Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw Blend Chardonnay
Price: $3
Maker: Charles Shaw Winery, Napa County, California
Varietal: Chardonnay
Packaging: 750 ml bottle, natural cork
Alcohol: 12.5%
Our Rating: 8 out of 10
Trader Joe’s Charles Shaw Blend Chardonnay (aka Two Buck Chuck) has a nice pear aroma, and flavor notes of pear and oak. It was medium bodied, and had good clarity. We’re not regular Chardonnay tasters, but this one was better than its $3 price tag would suggest.
Based on this wine, along with today’s tasting of the low-priced Golden Gate Pinot Grigio, it seems that it’s easier to turn out a decent cheap white than a good but really cheap red. We haven’t had much luck with low-priced reds from Charles Shaw, Crane Lake, and similar brands. The Charles Shaw Chardonnay, though, could be passed off as a wine that might sell for $5, if not $10. Opinions on this wine vary, but trend to the positive. The Sydey Morning Herald commented, “The cheapie chardonnay (christened early in the tasting as “Two-Buck Chuck”) wasn’t awful. While it didn’t really taste like a chardonnay, it certainly didn’t taste like rocket fuel. ” And Wine Sediments lists some kudos for the Charles Shaw Chardonnay, noting that it outscored far more costly wines in various competitions. Unspun thinks it’s “decent”, noting, “If you’re stuck drinking cheap wines, the nice thing is that it goes down fairly smooth — definitely smoother than a Vendage! — and doesn’t have an aftertaste that lingers beyond what you’d want.”
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December 13th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
We were visiting Atlanta and went to Trader Joes and bought a case of the Charles Shaw Wine LOVE IT! Would like to purchase more… do you ship to Kentucky???
December 14th, 2006 at 12:16 am
Umm, we don’t ship anywhere, we just drink the stuff and tell everyone what we think.
As far as I know, you can only buy Charles Shaw at Trader Joe’s. If Kentucky allows mail order shipments, you can try hunting around for a source. Keep in mind that by the time you pay to ship a $3 wine, you’ll be in the price range of plenty of other decent (and probably better) wines.
July 2nd, 2007 at 5:09 pm
On the TV news the other night they said that in a wine competition Two Buck Chuck Chardonnay 2005 beat out all the others and took the top prize. I’m trying to find that in writing somewhere but don’t see it. I don’t remember what news I was watching.
Do you know where I can find something? By the way, we pay $2 for Two Buck Chuck in San Jose.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:16 pm
Here’s the story: http://www.boxwines.org/articles/two-buck-chuck-chardonnay-best-in-california.htm
You Californians are lucky - Two Buck Chuck really costs $2.
July 12th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
It was on ABS nightly news with Charles Gibson 5 minutes ago… Try their website. Hope that helps.
July 13th, 2007 at 8:41 am
My husband and I are interested in purchasing your wine. However, we have never ordered on line. Im sure sale may not be available one line due to alcohol laws. However can we give you a buisness contact that may sell your wine?
Thanks
July 13th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Angelica, we don’t make the wine, or even sell it - we just drink the stuff and, sometimes, report our findings. As far as I know, Charles Shaw wines are only available in Trader Joe’s retail stores.
July 19th, 2007 at 11:43 am
I live in PA and can’t find the Chardonnay anywhere. Can I order it from you? If so what are the requirements? Thanks.
Pat Swinderman
July 20th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Pat, we don’t sell the wine, and as far as I know it’s available only in Trader Joe’s retail outlets. You just don’t see much interest in selling $2-$3 wine by mail order. Wine bottles are heavy and breakable. By the time you pack it and ship it, that $3 bottle may be a $10 bottle. And, if you want to spend $10, you can probably visit any local shop and get a much better wine. Most of the $3 wines you’ll find are just not very good. I can see where the high opinions of Charles Shaw Chardonnay might generate interest, though.
August 9th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Just curious, what do you recommend having this wine with? Any types of food? I’m not much of a wine drinking but want to really try the Chardonnay. Any recommendations help. Thanks.
Jacky~
August 9th, 2007 at 9:04 pm
Chardonnay traditionally goes with lighter fare like fish or chicken, but when it’s in the 90s like it is right now, I like a chilled, crisp Chardonnay just for sipping.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Hi, I have a question I’d appreciate help with. In 2003 from an SF Trader Joe’s, I purchased a case of Two-Buck Chuck (Charles Shaw) Merlot 2002 and have stored the last few bottles in my wine rack in my kitchen ever since, here in Central FL. Would it be drinkable still or just it be poured out? Thanks
March 30th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
These wines are designed to be consumed more or less immediately, but an extra year or two of storage might not hurt too much. The only way to know is to open the bottle and see if you like it. If you do, great! If not, you are only out a few bucks if you dump it. I wouldn’t serve that one when the boss comes over for dinner, though.
April 5th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I totally took for granted the fact that such a wonderful and price-friendly wine was so readily available when I lived in Huntington Beach, CA. I moved a bit more than a year ago out to VA, and I must tell you it would be a great idea if Trader Joe’s were over on this side of the country : )