A Trader Joe’s Obsession?

A few days ago I opened another bottle of my Trader Joe‘s wine case. It was a Côtes du Rhône Villages, and I paid $6.99 for it. Valréas “Cuvée Prestige” is the main text on the label. It’s 75 percent Grenache and 25 percent Syrah, is a product of Les Vigneron de l’Enclave des Papes, and it’s (obviously) from France.

We were making hamburgers — hand-cut short rib mixed with some chuck — and decided that the Valréas’ time had come. I opened the bottle and poured a small amount into my glass, and the first taste was a bit tight. I hoped it would loosen, but in the meantime enjoyed the cherry and raspberry notes. I grated a white onion into the meat mixture, then ground some salt and black pepper into it. I formed the patties, then, in the middle of each, added a pat of butter. James Beard’s books taught me that, and I have followed his tutelage for years now when it comes to hamburgers.

We poured more wine, and were pleased at its change, slight though it was. Rounder, relaxed, with supple yet soft tannins. We sipped a bit, began grilling the burgers, and set about buttering the buns, which we would grill alongside the patties. The wine was definitely worth the price, and was a good pairing with our medium-rare burgers. The crispy charring of the meat, the slight spice imparted by the onion, the aioli — all three of these profiles seemed to love the wine.

Côtes du Rhône Villages is a great classification to know, and the wines are often great values. Start with this one, if you wish; I doubt you will be unhappy if you do.

Looking for more wines? Read these stories for some great picks:

The Riesling Apostle Talks
Seattle-Based Writer Shares His Favorites
Ms. Champagne Wants a Nebuchadnezzar
The Wine Artist Goes for Chardonnay
This American Loves Spain and Its Wines
Houston’s Wine Whisperer Has a Soft Touch
Blackberry Farm’s Somm Pours in Splendor
Mr. Pinot Noir: Donald Patz of Patz & Hall
A Cork Dork Wants to Spend More Time in Tuscany
Sommelier Turned Restaurateur Daringly Goes Greek
Texas Master Sommelier Debunks Wine Geeks
A Bottle From Gigondas Changed This Houston Man’s Life
Oil Man Falls in Love, and the Rest is Good-Taste History
Ryan Cooper of Camerata is a Riesling Man
Mixing It Up With Jeremy Parzen, an Ambassador of Italy
Sommelier at One of Houston’s Top Wine Bars Loves Underdogs