Charles Shaw Wines

Dee Randall said:

I found the Charles Shaw wines at Trader Joe's, Centerville, VA. They
are $3.29. (This store opened November 11, 2005.)

I've heard it referred to as "2 Buck Chuck", but that's in California.

--
Andy
http://tinyurl.com/dzl7h

"Andy" <q> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dee Randall said:

I found the Charles Shaw wines at Trader Joe's, Centerville, VA. They
are $3.29. (This store opened November 11, 2005.)

I've heard it referred to as "2 Buck Chuck", but that's in California.

--
Andy
http://tinyurl.com/dzl7h

Yes, everything is more dear here.
Dee Dee

Dee Randall said:

your teeth purple. They were not IMO good value.

You bought Welch's grape juice by mistake.

Quoted message said:

It's been a long time since I've bought a California wine, but the Cabernet
Sauvignon (which I'm having a sip of in preparation for my dinner to get
ready (vegetarian lasagna, fresh spinach & butternut squash, and ciabatta)
are as good as any I bought in California....

When was the last time you bought a CA wine, 1872?

While I'll occasionally drink a bottle of Robert Shaw or use if for
cooking, measured against good CA wines, it's [censored]. It's called Two
Buck Chuck (2$CHK) in CA because that's all it costs. When it first
hit the market several years ago there was a grape glut and the
quality was pretty decent due to the vintner's ability to buy good
grapes cheap. But, in the last year or so, with the grape market
rebounding, the quality has dropped drasically and two bucks is about
all it's worth.

As for the majority of CA wines, they are excellent. While CA wines
do have a distinct character, quality wise they eual or exceed the
finest wines in the world. CA wine making techniques have
revolutionized the science and have improved wines the world over.

nb

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I found the Charles Shaw wines at Trader Joe's, Centerville, VA. They are
$3.29. (This store opened November 11, 2005.)

I bought 6 bottles for two reasons, not necessarily in this order: 1) they are
cheap and 2) several people on this ng said they were (my
words/interpretation) good value.
DH and I have never cared for California wines. Reason: they all taste like
California wines and have something in common, we know not what, except
probably for the barrels and probably the fact the fact that the reds turn
your teeth purple. They were not IMO good value.
It's been a long time since I've bought a California wine, but the Cabernet
Sauvignon (which I'm having a sip of in preparation for my dinner to get ready
(vegetarian lasagna, fresh spinach & butternut squash, and ciabatta) are as
good as any I bought in California (I was not a screw-top wine drinker.) and
these are corked wines.
Dee Dee

Two Buck Chuck is a reasonable value for the money - California wines run the
gamut form horrid to great. Although TBC is a reasonable value try the TJ'S
Chilean Reserve ( in California it's 2.99 a bottle) - the reds are a quantum
leap above TBC.

Remember wines are created to be consumed in some period of time, next decade,
next year, next month, or next week.

This is a reasonable explanation of color, taste etc.

http://www.zuccafoods.com/wine/terms_phrases/terms_phrases.htm

Dimitri

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I found the Charles Shaw wines at Trader Joe's, Centerville, VA. They are
$3.29. (This store opened November 11, 2005.)

I bought 6 bottles for two reasons, not necessarily in this order: 1) they
are cheap and 2) several people on this ng said they were (my
words/interpretation) good value.
DH and I have never cared for California wines. Reason: they all taste
like California wines and have something in common, we know not what,
except probably for the barrels and probably the fact the fact that the
reds turn your teeth purple. They were not IMO good value.

Isn't two buck Chuck made in California? If you don't like California
wines, then a cheapo one probably isn't going to change your mind. We buy
it occasionally and find it drinkable. But for a couple bucks more, you can
find other decent wines at TJs.

C

"Chris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:uxrnf.37344$Y7.16646@trnddc02...

Quoted message said:

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I found the Charles Shaw wines at Trader Joe's, Centerville, VA. They are
$3.29. (This store opened November 11, 2005.)

I bought 6 bottles for two reasons, not necessarily in this order: 1)
they are cheap and 2) several people on this ng said they were (my
words/interpretation) good value.
DH and I have never cared for California wines. Reason: they all taste
like California wines and have something in common, we know not what,
except probably for the barrels and probably the fact the fact that the
reds turn your teeth purple. They were not IMO good value.

