Comments on: Charles Shaw (Two-buck-chuck) Cabernet

By: Diane

Diane — Sat, 01 May 2010 02:19:05 +0000

We’re in a recession folks! So let’s get real. I cannot afford to drink Ferrari-Carano Siena (my very favorite red) or Christine Andrew Viognier (my very favorite white) every night, or even more often than once a week (date night wine, or special guest night wine). My husband likes to keep the Coppola’s in quantities as our “house wine,” but tonight, the Princeton Trader Joe’s began selling wine! So I tried my first bottle of 2$C ($2.99 in Princeton). It’s perfectly OK, quite reasonable actually. It definitely does not deserve the disdain that I have read in this slew of commentaries. No, it’s not as complex, and cannot stand alone, but it’s absolutely drinkable with a meal; and at this price, I won’t cry when I use it for cooking. I won’t serve it to guests whom I’m trying to impress, but for good friends who can value a good bargain and are sharing a pizza, yes, they may just get some! And they will like it too…

By: George

George — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:52:09 +0000

the wine (if you want to call it that) is not even worth $3. i drank a whole bottle of it last wedneday nite & ddn’t even get a buzz. it taste more like water with a white wine flavor. & by the way, i didn’t even see the alcohol content on it either.

By: Sizzler

Sizzler — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:32:18 +0000

Charles Shaw is not buying or producing anything. He has been running up the flag pole all over the midwest for 10 years claiming he’ll buiy this or buy that to begin his “uinique winery. He was last in up-state Michigan wine country. They didn’t bit.

By: natalie

natalie — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 06:17:44 +0000

I am an Aussie(of European descent) living in the US. Recently I visited some friends who introduced me to two buck chuck red. I didn’t understand what they meant by ‘two buck’ – surely this couldn’t be in reference to its price?! I was soooo hesitant but accepted a glass to be polite especially as I am a white wine migraine person. I feared this seriously cheap wine would give me a doozy in the morning. Anyway, America has motrin so that would be my backup plan.
So I took a bite of my meal and followed (politely smiling) with a sip of Two Buck Chuck and I liked it a bit! Maybe I was so worked up with the fear of drinking $2 wine that it wasn’t as bad as I expected. Like some people above mention it is difficult to describe. It’s just a red wine. It’s a table wine. It’s a conversation piece for sure.
Today I was in Trader Joe with my husband and I saw the 2BC display and told him we should try it. Today’s Cab Sauv was much sweeter than what I shared with my friends so I also agree that it is not very consistent. But now I know how to describe it and I know why it’s a bit of a feel good wine for me. My uncle used to illegally make red wine when I was a kid which he was very proud of and quite notorious for, which was pleasant to drink but you never knew exactly what you would get from one batch to the next…yes, my parents used to let us have a sip of wine with our meals when we were kids. I also vividly remember the smell. Drinking 2BC tonight took me back two and a half decades. And it hasn’t given me migraines in the two times I’ve had it. I’m pretty sure the head will be ok in the morning too. Hey, follow your 2BC meal with a piece of Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate with Hazelnuts. It will offset the overly sweet taste.
Goodnight all. Happy dreams.

By: CrustyC

CrustyC — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:22:24 +0000

Well it had to happen, Charles Shaw, (yes the real Charles shaw) is getting back in the business in Michigan. He has developed a great little wine, Has his name back and will be doing something very soon based on his well received taste from years ago.

this we have been waiting for… congrats Chuck!

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 06:11:08 +0000

An affluent host served the Cab with supper. I immediately asked him where he had gotten it. He said a friend had given it to him. I told him it was barely drinkable. He seemed shocked, saying that it was an expensive wine. I reaffirmed my distaste. By the second bottle I was able to coax out a slight retraction, to his approval. I’d rather drink sour owl piss.

By: Russ

Russ — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:36:00 +0000

I like it! Some are better than others. It is a great addition to the cellar where I keep my 4 liter jugs of Carlo Rossi Light Chianti, another great value.

I do not keep it with the Cain 5s or American Eagle’s, but that is not it’s purpose.

It is also great for making sangrias for those summer occaisons…

By: Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:23:03 +0000

Here is what I tell my friends who have never tried 2-buck Chuck: “It’s better than it ought to be.” By that, I mean that it is better than the $2 price tag would suggest. And at that price point, it is easy to buy and sample all CS varieties.

It is still a cheap wine, but if you find a variety you like then DRINK IT! Dont let anyone else tell you what to like and what not to like.

-matthew-

By: Margaret

Margaret — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:46:48 +0000

Fun reading! I was never familiar with TJ prior to a TJ store opening in my neighborhood. Folk had said it had great wines at low prices, so I explored. I purchased something called Charles Shaw wine at ridiculous prices. Thought I’d give it a try. I had heard about some wine sold somewhere called Two Buck Chuck, but never made the connection. It was not the greatest wine in the world, but very drinkable as a quick sip (much like a previous poster called it “pizza wine”), and bought it again. I thought it was great for the ridiculous price. (and I was happy to be content with it for only $3 when my husband, who does have a wine pallat, pays $40 for most of his bottles)

I gave it to several people, informing them I had found a great little everyday wine, not knowing that this was the famous 2$C. Clueless, but at least my reaction to this, and my content to buy more, was honest.

Glad to have other posters explain the scientific reasons for the chance one could get some really bad batches.

Thanks for the recommendations of consistently good, cheap wines that were posted! (our wine storage in the basement has a section for “Margaret’s cheap wines” and another section for my husband’s $40+ wines. )

By: Marie

Marie — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:08:24 +0000

RIGHT ON JENNA!
I was about to thrash the FAKE WINE SNOBS, but you beat me to it. Your post was on the money. Might I suggest to the FAKE SNOBS, take a course in READING AND COMPREHENSION. I did not visit this website to read diatribes. To the original blog poster, thank you for your evaluation on Charles Shaw wines.

P.S. To the Wine (Fake) Snobs, try looking up the term, DECANTING.