A Bargain Wine That Just Misses The Mark

It's Trader Joe's time again. I can't help myself. Every time I need some nuts, soap, chips, or salsa, I end up bringing home a couple of bottles of wine. The market often sells special label wines which can only be found there. They generally turn out to be pretty good. At least I have had good luck with their wine bargains.

The 2024 Maison Barboulot Chardonnay-Viognier will get your attention. The label is said to be inspired by the classic look of French wine labels, but there are grape names in giant script, which is definitely a departure for wine bottles en Francais. 

The grapes in question are 70% Chardonnay and 30% Viognier, harvested from vineyards in the Languedoc region. The back label notes that these vineyards are "nestled at the foothills of the Black Mountain Range." The region is the Pays d'Oc IGP. Alcohol clicks 13% abv and it sells for just $6 Trader Joe's. 

This wine is straw colored. Its nose gives up strong aromas of stone fruit laced with oak. There is a floral aspect in there, but it has to fight its way past the peach, pear, and apricot notes. The palate is fairly tame. Pear, apricot, and oak dance together again. It's a pleasing taste, but fairly straightforward. The low level of acidity prevents it from being a good wine for pairing with food. I used it for cooking a lemon-butter sauce and was pleased. It will also serve as a poolside sipper when given a nice chill. 

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