Charles Shaw – 2 Buck Chuck – wines just sold the 400 millionth bottle of the $1.99 wine.

Sounds like a Frugal Wine to me.

Their one high speed line can bottle twice the amount of the entire Napa Valley.

Picture below is a case of the most Frugal Wine you can get. A $1.99 a bottle of 2 Buck Chuck Merlot. It’s actually ok (sorta)  if you get a good case. At some locations it is up to $3.99 per bottle.

However the “Cellared and Bottled by Charles Shaw Winery, Napa CA” leads many to believe it’s Napa Valley wine when actually that’s just where it’s cellared and bottled. The case/bottles we viewed did not have the Napa name on them. Seems this was resolved in a court case that went all the way to the Supreme Court.

Not all the grapes are from Napa. California law requires that any wine labeled with the Napa Appelation have at least 75% Napa grapes in them.

These Charles shaw two Buck Chuck wines come in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. They are labeled as blends with no info on the source of the grapes or the percentage of what grapes are using in the blends.

Two Buck Chuck reviewed.

Not going to report tasting notes on these 2 Buck Chuck wines – blends. I will just say they are drinkable and can serve as an inexpensive table wine for daily use for those on a budget. Typically unremarkable.

That said…

The press has given many of them good reviews, they have won some awards and they have definitely developed a cult following.

Right now I’m sipping Chateau Ste Michelle Merlot Columbia Valley 2004 Washington State at $11 on sale, usually $13. Is it 5 to 6 times better than the Charles Shaw Merlot? No. Is it better? Yes but not $9 better.

and that’s where I think the Two Buck Chuck brand shines in value.

Still if you try different brands you can easily get a good bottle of Merlot like Alterra or 3 Blind Moose for $9.99 that is 6 times better than the Two Buck Chuck Merlot. Also better than the Chateau Ste Michelle. You just have to try different apellations, brands and shop around.

You may get lucky and get a very good case of Charles Shaw. From looking at reviews and heated forum debates it seems consitency or lack of plays a large part.

Hate it or love it the Charles Shaw brand sold exclusively at Trader Joes grocery stores has shook up the wine world.

This article about it all is an excellent readCharles Shaw The Two Buck Truck controversy.

Finally Gary Vaynerchuck Reviews Them All as Only he can do!

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