Isn't two buck Chuck made in California? If you don't like California
wines, then a cheapo one probably isn't going to change your mind. We buy
it occasionally and find it drinkable. But for a couple bucks more, you
can find other decent wines at TJs.

C

I never expected buying these wines to change my mind about California
wines. I am broadminded and open to suggestion of others who seem coherent
on this ng. I bought 12 "decent" bottles today at TJ's today. None of them
were California wines. Since the 2 buck Chuck was cheap and had some
recommendations for good value from some discussions in this ng, I was
curious to find out if there was anything to the suggestion (entertainment
value for not much money). I've thrown down the drain lots of expensive
wine. This is the price you pay for an interest in food and beverage
consumption. This is not a life or death situation for me. Only stating my
opinion, and I always appreciate others'.
Dee Dee

"notbob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dee Randall said:

your teeth purple. They were not IMO good value.

You bought Welch's grape juice by mistake.

Quoted message said:

It's been a long time since I've bought a California wine, but the
Cabernet
Sauvignon (which I'm having a sip of in preparation for my dinner to get
ready (vegetarian lasagna, fresh spinach & butternut squash, and
ciabatta)
are as good as any I bought in California....

When was the last time you bought a CA wine, 1872?

While I'll occasionally drink a bottle of Robert Shaw or use if for
cooking, measured against good CA wines, it's [censored]. It's called Two
Buck Chuck (2$CHK) in CA because that's all it costs. When it first
hit the market several years ago there was a grape glut and the
quality was pretty decent due to the vintner's ability to buy good
grapes cheap. But, in the last year or so, with the grape market
rebounding, the quality has dropped drasically and two bucks is about
all it's worth.

As for the majority of CA wines, they are excellent. While CA wines
do have a distinct character, quality wise they eual or exceed the
finest wines in the world. CA wine making techniques have
revolutionized the science and have improved wines the world over.

nb

"When was the last time you bought a CA wine, 1872?"

Yeah, right!
http://www.scripophily.net/naandsowico1.html

I've heard your last paragraph ad infinitum; it's lost on me.
Dee Dee

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dee Randall said:

I found the Charles Shaw wines at Trader Joe's, Centerville, VA. They are
$3.29. (This store opened November 11, 2005.)

I bought 6 bottles for two reasons, not necessarily in this order: 1) they
are cheap and 2) several people on this ng said they were (my
words/interpretation) good value.
DH and I have never cared for California wines. Reason: they all taste like
California wines and have something in common, we know not what, except
probably for the barrels and probably the fact the fact that the reds turn
your teeth purple. They were not IMO good value.

Two buck Chuck is US$1.99 here. I wanted some for my birthday last
week. It didn't happen. I wanted pizza. I got it. It had major
garlic, onion, pepperoni and other strong stuff. A more expensive wine
just doesn't make sense.

--
Dan Abel
[email hidden]
Petaluma, California, USA

"Dan Abel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dee Randall said:

I found the Charles Shaw wines at Trader Joe's, Centerville, VA. They
are
$3.29. (This store opened November 11, 2005.)

I bought 6 bottles for two reasons, not necessarily in this order: 1)
they
are cheap and 2) several people on this ng said they were (my
words/interpretation) good value.
DH and I have never cared for California wines. Reason: they all taste
like
California wines and have something in common, we know not what, except
probably for the barrels and probably the fact the fact that the reds
turn
your teeth purple. They were not IMO good value.

Two buck Chuck is US$1.99 here. I wanted some for my birthday last
week. It didn't happen. I wanted pizza. I got it. It had major
garlic, onion, pepperoni and other strong stuff. A more expensive wine
just doesn't make sense.

--
Dan Abel
[email hidden]
Petaluma, California, USA

I agree that a more expensive wine doesn't make sense in the case you are
speaking of.

However, what does make sense to me is that whether a wine is expensive or
not, when you buy a wine, you should always within the price range that you
pay for that bottle of wine, buy a wine that you like. That is my only
point. I have a preference of the wines I spend my money for, and I don't
expect anyone to agree with me; I'm only stating my opinion of what I like
and don't like.

If anyone wants to say that I have not enough experience to make a judgment,
then perhaps they must've been drinking a lot more wine than I have. :-))
Let them be the judge of their own expertise, not mine. And their own nose.

