Gothamist: ETA on Two Three Buck Chuck

Ari

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:50:27 -0500

Duh.

Jeannie

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 23:23:56 -0500

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.

malvasia45

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:23:25 -0500

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.

Mark

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:06:45 -0500

I've had all the wines by Chuck Shaw. Here's my opinion: Eh. And for 2 (or 3) bucks, "eh" is pretty good.

Mitch

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 23:24:50 -0500

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!

Dave

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:26:27 -0500

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.

Terry Hughes

Sun, 09 Apr 2006 19:59:17 -0500

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.

shorts

Thu, 06 Apr 2006 21:03:22 -0500

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

J BErt

Wed, 05 Apr 2006 10:40:52 -0500

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.

DrunkAtNYU

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 19:02:23 -0500

ahh yes j bert, not everyone is flushed with cash like you.

J Bert

Tue, 04 Apr 2006 13:04:20 -0500

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.

hjkbn,

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 20:38:53 -0500

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.

Walter S

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 18:47:56 -0500

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.

S

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 17:16:20 -0500

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.

herb

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 17:12:07 -0500

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

troy

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 16:49:07 -0500

weird, i wrote bottle with three t's twice in that last comment. my apologies.

troy

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 16:46:50 -0500

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.

wumanjoo

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 15:53:04 -0500

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!

e

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 15:33:17 -0500

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.

falconred

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 15:14:43 -0500

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?).

Silly Panda

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 15:12:17 -0500

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.

kcip

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 15:01:11 -0500

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.

petra

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 15:00:25 -0500

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!!

m

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:39:20 -0500

tj's wine is great for cooking...

GOD IS DOG

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:30:26 -0500

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.

CaliforniaLivin

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:27:23 -0500

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.

Crap Wine

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:24:50 -0500

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.

Jane Minty

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:18:51 -0500

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!

mjv

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:18:48 -0500

The whites are drinkable...A friend's father who lives in the San Fran areas says "the red are rat piss"....

Papercutninja

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:15:06 -0500

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.

Rocknrope

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:11:11 -0500

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?

Dirk

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:04:21 -0500

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)...

Kate

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:01:35 -0500

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.

Justin

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 13:30:52 -0500

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.