The Wine Idiot Reviews: Trader Joe's Block 67 Boxed Chardonnay ($11.99)
Hold the phone, everyone. I just found a cheap Chardonnay I actually enjoy. Might have something to do with the fact that it doesn't taste very Chardonnay-ish?? But let's not get picky, shall we?
If you've been following along and checked out my reviews for the boxed shiraz and cabernet sauvignon options from TJ's Block 67 label, you know I'm a fan. They each come out to about $3/bottle of wine, but because it's in an airtight box, THEY LAST FOR 45 DAYS. This fact alone makes the Block 67 wines maybe Trader Joe's most budget-friendly offering.
So how is it? DELIGHTFUL. It's very light in color, which surprised me--I've come to expect chardonnay to be a richer yellow. And it straight-up smells like peaches. It's not super sweet, though! I would say a little peachy, aaaand...apples, maybe?? It's lighter and crisper than I expect a chardonnay to be--although somewhere in the finish you can totally taste the "chardonnay" part. It's a nice, smooth, round finish--not cloying or tart.
Something about drinking this wine reminded me of the first time I had chardonnay. It was super cheap bottle being served at my beloved 99-seat theater home here in LA, Sacred Fools. I took one sip and proclaimed that it tasted like soap. And it occurs to me that maybe the difference between tasting "soap" and tasting "chardonnay" is just a matter of acquired taste? Kinda like that dress that was either white/gold or blue/black. At first I tasted just soap, and I couldn't understand how anyone could taste anything else. But now, after many years of trying wines--maybe I've acquired enough of a taste for chardonnay that I can see past the soap?? I don't know.
What I do know is that I really like this wine. I have had...more than one glass for the past couple of nights. OH COME ON I'm blogging about WINE, I cannot be faulted for wanting to DRINK IT while I write about it.
What the box says: "Green apple and citrus aromas provide a medium bodied chardonnay with a light oak finish."
What the Wine Idiot says: Oh I think I nailed that, right?? Except for the citrus part which I interpreted as peaches. But I also thought "oak" frequently went hand-in-hand with "buttery," and there's nothing about this wine that's buttery.
ABV: 13%
Who's responsible for this? "Imported & Bottled by Universal Wine Network, Ripon, CA -- Wine of Australia"
Do I need a corkscrew? No, you just need some direction-following skills.
What do smarter people say about it? Bill over at BillsWineWandering really shuts me down on the whole buttery thing: "Looking at the Chardonnay the color depth was pretty good. It was a bright gold color and very clear. When I smelled the wine I noticed that it was very aromatic and fruity. Some of the aromas I noted were Apple, Melon, and Lemon. The nose was very refreshing! Tasting the Chardonnay it was not dry at all. I was impressed by the body, it was close to a full-bodied Chardonnay. It was very flavorful and I immediately noticed a soft buttery after taste. I could feel the wine on the top back part of the rough of my mouth. The flavor was a soft citric flavor. The finish was slightly short and I was wishing for it to last a bit longer. I have to say for a $10.00 three liter box of Chardonnay I was impressed!"
Should I bring it to a friend's house? Yes, especially if you're binging "House of Cards" or something.
