This past week I wanted to continue drinking through the Trader Joe kosher wines that we have been talking about these past few posts. I tasted the Sara Bee at home in combination with Sushi and the next day with Cholent. I also had the chance to taste the 2010 Terrenal Chardonnay at the synagogue that was served at a kiddush. I truly enjoyed pairing the Sara Bee Moscato with sushi. Sushi can be very spicy with extra wasabi, and the Moscato cut right through it all, which was quite nice. The Moscato had a fuller feeling in the mouth than the Blue Bottle Bartenura Moscato, which I tasted this past weekend at a synagogue kiddush, and it was a letdown in comparison to the Sara Bee Moscato that I had tasted at home.

The 2010 Terrenal Chardonnay has been increased from $3.99 to $4.99. Also, the wine is not as full and concentrated as the Prosecco or the Moscato that we have tasted so far from the Trader Joe lineup. The Terrenal was light and fruity without much structure. A simple white that is highly fruity.

The other fact I wanted to drive home about the Moscato is what I say at the end of the wine note. It is a wine that is very effervescent, with a nice acid core, and a fuller wine. It reminds me greatly of the Baron Herzog Late Harvest Chenin Blanc, but with far more bubbles, of course, but less complexity/roundness.

N.V. Sara Bee Moscato ((Italy, Puglia) – Score: B++
The nose on this effervescent light gold colored wine starts off with a powerful hit of honey and a touch of yeast. After a small bit of time, the wine explodes with summer and tropical fruits, peach, apricot, mango, pear, lychee, and papaya. This wine has a wonderful effervescence and fruity nose. The mouth on this medium plus bodied wine is lovely with nice effervescence, sweet honey, papaya, lychee, and pear. The mid palate is balanced nicely with acid and light toast, and effervescence. The finish is long and tasty with papaya, honey, and caramel, with the honey and caramel lingering long on the palate.
This is a more balanced, fuller, effervescent wine than the usual kosher blue bottle Bartenura Moscato. Nothing against the Bartenura Moscato, but it does not compare and it is at least double to triple the price of this wonderful wine. Get a bottle or two and try it out. The Sara Bee Moscato is available at Trader Joe. Finally, as usual my score NEVER includes the price. This wine is scored what it is scored solely on its merit – irrelevant to its price, availability, or its kosher status

2010 Terrenal Chardonnay (Chile, Central Valley, Curico Valley) – Score: B
The nose on this dark straw colored wine is hopping with kiwi, apple, lychee, pineapple, lemon, and tropical fruit. The mouth on this medium bodied wine has apple, lychee, pineapple, and lemon. The mid palate just flows off the mouth with little to no complexity or concentration with balanced acid. The finish is medium long with lemon, apple, lychee, and a drop of spice. This is truly a nice plain wine with nothing that grabs you, but an OK qauffer. Just a simple wine with little WOW factor.