Brian’s Cryin’s

Alice is full of things for me to do that I normally have no interest in like painting the bedroom, putting up Christmas lights (before Halloween), cleaning the garage and on and on.   But, yesterday she came up with something else I ought to be doing that inspired me.

My friends at the Village Corner offer up “Dick’s Picks” and at Bon Vin they offer “Ric’s Picks” why not add something like that to my blog?   What inspired this is the abundance of really nice really cheap wine that is in the market.   Now, keep in mind, we have a cellar full of nice wines purchased over a lifetime in the wine business.   So, we probably won’t even live long enough to drink what we already have, but, as a salesman* I can’t help myself.  So, we were over at Aldi (by the way, they just received Wine Retailer of the Year in the WINE ENTHUSIAST magazine) and I spotted a $3.99 Malbec.  Why not?

So, below is what has turned out to be a long line of value picks available pretty much where ever you might live.  I update this frequently with the most recent blog at the top and the old ones below.  I change the post date each time I add to this column.  And no, I’m not crying as in Boo Hoo woe is me, but crying as in the town crier.

TASTED 8/6/2020 see updates below

We were at Costco today for the first time in months. I was like a kid in a candy shop. They may have gotten rid of their imported cheeses and prime beef, but, they seem to have expanded their selection of great wines under $15. I bought a half dozen different bottles and if exceptional, I’ll review them here starting with 2015 Kirkland Rioja Reserva (100% Tempranillo) SPAIN (13.5% ABV) $7.99 at Costco. As a fan of Rioja, I know just how ridiculous $7.99 might seem. $17.99 might seem a bit more plausible. The deep black red color surprised me because this is a grape that often sheds a bit of color after 30 months in oak as the label states. The light touch of sweet oak stays at the fringe while lots of very plump black fruit and fine tannic mouth feel persists through to the finish. Alice is often critical of Rioja wines, but, absolutely loved this one. If you like Rioja with more emphasis on the fruit than the mahogany and terra cotta, then you’ll enjoy this one as much as we did. Particularly, in light of the price, I’d give this one a GOLD medal.

UPDATE: 2/2/22 It appears that Costco only has so much Kirkland Rioja Reserva sourced and generally runs out with months in between with none in stock. I was really pleased to see that in the meantime, they brought in 2016 RIVALLANA (produced and bottled by Bodegas Ollara) Rioja Reserva Red Blend mostly Tempranillo (13.5% abv) SPAIN $9.99 at Costco. Though this wine is a couple of dollars more than the Kirkland brand Rioja Reserva, it is well worth it. Clearly in a different league, this is what I think of when I think of Rioja Reserva. Though the color is deep black red at the core, the meniscus shows signs of the minimum three years in barrel and'/or bottle. The nose has that classic “oiled mahogany and terra cotta” smell inseparable from the Rioja style. On the palate, a fresh kiss of acid greets the tongue while silky tannin and red strawberry-like fruit mingle. In the finish, the oak returns rolling around the mouth for a few more seconds. Though this is a really exquisite example of Rioja Reserva, if you’re willing to pay an additional $10 there are wines that do deliver much more so, as much as this is a gold medal for the money, in an absolute sense, I think a SILVER is appropriate.

UPDATE: 6/1/2022 The new Kirkland Rioja Reserva 2017 in stores now is more of the “modern” style with little or no oak presence and little or no sense of terroir. The wine is now made by Bodega Eguia which on the surface would seem to be a very traditional well established winery. Though from the noblest of this noble region, El Ciego (the blind man) it has none of the cedar and spice that the most famous wine of the region, Marques de Riscal, for example, has in spades. I’m not suggesting that it has to be Marques de Riscal to be good, it just needs to have an identity. This wine has none. Disappointing to say the least..

TASTED 12/03/2021

This wine is not in my normal town crier price range, but, it is so good it nonetheless represents a great value. I’ve seen it a few places but at Costco the price was unbeatable. 2019 Tinazzi Opera #3 Vino Rosso Red Blend (15% ABV) IT Costco price $14.99. As best as I can tell, this wine is from the Valpolicella region near Lake Garda in the Veneto though no appellation of origin is listed. Furthermore, the extraordinarily ripe fat fruit and the high alcohol suggests that the grapes are dried somewhat to decrease the water content and increase sugar and concentrate flavor. The color is rich but not black, the aroma very fruity and deeply concentrated but not jammy. On the palate, it has the density of an Amarone but none of the raisin-like dried fruit hardness. This wine is as lush and easy as it gets. Being as young as it is, the fruit still overwhelms the texture with juicy red fruit lusciousness. Luca Maroni (one of the most notable Italian wine tasters) gave it a 98/100 rating! I’m not sure I’d go that far, but, at $14.99 you can’t beat it. The only down side is the very very heavy glass bottle. It weighs more empty than most bottles full!

