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As we were out enjoying the sunshine this weekend we spotted a sign at the new Union Square Trader Joe's announcing a date for the impending opening of the wine shop -- April 10th. Fans of the famous (or is it infamous) "two buck Chuck" will be rejoicing in the streets and joining their bretheren in lines down 14th Street, although rumor has it that the wine will probably cost more around three dollars (it ranges in price from $1.99 to $3.39 among the existing TJ's branches where it is currently sold) -- that's the price consumers will be paying for the prime Manhattan real estate. We can't help but be a bit skeptical, but we're reserving judgment until we've actually tasted the stuff. If it's good, we may have a bit of a potential drinking problem on our hands -- a bottle of decent wine for less than the cost of a glass anywhere else is pretty damn tempting. Has anyone out there tried it? Tell us all about it in the comments or by email!
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I've tried the Sav. Blanc and Merlot. Not good at all! With Trader Joe's, it's all about the $5-6 Chianti's.
I used to live on Boston and pretty much depended on Chuck for my basic house wine and party wine (only at my house, I would never bring it as a gift!). When Chuck arrived in stores in Boston, there were a number of "taste tests" done to see how good it was... and it fooled a lot of people and experts who pegged it at a $12 or so bottle of wine. So the wine is much much better than you would expect from that price tag.... sometimes. It all depends on the stock they've purchased.
From what I understand, Charles Shaw doesn't actually have a vineyard, but they use grapes from all over the Napa Valley by purchasing the grapes after the first pressing. Most decent wineries won't use grapes after they've been pressed once, but they supposedly still have a lot of good juice. So that's what Chuck uses, and it turns out a pretty decent wine. The other (more common) way they get wine is to purchase it from real wineries that couldn't sell enough stock and need to make room for a new year. Chuck recycles it, and whether Chuck good or not depends on where they bought it from and whether or not it was a good year for that vineyard.
I forsee lots of underage NYU students trying to take advantage of this... hint to TJ: Better check IDs!
Back in my day, it was Carlo Rossi all the way (despite the terrible, terrible hang-overs)...
Man, so this is wine from used grapes? Gah. I'll have to taste and see if it compares to my jug o' yellowtail.
BTW, is the line still insane at TJ's?
Three Buck Chuck is good enough for everyday drinkin'. I brought home one of every type back from LA last year and most of them definately tasted more expensive. It's great for regular ol' table wine.
The whites are drinkable...A friend's father who lives in the San Fran areas says "the red are rat piss"....
Totally drinkable, depending on the batch. I heard a great story about when one of the Portland, OR locations received a new shipment ($1.99), and a guy bought one bottle of a red, went to his car, uncorked and tasted it, then proceeded to go back in the store and buy 3 cases!
Charles Shaw is horrendous. I guess it's fine if you're 22 and broke, but TJs has such good deals on wine in the $20 range, it's a waste to buy a case of crap.
Re: Kate (above): Most of Charles Shaw's grape source areas are in California's CENTRAL VALLEY, not the Napa Valley. That's a big, huge, enormous difference.
my love affair with Trader Joe's is gone. the quality sucks balls. The fruit is not refrigerated and is really dry. Has anyone tried the oranges? my minneolas and blood oranges were almost dessicated when I opened them. The Cereals aren't made with Whole grains and everything is made in a factory tha processes peanuts. The only thing good is the chocolate and the fruit leather but it's not worth waiting in that line. I'm coming back to you whole foods.
tj's wine is great for cooking...
just got back from tj's, the line was relatively normal although trying to get by all the clueless shoppers staring at the merchandise was annoying. The white truffle oil was a good buy for $8.99 (only three bottles left!), and so was the gallon of organic aloe vera juice ($7.99)...maybe that will hold me over until the wine shop opens!! APRIL 10th!!
i get drunk off it in seattle, im sure itll work fine for some pratt students and a shitload of nyu pricks looking to earn class.
TJ's wines are really good if you have people drinking with you who do not like wine that much. They are pretty standard and likeable by most in my opinion. I am pretty excited considering the amount of times I walked by looking for any signs of the Wine Shop opening.
The Charles Shaw is not anything special, TJ's real wine bargains are in the $8-$15 range (but isn't that where most wine bargains are?).
Three buck chuck makes a great table wine. I like the Shiraz, it's not going to blow you away, but you aren't going to gag either. Here's a little secret: in December they make a great Gamay, sometimes spelled Game, which is pretty delicious. But it goes quick....
