Daddy Winebucks

This wine had all the earmarks of a classic Trader Joe’s bargain.

$2.99 – Check
Hip Looking Label – Check
Never Heard of it – Check

Gravity Hills

(Full disclosure:  In visiting their website I noticed that it was designed by the same company, Camaleo, that designs our sites.  Not sure this means anything in the way of a conflict of interest – just thought it was a fun coincidence)

It had a nice pedigree in the vintage, 2005, which seems to have been great for every varietal I’ve tasted that year and was a Paso Robles Syrah, which I tend to like.  The fact that it had been reduced in price to $2.99 caused me to wonder why, but that’s what TJ’s is all about.

Maybe they accidentally stumbled upon 35,000 extra cases mislabled in their corporate inventory, perhaps they strong-armed a better margin from the distributor.  Most likely it was just their own version of an economic stimulus package.

“I pledge to cut wine prices by 50% and offer a tax credit for all wine purchases under $36.00/case.”

I opened the bottle last night while engorging on so much althletic competition simultaneously that I was in need of a sports vomitorium by 9pm.

Channel 775:  Flyers/Canadiens – Philly manages to blow the game to start the season 0-2.  Great.
Channel 206:  Giants/Browns – Giants manage to cough up a hairball and I lose my fantasy football game when Eli and Brandon Jacobs fail to deliver.
Channel 11:  Phillies/Dodgers – Although I had the least interest in this one, it was by far the best game, appropriate since this wine stunt is all about chasing a hallowed baseball record.

The wine itself had nice balance and soft tannins but not much fruit (which as you may have guessed by now is what my palate looks/hopes for).  By the end of the night it had opened up a bit but nothing too dramatic.

My first thought when drinking the wine was, “It’s better than Two Buck Chuck, by exactly the dollar more I paid.”

One dollar= SINGLE