TASTED 11/10/2021

Living in Ann Arbor, Aldi is not nearly as convenient as it was in Holland. Both are about 3 miles away. But, they had a deal on turkey’s so we stopped by to have a look. All the turkeys were in the 20 lb. range so we didn’t buy one, but I couldn’t resist buying a few bargain wines. First off with our daily dose of Cacio e Pepe I opened a 2019 Sargent Canyon Estate Grown Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon (13.5% abv) CA priced at $6.99 at Aldi. I picked the wine for a couple of reasons. First, it is a specific appellation (Central Coast not Central Valley) and it says it is Estate Grown. In reality, naming where it comes from on the label should be ubiquitous among wines, but, for whatever reason, most moderate and low priced wines are generic. That is, they buy wines from anywhere that they can get them cheap so do not mention the source. The location of the winery is listed as Greenfield CA which made me immediately think of J Lohr. I looked up Greenfield and there are many wineries here so any one of them could have made this wine for Aldi. My guess would be Canyon Road but it could be anyone. All of the wineries here sell their Cabs for $13-$20 so, at $6.99, it is a value if nothing else. When I stuck my nose in the glass, it was greeted with lots of clean aromatic black fruit components embellished with very subtle notes of green herb, so typical of the Monterey / Central Coast region. The mouth feel has good rich tannin balanced by California’s signature sunshine induced ripeness. How can you go wrong for $6.99?!

On a roll with cheap wine, I next opened the NV Flora & Stone California Merlot (13.5% abv) CA also $6.99 at Aldi. Nothing on the label suggests anything more than a low end generic Merlot, but for some reason the packaging (and low price) made me curious. The medium color suggests something less than a big fat ripe nose that greeted me. This is a big wine albeit not very classy nor particularly distinct. The address is Hopland, Mendocino County. Let’s see…….Fetzer, maybe? Nothing about it suggest anything specific but, it is a nice rich full flavored wine that, at $6.99, I have no complaints. It is what we might call a “formula wine” in that it checks all the boxes though not necessarily in a distinguished or elegant fashion.

TASTED 10/26/2021

After that wonderful Jebediah Meritage wine it’s hard to come up with another real value. But, Costco did it again with the 2018 Hook or Crook Cellars Red Wine Field Blend Reserve, Lodi CA (13.9% ABV) $6.99. Always a good gamble when you see a single appellation wine, even a fairly common one like Lodi, that’s under $10 and when way under $10 how can you miss? This is not as distinguished as the 92 point Wine Enthusiast rating would suggest, but it is damn good. Juicy, fruity, loads of fresh ripe red fruit throughout and a lively finish. Not much tannin, not a lot of terroir driven complexity, but a thoroughly delicious red for casual meals or just sippin’ while watching the world series. It would be a hard wine to score because it is not a distinguished fine wine, but, it is really good and at $6.99, I’ll be buying more.

WINE VALUE OF THE YEAR TASTED 2/28/2021

I know it’s only February, but this is the best value we’ve encountered this year. The rather goofy label made me almost not buy it. This is another of the terrific values we found at Trader Joe’s. Anyway, when I saw a single appellation wine for $5.99, how could I lose? Jebediah Drinkwell’s Meritage (84% Cab Sv / 7% Merlot / 6% Malbec /3% Cab Franc) Paso Robles (13.7% ABV) CA certainly doesn’t present as a wine to be taken seriously, but this is real wine with very distinct aroma, flavor and even a touch of class. My first impression was that it must have a significant portion of Cab Franc; WRONG! Well, maybe it’s the Merlot that gives it a Bordeaux-like finesse or maybe I’m increasingly palate dead, but whatever the reason, the Cab Sauv is not overtly powerful or dominant. The blend offers complexity, longevity, balance, fine persistent texture and a compelling finish. This would be a fine value at $15, a great buy at $10 and at $5.99, it’s just ridiculous. There’s a reason ol’ Jeb looks happy. I’m giving him a triple GOLD medal!

