Trader Joe’s is a little bit of a drive away from me so when I go, I generally stock up on affordable wine because… well, if I can have a somewhat decent wine at a reasonable price, why not? This is what Wine of the Week is about anyway- finding cheap affordable wines that you can actually drink.

So when I go, I’ll buy enough to make my wine rack look somewhat full and I work my way through the rack every subsequent week, trying one or two. The issue is, that it’s always hit or miss. Sometimes I find some great wines, and sometimes they’re not so great. In fact, I’ve had wines that weren’t even worthy of one of my entertaining reviews because I couldn’t find a single thing positive to say about them. This happens more often than not, and I don’t like to be the kind of person who spreads negativity (rememeber my post on Karma?).

But every now and then, I have to let you guys know what’s what. Again- this is the whole point of Wine and Lavender- to save you time and money when it comes to buying affordable wines. You might remember from this past Thanksgiving a wine that I applauded, a Beaujolais Villages that I liked. Well, it’s been a while and I decided it was time to try another….

In this 18th Edition of Wine and Lavender’s Wine of the Week, we will be exploring:

J.L. Quinson Beaujolais Villages

Trader Joe’s Price: $7.99

Sight:  On the slightly lighter side of red… but still rich looking.

Smell: Cherry, cherry, cherry!!! It smells very good and a little sweet. There may also be some cranberry hiding in there.

Taste/First Impression: Tart cranberry that rolls off so very smoothly. I’ve had wines the complete opposite of this, and I have to say that I enjoy this much more. It’s definitely not as sweet as it smells.

After taste: It leaves a dull and dry-ish taste that lingers. It’s not horrible, but not pleasant.

The Experience: Overall, I was pretty excited to try this one because of the sweet scent that was coming from it. However, after a tart beginning it transformed into bland that ended with a bad aftertaste. Definitely a $5 bottle, but priced a bit higher. I was not impressed.

The Next Day: I ended up giving my husband (who didn’t mind this wine at all) the rest of my glass. In all honesty, I didn’t want to take in the extra calories if it wasn’t worth it.

The Label: “…his wine has good aromatic persistence.” Yep. And that’s about it.

Alc. %: 13

Repeat: No

Rating: 2  I’ve had worse, but I definitely wasn’t happy with this one.

I’m sorry, Quinson Beaujolais Villages, but there are better wines out there. 🙁 Check out Jason Stephens Merlot, or if you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary, I encourage you to check out Kissing Tree Vineyards White Merlot.

If you need some Trader Joe’s recommendations, check out this one and if you’re looking for a good Beaujolais Village, check one out here.

Do you have a favorite Beaujolais Villages? Let me know in the comments below!

Pam

Pamela is a Freelance Writer, Blogger, WAHM of 3, and Veteran Military Wife living in Southwest Texas. Raised in the Northeast and having lived a few years in the Pacific Northwest, she likes to write about mom life, parenting, frugal living, experiences, and WINE. (Lots of wine!) When she’s not busy chasing toddlers around, you can find her on the blog or on social media. Check her out on Instagram: instagram.com/wineandlavender