Wine Haul - Trader Joe - Bulk Buys La Sonriete Garnacha & 2019 Margaux

The online reviews are accurate and this $7 Trader Joe wine is a bulk buy. The 2021 - La Sonriente is pure Garnache/Grenache and the main component of many Red Blends like my growing favorite GSM wines. I also picked up another bulk buy the 2016 Rancho Viejo a GSMT, T for Tempranillo.

The Rancho Viejo was delicious and a good Segway from the pure Garnache La Sonriete. I’m pleased with both and these are worth the bulk buy status at $7 a pop.

To round out my growing collection, I went upmarket and picked up a 2019 Margaux Grand Cru from Chateau Giscours. I’ll try to grab 1 nicer bottle of wine each month to eventually have 4-5 nice bottles for special events.

I’ve also mostly filled my 24 bottle wine rack from IKEA. Paid $60 for the Omar Bottle Rack. I’ve now 19 bottles loaded and drinking a bottle a week so I can refill now 2-3 bottles every 2 week visit to Trader Joe’s. And monthly get a nicer bottle. I’m going to limit this to 20 bottles and keep the top row empty.

Update - 12/24/23 - Giscours Margaux - meh

For the price, I paid $60 for the Margaux and expected something good. While it’s decent and better than a $10 wine, it’s marginally better than a $20 and about par with $30-40 wines I’ve had in the past. Basically, it’s underwhelming relative the price. If this sold for $20-30, I’d be ecstatic. But not $60.

Update - 3/31/24 - La Sonriete is a Bulk Buy

I’ve been relying on Reverse Wine Snobs as a source of wine reviews and they have similar tastes in wine as me and I agree with their recommendation that La Sonriete is a bulk buy.

It’s not the greatest wine, but it’s because the price is so cheap that it makes this a fantastic value. So much so it’s basically cheaper than beer. It has a very fruit forward that is excellent the first day.

It gets slightly bitter and acidic on the second day, but still drinkable and I’ve been able to still enjoy it on a third day, although by then I usually only have enough to pour one serving. I’ve found a sip of ice water between sips of this wine on a second day actually makes it taste so much better.

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