I actually tasted a bottle also purchased at Trader Joe’s a couple days after the Jebediah Drinkwell’s but include it here so that this column will start off with my current wine of the year for a few weeks. I don’t think that I’ve seen a bottle of red Bordeaux for $6.99 in twenty years so, of course, I had to try it. Well I’m telling you that 2019 Les Portes de Bordeaux AOC (14.5% ABV) $6.99 FR couldn’t be a better example of what Bordeaux wine tastes like in a good vintage. At only a year and a half since being grapes, it has evolved beautifully and I swear it gained structure and substance as it sat on the counter for three days. As I sip the last couple of ounces, the wine seems more substantial and maybe even a tad richer in both fruit and tannin than it did upon opening. Though this wine won’t go into my hall of fame Bordeaux memories, it is better than I remember the wines that I purchased in the Bordeaux super markets on my last visit about 20 years ago. Like the wine above, if it was $15-20 no one would complain, at $10 a best buy and at $6.99? GOLD medal all the way if one considers price, and probably at least a bronze maybe even silver if compared to all Bordeaux at any price. I can see that the 45 minute drive (now only 15 minutes from our Ann Arbor condo) to Trader Joe’s will become a regular trip for us going forward.

TASTED 2/21/2021

Last week we drove to Grand Rapids, stopping in at Trader Joe’s to see what the store looked like these days. Aldi, Sam’s and Costco are pretty much devoid of specialty products. I don’t know if it is because of the pandemic or they just decided that none of their customers are interested in top quality products. But, I’m glad to tell you, there is no shortage of excellent products at Trader Joe’s. This struck me as odd considering Aldi and Trader Joe’s are both owned by the same company. Besides all kinds of cheese, ice cream, bacon, produce and dairy we wandered into the wine department and picked out a case of inexpensive wine. So far, we’ve tried five of our wine purchases and all have been very value-worthy. The first three, Roustabout Paso Robles Meritage CA $7.99 and La Granja Tempranillo SP $4.99 and Maison Barboulot Cab/Syrah FR $5.99 were dandy wines, but not exceptional in any way, just delicious and cheap. At the top end of our purchases is 2019 Ruggero Di Bardo Susumaniello Puglia IGT (14.5% ABV) $9.99 in a squat bottle. It was recommended by the wine steward. Like most Puglia wines, it is very dark, ripe, and fat. Though California-like, it offers plenty of acidity and texture without feeling tannic. There is a rustic Italian sense to it somewhat like Amarone with fresh red fruit and prune-like black fruit in the same gulp. It reminds me of the Rosso Grande Alberone Black Bio $9.99 at Aldi. Who knows? Maybe the same wine with a different label and bottle shape. Regardless, it is a wonderful wine to savor with a mixed fondue plate. While on a roll, we opened up a bottle of NV Tenebres GSM (equal amounts of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre) Pays D’Oc IGP (13.5% ABV) FRANCE $5.99. Though the distributor is located in Carcassonne, the wine itself originated a bit further south. The nose is absolutely huge! It is black in color and the biggest of the wines we’ve tasted thus far from Trader Joe’s. I’m gathering that at Trader Joe’s, the philosophy is bigger is better. I could easily have mistaken it for California, though the fruit purity is remarkable and compelling without any pretense of class or sophistication. Like all of the wines we’ve purchased at Trader Joe’s, this is a steal at $5.99!

ADVENT WINE CALENDAR 2020

DAY 1 Last year we bought the Aldi Advent Wine Calendar and thoroughly enjoyed it. This year, we lucked out and were able to find the Costco Advent Wine Calendar. I say “lucked out” because it is a much better deal, if the wines are comparable. It is $100 for 24 x 375ml bottles of wine from around the world. The Aldi calendar was 24 x 187ml bottles for $70. So, when the first bottle I pulled out on December 1st was a generic non AOC Merlot I started to wonder. I of all people should know better. When I was the buyer for D&W, I almost always came back from the Provence/Midi region with a container of completely delightful such wines that we sold for $4-5 by the trunk load. So, to start things off for the 2020 holiday season we opened port #1 and withdrew a bottle of 2019 Vieux Ciseaux (“Old Scissors” as in pruning shears) Merlot (14.5% ABV) FRANCE. Note that it is over 14% which means there is no excessive tariff to pay. The Trump tariff is only on wines under 14%. For this reason, I would guess that if this wine was available by itself, it might be in the $6-8 per 750ml range. For that kind of money, I’m sold. The lovely nose is bright, fresh, fruity reminding me of the delicious bulk wines we enjoyed while in Southern France. The back label suggests that it smells of the Mistral (the down draft from the Alps) and the touch of Alpine spice on the palate certainly suggests that. Though not a substantial wine, it is fresh very French and proves a worthy companion to “Bud’s Chicken Pillows”. We’re looking forward to tomorrow’s surprise. No one has been naughty.