I'm sorry you didn't get your wine with your pizza. Perhaps it'll happen
later.
I've been without any wine for quite some time as I've been having some
health problems, so I'm ready to get started again!
I received a box of chocolates in the mail tonight; it was the first
chocolate that I've had in some time, too. So, Happy days are Here Again -
shortly I hope.

UPS is very innovative. Our driveway is very steep, probably 1,000' up and
another 1,000' down the other way and we're the last to get rid of the snow
because of the trees shading the driveway. Instead of coming back tomorrow,
they tied the box of candy to a tree about 40' up the hill in a huge plastic
bag which was blowin' in the wind. If it had been a little darker, we
wouldn't have seen it. It's probably going to be in the teens here tonight.
Very cold.

Dee Dee

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

As for the majority of CA wines, they are excellent. While CA wines
do have a distinct character, quality wise they eual or exceed the
finest wines in the world. CA wine making techniques have
revolutionized the science and have improved wines the world over.

nb

LOL - I've read the same blurb (no slur on you intended) virtually verbatim in
a (self) promoting article on the New Zealand wine industry. And something not
too dissimilar on an Aussie bottle of Red.

Unfortunately for us (the NZ wine drinkers) the vintners really believe in that
[censored] so the decent wines here are about 100% overpriced relative to where they
should be at price-wise compared to, say, wines of equal quality from Italy and
France. <sigh>

-Peter

--
=========================================
firstname dot lastname at gmail fullstop com

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

UPS is very innovative. Our driveway is very steep, probably 1,000' up
and another 1,000' down the other way and we're the last to get rid of the
snow because of the trees shading the driveway. Instead of coming back
tomorrow, they tied the box of candy to a tree about 40' up the hill in a
huge plastic bag which was blowin' in the wind. If it had been a little
darker, we wouldn't have seen it. It's probably going to be in the teens
here tonight. Very cold.

Wow! That is amazing. But definitely worth running out to cut it down if
you haven't had chocolate in a long time.

Chris

Dee Randall said:

Quoted message said:

As for the majority of CA wines, they are excellent. While CA wines
do have a distinct character, quality wise they eual or exceed the
finest wines in the world. CA wine making techniques have
revolutionized the science and have improved wines the world over.

Quoted message said:

I've heard your last paragraph ad infinitum; it's lost on me.

Yeah, I guess it was pretty commercial sounding. But, what was lost?
You don't believe CA wines are some of the finest wines? They have a
distinct character? CA winemaking techniques have improved winemaking
techniques? What? Or you just don't want to discuss it?

nb

"notbob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dee Randall said:

Quoted message said:

As for the majority of CA wines, they are excellent. While CA wines
do have a distinct character, quality wise they eual or exceed the
finest wines in the world. CA wine making techniques have
revolutionized the science and have improved wines the world over.

Quoted message said:

I've heard your last paragraph ad infinitum; it's lost on me.

Yeah, I guess it was pretty commercial sounding. But, what was lost?
You don't believe CA wines are some of the finest wines? They have a
distinct character? CA winemaking techniques have improved winemaking
techniques? What? Or you just don't want to discuss it?

nb

Yes, CA wines do have a distinct character (for me). One that I do not like.
I don't agree that quality wise, they equal or exceed the finest wines in
the world; and what do I base this on? Drinking them; however I have not
drunk the finest wines in the world - far from it.
I have no way of knowing about "CA wine making techniques..." only what I've
read that they do have.
You're right: No, I don't want to 'discuss it. I made up my mind over the
30 years I lived on the west coast drinking California wines at every turn.
I was stating my opinion. I'm firm in my taste buds on this one.
Thanks for the offer, nb,
Dee Dee

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I never expected buying these wines to change my mind about California
wines. I am broadminded and open to suggestion of others who seem
coherent on this ng.

Aha! Therein lies the problem...some of us only *seem* coherent. ;-)

Quoted message said:

I bought 12 "decent" bottles today at TJ's today. None of them were
California wines. Since the 2 buck Chuck was cheap and had some
recommendations for good value from some discussions in this ng, I was
curious to find out if there was anything to the suggestion (entertainment
value for not much money). I've thrown down the drain lots of expensive
wine. This is the price you pay for an interest in food and beverage
consumption.

That's certainly true. Same goes for other TJ's products. I've tried a
handful of things that other folks have raved about, and been puzzled about
all the hype.

