In these days of high unemployment and global financial crisis, it’s nice to relax with a bottle of wine that doesn’t break your pocketbook. I’m here to sort out the memorable from the truly awful, and each bottle is under $10.
It has been years since I regularly purchased Two Buck Chuck, the ubiquitous Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw wines. Since the ready cash has been less ready as of late, the hubby thought it would be a good idea to give some of them another try. So here we go, delving into the mysteries of Two Buck Chuck.
Charles Shaw Merlot 2011 Alcohol 12.5% by Volume; $1.99 at Trader Joe’s
On The Label: “Cellared and bottled by Charles Shaw Winery, Napa and Sonoma, California”
My Take: Well, the label is interesting. They take grapes from the premier growing areas in California and use those in their wines. Hm…
The last time I had a bottle of Two Buck Chuck (actually I’m talking several years ago now), it was awful. I have a strange tolerance for bad wine – after the first few gulps, you can get used to anything – but that bottle turned me away from the wine for a very long time. This Merlot, however, was flavorful, with lots of fruit and a hint of depth. It went well with the chicken quesadillas and guacamole we had that night for dinner. Plus the lower alcohol content was nice; reds tend to hover between 13.5% and 14%.
My Rating: ~ Drinkable ~
(TIP: If you don’t want your dinner guests to know what name brand of wine you’re pouring, decant it first and hide the bottle. There’s no need to tell a soul!)
Charles Shaw Sauvignon Blanc, 2011 Alcohol 12.5% by Volume – $1.99 at Trader 
Joe’s
On the Label: See above, lol.
My Take: Like almost all Sauvignon Blancs, this one has a crisp, almost sharp flavor. It’s a terrific spritzer wine, very like the Shaw Pinot Grigio, though we are past spritzer season here at Chez Ashworth. Will I rush out to buy it again? Um, not until next summer. Perhaps.
My Rating: ~ Drinkable ~
Overall, I was pleased that, should the worst happen and I be out on the streets with my hands out, begging, I can still find a bottle of wine that I can drink and only pay $1.99 for it. I still have a Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon in my wine cellar to try…I’ll admit I’m a bit scared! But as I was poking about the internet, I saw an article that said since Two Buck Chuck started selling, they’ve sold over six hundred million bottles. So they must be doing something right!
Have a great weekend, folks – and be good to one another.
As usual, this is just my honest opinion and depend upon my mood, the weather, and what cycle the moon is in. Your taste buds will differ.
~ Until the next time, cheers – and remember to drink responsibly! ~
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My Rating Scale: Undrinkable, Barely Drinkable, Drinkable, Very Drinkable, and the ever popular Stay away! This is MY wine, you slut!
Outside of California, it’s Three Buck Chuck. Still drinkable, at least some of them are, but some are “eh” This summer I found a Pinot Grigio at TJs with just a bit of sparkle in it…one of the Contadina label. It was at the top of my price range, since I’m economizing big time, but very very drinkable. My favorite recent find is a dry white from one of the Washington wineries. Hold on, I don’t think I’ve recycled those bottles yet. Chateau Ste Michelle, dry Riesling, Columbia wineries. On sale at the local grocery for $7.99. Funny, my taste buds are leaning toward dry whites after years of wanting only dry reds.
Mona, our taste buds really do change – not only from day to day, but over the years. Enjoy! And I’ll definitely look for that Contadina Pinot Grigio. Thanks!
Thanks for pointing me in the direction of Two Buck Chuck. Given the sad state of the family pocketbook (property tax and car insurance in the same month, yikes!), I decided to give the Merlot a try, since no wine at all is not an option. It was a nice, modest, drinkable bottle and I’ll keep some on hand. Thanks again!
You are so welcome! We just opened a Cabernet – it’s drinkable as well, definitely should be in your pantry.
Cheers!
Good to know about the Cab too, as that’s my red of choice … and no wine at all is definitely NOT an option! It’s like you’re performing a public service, Christine.
I’m a huge fan of the Chuck. I was sad to see that it’s more expensive outside of CA, since I am now in MI, but $2.99 is still a steal. I’ve never had the money for the really good stuff, so I think I may be more willing to drink it because I don’t really know what I’m missing. 😉 Glad to know that I’m not just a cheap wino and that it is pretty drinkable.