Jake Flaherty

8.0

Trader Joe’s
Grand Reserve
Cairanne
This is an unusual wine for Trader Joe’s. They do carry several Rhone wines, but this is the first Cairanne I have seen. The blend is 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre.

The nose is of tart, black cherry. There is a seedy spiciness as well. It’s medium bodied. The flavor is more black plum, than cherry. There is a reserved softness to the fruit. The tannins and the acidity are tightly integrated; more tannic than acidic. The soft fruit is a pleasant counter-balance to the more assertive tannic acidity on the backend.
7/10 — 3 days ago

Jake Flaherty

10

It’s a phenomenal wine in all aspects. I don’t know what else to say. — 8 years ago

Jake Flaherty

8.0

A bright and lively Chardonnay. A little bit of citrus and melon. — 8 years ago

Jake Flaherty

8.0

On its own the fruit might seem lacking and out of balance, but paired with the pasta with a wild boar sugo, it was great. — 7 years ago

Jake Flaherty

8.0

The 30% Sangiovese gives some body and rounds out the flavor. Solid tannic backbone and dried fruit. It went great with the fat and oil in my braised pork. — 8 years ago

Jake Flaherty

8.5

There was still a lot of flavor in this one; dried fruit and leather. — 8 years ago

Jake Flaherty

8.5

Jake had this 7 years ago

Jake Flaherty

8.5

The fruit is surprisingly fresh tasting. It has crossed over into that older wine smell and taste, but not too pronounced. The body is light for a Syrah. The fruit is more raspberry than blackberry. All the flavors are well balanced. — 7 years ago

Jake Flaherty

8.5

A lot of life left in this one. Solid old cherry fruit with just enough acidity to round it out. — 8 years ago

Jake Flaherty

7.0

This one had too much old barn and wet dirt qualities for my taste. There was still some fruit and acidity but it was muddled in a way that was more unique than enjoyable. — 8 years ago