In an early post about Republican presidential candidate, Mike ("2-Buck Huck") Huckabee (R-AR), the references to "2-Buck Chuck" and "3-Buck Chuck" and "Trader Joe's" needed amplification. Look no further. 2-Buck Chuck stunned the wine world by winning prizes in two different venues for its Shiraz and its Chardonnay. The Charles Shaw Winery exists only on its labels; the actual vintner is a maverick wine-maker in NoCal: Fred Franzia, a distant relative on the Gallo family vine. He's a reclusive businessman considered a pain in the neck to California's wine establishment.
Franzia controls scores of brands and labels including Charles Shaw that under-sell the prestige vineyards. And "Two Buck Chuck" is just his latest broadside: "We have others up our sleeve we think are even better coming out."
He also controls more than 30 square miles of California vineyards. And he thinks big. Next he plans to take on invading Australian wine makers.
"We're going to take 'em on. Slap 'em around as hard as we can!" he said.
So much for ANZUS relations. If this is (fair & balanced) economic chauvinism, so be it.
[x cheapwinereviews.com]
Charles Shaw (Two-Buck-Chuck) Cabernet
By Dave
When people find out that I enjoy cheap wine enough to devote a website to it, they usually ask me if I have been to Trader Joe’s. My response, until last week, has always been “No, not yet”.
Well, I finally caved and took a trip to Detroit, the nearest Trader Joe’s location for me here in Lansing. Ann Arbor might actually be closer, but as an MSU Spartan, I try to stay out of there.
I’d like to preface this review of Charles Shaw Cabernet with a synopsis of Trader Joe’s. If you have one near you, go there. If not for the wine, then for the thousands of food items that pack the small market. I spent 80 dollars, which sounds like a bit much especially for me. I ended up leaving with 2 cases of wine and enough food for a week. Fresh mozzarella, fresh gnocchi, fresh salsa (notice a pattern?), Guacamole chips, Trader Joe’s Marinara, soups, veggies…. I was in heaven. They have got all kinds of cheeses, breads, meats, micro-brewed beers, and their wine selection was out of this world. What a great store!
Trader Joe’s is the exclusive retailer of Charles Shaw Wines, better known to most as “Two-buck Chuck”. In California these wines sell for $1.99, which is just amazing. Here in Michigan, though, the price was $2.99.
Did we like it? Was it worth the trip?
Hell yes it was! For 3 dollars, I don’t think it could have been any better. The Cabernet was great. At first, I found it to be a little sweet, but looking back, I was actually enjoying the salsa with the wine, which probably wasn’t a great combination. Along with the Cab, I also purchased some of the Shiraz, Merlot, and Chardonnay (reviews coming soon).
Congrats to Two-Buck-Chuck and Trader Joe’s for achieving the highest rating available here on Cheap Wine Reviews. Hats off to you!
Rating: 10/10
Price: $2.99
Place of Purchase Trader Joe’s
[Dave wrote when he launched cheapwinereviews.com in 2005:
Hello, and welcome!
My name is Dave, and I drink a LOT of wine. I don’t feel that I am qualified to “teach” others much of anything in life, but I certainly feel qualified to build this website. I’ve been drinking wine on a daily basis for many years, and I want to show you, my readers, that it is indeed possible to find good, quality wines below $15.00, $10.00, and sometimes even under $5.00.
You won’t see any of the fancy words used in real wine tasting events here. Just your average-Joe’s borderline-alcoholic’s opinions.
So join me, and I’ll be your tipsy tour guide as we embark on our journey to find cheap, quality wines from all over the globe.]
Copyright © 2007 Cheap Wine Reviews
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