DAY 2 I was a bit surprised to find a red wine two days in a row. With skillet roasted tenderloin we had a couple of wines; a 2009 Bogle Phantom (see “Dead or Alive”, below) and wine #2 in the Costco Advent wine calendar 2018 Nightfall Sierra Foothills Zinfandel (15% ABV) CA. Considering what I paid for the box, I guess this wine would be in the $8 range per 750ml which seems really cheap for a Sierra Foothills Zin. I wish I could enter this wine in a Zin judging to see what others think of it. On first blush, it seems really sweet and devoid of any structure, but, after a few sips, it grows on you. The nose is a melange of very ripe baked fruit pie, cinnamon and holiday potpourrie. The palate is very soft with very little tannin. It went fine with the steaks, but, I can’t say either of us were excited about it. Anxious for tomorrow’s wine.

DAY 3 Today we were greeted by a white wine in slot #3; 2019 Ciel Bleu d’Aquitaine Sauvignon Blanc (11.5% ABV) FRANCE. Though a non AOC wine, I’m guessing it was grown along the Atlantic coast somewhere in the vicinity of Bordeaux. The nose is a beautifully floral version of varietal Sauvignon Blanc. Clearly varietal, but none of the over the top green grassy herbal component. It is not completely dry and actually has the sort of emphatic aroma that suggests a splash of Muscadelle possibly in the mix. I much prefer it to the majority of NZ Sauv Bl that I’ve had. On an overcast day, it is as welcome as a cloudless sky in concert with cacio e pepe with seasoned chicken slices. I’m surprised with the current tariff that it is only 11.5% ABV.

DAY 4 With Salmon patties, Brussels sprouts and rice, I was hoping for a light red and that is exactly what emerged from door #4. 2019 Cielo d’Oro Rubicone IGT Sangiovese (12.5% ABV) ITALY once again offered up fresh engaging fruit scents and a nice berry liquor like palate. It is indeed very light and works well with the salmon but would be a bit inadequate had we been serving something with a Bolognese sauce. There isn’t a lot of texture either. Overall very pleasant, but, I’m starting to see a pattern that may not fulfill my Christmas wish list. This is hardly a wine for a special moment watching a special sunset. So far, all of the wines are okay value (remember, at $100 per box of 24 x 375ml, these are basically $8.33) but, compared to what we normally buy at Costco for $8 or less, these are a bit disappointing so far. Remember, they sell all sorts of SUPERB wines such as Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva, Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva and many others for less than $8. Why didn’t they put that sort of wine in the Advent Wine Calendar?

DAY 5 Being that I have a very hearty beef stew on the stove, I was glad to see a bottle of 2019 Pasarica Mendoza Malbec (13.8% ABV) ARGENTINA. The color is very deep black red with a sweet concentrated ripe black fruit aroma. On the palate supple fruit engages with a hint of earth, a bit of tannin and a balanced finish. This is probably as good as most of the Malbecs we’ve purchased at Costco but, most of the Malbecs at Costco cost a buck or two less. It goes well with the stew, though I might have liked a bit more texture.

