 1:41:37 PM
Author: kenny
Oh I definitely prefer more expensive wine.

Definitely.


But for table wine, 2-Buck is fine.

Like some Europeans I have a glass of wine with most dinners.


I think in the USA wine has more of a luxurious image where people feel it simply must be fine to be worth drinking.

That''s fine, but I reserve nice wines for entertaining or special occasions.


If people want to spend $8 or even $30 for their regular daily wine that''s fine.

My neighbors do.

To each his own.

I guess I consider $6-8 wines to be value wines that I can drink every day. I''m always looking for new values though.

Yep. $6-8/bottle (especially since it lasts 2 days - sometimes 3 days) is what we have as our "every day wine".


TJ''s has a huge assortment, but usually the stuff there is a 50/50 shot and even if it is okay the first night is often

the 2nd.

The wine shop we go to has a decent selection of wines in this price range and we''ve only ever gotten 1 bottle (in the last 4+ years) that we didn''t like.


Current favorites under $10:
Dante (merlot)
Eliseo Silva (spelling??)
Windmill (cab)
Abott''s Table
Lander Jenkins (chard)

 

[lilyfoot]

I''ve never tried this Two-Buck Chuck stuff .. I really like Yellow Tail (specifically their Merlot). It''s usually priced at $4.99 - $6.99, which I consider to be a good price

 

[merilenda]

Date: 6/29/2010 1:31:42 PM
Author: Octavia

Date: 6/29/2010 1:25:15 PM

Author: kenny

Date: 6/29/2010 1:18:42 PM


Author: Octavia


Oh, to live in a state where they sell wine in the grocery store...

Are you in Ontario?


I love Canada but their alcohol laws are downright prudish IMHO.

Haha, no -- I''m in Pennsylvania, where they pride themselves on a prudish attitude toward alcohol. We''re subject to the purchasing whims of the state store (aka ''Wine and Spirits Shoppe'') here.

Kansas also does not sell wine in the grocery store (nor does Oklahoma AFAIK or possibly Texas...I know Texas has some dry counties). It really infuriates me, since I come from a state where you can buy hard liquor at the grocery store. Who wants to make a separate trip to the liquor store every time you want alcohol?

I''ve never seen a Trader Joe''s here either, which makes me really sad. I can''t wait to move out of here.

 

[monarch64]

I think this has been mentioned before, but the company who owns Trader Joe''s also owns a chain of discount stores in the States called Aldi. Aldi carries their own brand of wine which also happens to be $2.99/bottle and tastes suspiciously like two buck chuck (which I drank a crap ton of when I lived 10 blocks from TJ''s.) It''s called Winking Owl, and there is a merlot, chardonnay, shiraz, and maybe a cab. The merlot is actually quite good as far as an under $10 bottle of wine goes and I swear it''s the same stuff with a different label.

We keep a lot of table wine on hand because we both like to have 1-2 glasses of wine with dinner, sometimes before dinner, sometimes after dinner frequently. When you go through 3-4 bottles of wine a week it starts to get a little expensive. When we''re out on friends'' boats we usually make wine spritzers to avoid drinking too much just due to thirst, so it''s great for those as well.

It has been said on an old thread about Aldi that some of them are not very nice or are in yucky neighborhoods--here that is not true. I used to be a total Aldi snob and wouldn''t shop there but once I saw the condition of the stores where I live and the efficiency of the staff, as well as the actual merchandise I was so impressed that I shop there all the time now and have cut my grocery bill in half.

 

[Clairitek]

I''m with Elrohwen. I normally end up spending more on a bottle that I know will be good and consistent. I do realize that my view on this has gotten pretty out of hand because my idea of a "value" bottle is $15 or under. I have had some great under $10 bottles from TJ''s. The Black Mountain Pinot Noir from two vintages ago was delicious for $5. I also love a Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon they sold two vintages ago for $8. I''ve also struck out a LOT there on cheap bottles, which is why I still have about 8 of them sitting in my wine track waiting to be opened during a party. Based on your suggestion though Kenny, I will give this Charles Shaw suggestion a whirl and see how it goes (the next time I pass by a TJs, the closest one to tell wine to me is in northern NJ about an hour and a half away... I live in the same state as Octavia). Thanks for sharing the suggestion.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

I never really liked 2 buck Chuck, but it sounds like I needed to try more than one bottle.

I used to buy several wines from TJ's. It was my favorite store and we would go there weekly.

There are no TJ's in Texas. I really miss it. Me and my FI think the absence of TJ's is one of the hardest things about coming out here.

ETA: I lived in PA for 4 years. I remember those state run liquor stores. I do NOT miss those at all.

 

[kenny]

Let me add something about the Australian 2-Buck Chuck in the pic above.
If you judge it based on how a Cabernet Sauvignon is supposed to taste I think you will be disappointed.

It's just a very nice-tasting table wine to me for the price.
Table wine is all I ever expect for the price.