Quoted message said:

This is not a life or death situation for me. Only stating my opinion,
and I always appreciate others'.
Dee Dee

Yep, that's part of the the fun of this group. Didn't mean to squash your
experimental nature!

Dee Randall said:

You're right: No, I don't want to 'discuss it.
Thanks for the offer, nb,

'nuff said! 😉

nb

Dee Randall said:

You're right: No, I don't want to 'discuss it.
Thanks for the offer, nb,

'nuff said! 😉

nb

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

This is not a life or death situation for me. Only stating my opinion,
and I always appreciate others'.
Dee Dee

Yep, that's part of the the fun of this group. Didn't mean to squash your
experimental nature!

No, you didn't at all.
I think you guys are pretty nice.
Dee Dee

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dee Randall said:

I found the Charles Shaw wines at Trader Joe's, Centerville, VA. They are
$3.29. (This store opened November 11, 2005.)
I bought 6 bottles for two reasons, not necessarily in this order: 1) they
are cheap and 2) several people on this ng said they were (my
words/interpretation) good value.

They're good value when you first open them. In my experience they
become nearly undrinkable the second day, even if you vaccuum-store
them. From the second day onward, though, they're good to add to
marinades.

Quoted message said:

DH and I have never cared for California wines. Reason: they all
taste like California wines and have something in common, we know
not what, except probably for the barrels and probably the fact the
fact that the reds turn your teeth purple. They were not IMO good
value.

The barrels? French wines use French oak. CA wines also use French
oak, or a mixture of French and American.

Depends where you get your California wine, I guess. We tend to buy
estate wines, small productions, often so small you won't ever find
them in stores; you have to go to the winery. I buy them *because*
they taste unique, unlike other wines. And often they vary from
year to year in interesting ways, if you keep going back to the
winery and buying more. But you have to go there. Both Paso Robles
and Amador County have a high concentration of excellent small
wineries.

If you every try Dobra Zemlja Syrah or Viognier, for example, you
will never again be satisfied with a Syrah or Viognier from anywhere
else -- especially true for their Bulgarian Oak (not French oak)
Syrah. Same goes for Sobon Estate Primativo (not the blend, but the
pure one). And Pinotage is grown in something like only 3 places in
the U.S.; one of them is Sutter Ridge near Sutter Creek in Amador
County. It's unique, I like it, so I buy it.

-A

"axlq" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dee Randall said:

I found the Charles Shaw wines at Trader Joe's, Centerville, VA. They are
$3.29. (This store opened November 11, 2005.)
I bought 6 bottles for two reasons, not necessarily in this order: 1) they
are cheap and 2) several people on this ng said they were (my
words/interpretation) good value.

They're good value when you first open them. In my experience they
become nearly undrinkable the second day, even if you vaccuum-store
them. From the second day onward, though, they're good to add to
marinades.

Quoted message said:

DH and I have never cared for California wines. Reason: they all
taste like California wines and have something in common, we know
not what, except probably for the barrels and probably the fact the
fact that the reds turn your teeth purple. They were not IMO good
value.

The barrels? French wines use French oak. CA wines also use French
oak, or a mixture of French and American.

Depends where you get your California wine, I guess. We tend to buy
estate wines, small productions, often so small you won't ever find
them in stores; you have to go to the winery. I buy them *because*
they taste unique, unlike other wines. And often they vary from
year to year in interesting ways, if you keep going back to the
winery and buying more. But you have to go there. Both Paso Robles
and Amador County have a high concentration of excellent small
wineries.

If you every try Dobra Zemlja Syrah or Viognier, for example, you
will never again be satisfied with a Syrah or Viognier from anywhere
else -- especially true for their Bulgarian Oak (not French oak)
Syrah. Same goes for Sobon Estate Primativo (not the blend, but the
pure one). And Pinotage is grown in something like only 3 places in
the U.S.; one of them is Sutter Ridge near Sutter Creek in Amador
County. It's unique, I like it, so I buy it.

-A

Interestingly, we bought a (el cheapo) pinotage - Zafara from South Africa
2004 - yesterday at TJ's. I'd not seen it so was curious.
Googling: it says:
2004 Beyerskloof Pinotage always one of the best Pinotage values out of
South Africa. Guess I missed that brand.

I've wondered what barrels Italy use. At least Italy's wine doesn't taste
of the barrel -- to me. Who knows, maybe it is the Italian barrel taste
that I prefer -- ha ha!
Dee Dee