CShaw is a great option, but also try out all the other super buys on the wine. at TJ's you can try just about anything without going broke and that's what i love.
Having lived in Cali, I tried just about every Two-Buck Chuck varietal and quickly realized it was a question of consistency, as others have mentioned. Though they lack complexity, I've had decent bottles of Chuck that suffice as everyday table wine. Unfortunately, the next shipment might be far less appealing; you never know. $2-3 might be a gamble worth taking, but it would be a good idea to try a bottle of that particular shipment before buying a case. Personally, I tired of it so now I'd go back for their other wine selections. Don't be afraid to ask the sommelier on duty for suggestions!
I was never big on fresh fruit at TJ's. The only items I ever purchased at the produce section were the bagged salad greens and grape tomatoes. Nuts and dried fruits are great. Cheeses and pasta are a good bargain. Some of their frozen foods are great, and their frozen desserts are divine!
you cannot approach "two buck chuck" as a wine connoisseur. making comments on the lack of complexity and consistancy is silly talk. the stuff is $2 a botttle. you don't even need to pour it in a glass. just drink it straight out and pass it around, botttle after bottle. for that, it is a fine wine unmatched.
weird, i wrote bottle with three t's twice in that last comment. my apologies.
tried the shiraz, I was surprised. its good cheap wine. no stomach ache or lethal hangover from too much sugar. compare with the yellotail mentioned above for 8 bucks less
The Chuck is okay for parties, but avoid the chardonnay. The best deal at TJ's is the Marchesi di Montecristo Nerello Del Bastardo that goes for about $9 and substitues nicely for Barolo when you're braising short ribs, etc.. it's drinkable and doesn't break the bank.
I prefer Bully Hill for my inexpensive (but drinkable!) wine. The one place I've found it locally is that discount liquor warehouse off astor place.
they're great cooking wines...and perfectly fine drinking wines. one of the news expose shows did a blind taste test with sommeliers and most of then picked the two buck as the $100 wines. think about it - there's nothing better in the $2 range.
if you go in expecting a $50 bottle, and you even know what a $50 bottle tastes like, then you're bound to be dissapointed. Spare us the catty comments though.
Two buck chuck is not even something I would cook with. Simply not good wine... makes a great story, if you are proud to be known as a cheapskate who serves cheap wine to friends.
However, it does have its uses. Its best use is that it keeps the tweedy patched-elbows jacket set away from the nicer wines in TJs, so there's always plenty of the good stuff in stock for me.
ahh yes j bert, not everyone is flushed with cash like you.
I'm not flushed with cash. I don't even have a damn job... but $3 Charles Shaw labelled wines, not so good. There are wines in TJ's at about $1 to $2 more that are much better than that Charles Shaw stuff...
TJ's beers are a good deal, too. More pricey than Bud but nicer in every way and less than $1 a bottle.
tasted in az. cabernet, pinot and merlot well worth $2. driinks like $15 to $20 wine. other wine very good value at slightly higher prices
The Two Buck Chuck stuff is shitty, sorry to say. Even at 2-3-4 bux it ain't worth fucking up your system with it. They do have other bargains, of course, but so does Astor or Wine Warehouse right around the corner.
Snobs can say what they want but this wine is ok. I'm a father and started my daughter's education fund when she was 1 month old and I put about a bmw lease payment per month into it. So, it's not the best, but you gotta cut corners somewhere if you want wine.
Also, it makes good wines taste like a spectacular treat! It's a nifty kind of conditioning.
I think the Shiraz is ok- maybe the tannin is bit
hard, but it compares favorably to some wines I've
paid $6 or $7 for.
I am a little disappointed in the food
at Trader Joes, especially the produce and the lack of Amy's brand frozen entrees, but I can't wait to try the Charles Shaw Cabarnet Sauvignon!
I've had all the wines by Chuck Shaw. Here's my opinion: Eh. And for 2 (or 3) bucks, "eh" is pretty good.
I had two-buck-chuck once (several types) at a party; it is repulsive; it isn't even good after you have had a few. I live about forty minutes from Napa wine country, and one can easily purchase good tasting bottles of wine for 3.99 to 19.99; treat yourself and your friends with respect---don't drink bad wine.
I think 2 buck chuck is alright, I've drank exspensive wines and cheaper wines and for $2.99 I will continue to drink the Chuck. I've tried the Shiraz,Merlot, and Cab, My favorite is the Merlot, its so drinkable. Also Trader Joe's fresh breads and cheeses are excellent. So I guess what I'm saying don't listen to other people try it and form your own opinion.
Duh.