DAY 6-7 With shrimp, beef and chicken fondue on today’s agenda, at first I wasn’t sure if the Moldovan Pinot Grigio that emerged from door #6 would do the trick. So, at the grave risk of getting on Santa’s naughty list, I opened door #7 to find a French Syrah. Armed with a couple of fresh red and white wines, we were ready for dinner. Neither Alice nor I have ever had a wine from Moldova but, being sandwiched in between the Ukraine and Romania, both known for good wine, it’s not surprising that Moldova is a wine producing country. If I had doubts regarding the meal worthiness of the Moldovan Pinot Grigio, my worries were misguided. 2019 Ballun Codru PGI Pinot Grigio (13% ABV) MOLDOVA turned out to be just right. Initially, I was using it with the hors d’oeuvre aspect of fondue (Brussels sprouts and mushrooms with curry sauce) but quickly recognized that it worked perfectly with the meats and potatoes as well. The wine had a personality more like Veneto Soave than any Italian Pinot Grigio. Like most Soave, the acids are very tame with a slightly fuller bodied toffee like texture and a seriously complex aroma of fermented banana, gun metal and mango. This is easily the best of the Advent Wine Calendar so far. On the palate, bright minerality and citrus dominate a creamy custard-like texture. What a wonderful surprise! 2019 Heros Syrah (14.5% ABV) FRANCE is in the mold of the other members of the calendar. I’m not complaining, but, what I hoped to be the hero is actually a very simple, fresh, country wine; thoroughly agreeable, but of no particular distinction. Perhaps it’s most significant accolade might be that it does have ample texture with a rich mouth coating tannic feel. It may have been the complex herbs in the butter sauce or maybe the overt horseradish in the shrimp sauce, but, the tannin really came through. All the wine books talk about abundant tannin in Syrah, but, I almost always find Syrah lush and fat. This one, bright, lean, clean, red fruit edginess and all is anything but fat or lush. I think it would have been a dandy wine with plain chicken or beef, but, the persistent tannin was a little too much for the very flavorful sauces. So, I should have gone with fate and fully embraced the Pinot Grigo.

DAY 8 This bottle has an octopus on the label, which suggested to us that it might be a good one with mollusks. So, with the 2019 Octopada LaMancha DOP Macabeo (11.5% ABV) I whipped up some pasta with clam, cheese and pepper sauce which also gave me an opportunity to use up the last of the swiss chard and sorrel from our garden, yes, on December 9th! Other than CAVA, I’m not sure if I’ve ever had a wine with Macabeo (Viura) in it though, it is used all over northern and western Spain as a blender, so it is possible that I have. The wine is very fresh and substantial with ripe tropical fruit smells and maybe even a bit of creaminess. The palate offers bracing acidity though smoothed over with abundant soft juicy white grape pleasure. It reminds me a little bit of Vignoles as grown in SW Michigan. The palate reinforces the ripe tropical fruit finishing with a nice citrus crispness. If this is what an $8 Macabeo tastes like, we ought to drink more of it in the future.

DAY 9 We needed a red wine with today’s menu so I jumped ahead and pulled out a bottle of 2019 Three Borthers Codru PGI Pinot Noir (13% ABV) MOLDOVA. Well, this marks the second wine from Moldova that Alice and I have had now. I’m not sure I would have guessed Pinot Noir by what was in the glass although the very light color might have been a clue. Like all of the wines, it was fresh, clean and appetizing though simple and pretty soft. Of the Pinot’s I’ve enjoyed over the years, I would say this is more like a very light Macon Rouge blend or even Beaujolais (Gamay) or Blaufrankische than anything coming out of the Cote d’Or, coastal California or Oregon. Even our sun starved Michigan Pinots have a lot more of what I think of as varietal character and grip than this wine. Alice liked it better than I did though I can’t say there was really anything wrong with it.

DAY 10 We found ourselves confronted with Friday Fish Fry a day early and lo and behold, a white wine emerged from door #10. 2019 Atlas Bear Western Cape Chenin Blanc (12% ABV) SO. AFRICA may not be the most memorable Chenin we’ve enjoyed, but, it is true to character and worked splendidly with fish ‘n chips. The first whiff is very brightly fruity almost a bit candy-like but quickly opens up green apple and cider smells. The palate is refreshingly tart and clean. Though not a terribly complex wine, it does a respectable job of representing this famous region’s top varietal within the parameters of what an $8 bottle can offer.

DAY 11 With mac ‘n cheese, it pretty much didn’t matter what came up behind door #11. To our delight, we opened a bottle of 2019 Bold Bull La Mancha Tempranillo DOP (14.5% ABV) SPAIN. The first whaft of fruit is quite striking. Alice said crayons, I said Play Doh, but on second sniff maybe Gummie Bears might be more accurate. That aroma persisted, but, as it grows on you, candied mince meat fruit and marshmallow circus peanuts come into play. Odd, but, surprisingly pleasant. The bright fruit characteristic carries into the palate finishing with ample texture and a long lasting finish. Overall, it works though, considering some of the remarkable Iberian wines we’ve bought at Costco for $6-7 in the last year it’s hard to recommend it.

DAY 12-13 Once again, we need a red when the door #12 yielded a white, so we reversed them. With pot roast and vegetables, we enjoyed 2019 The Conductor Danube Plains Merlot PGI (13%ABV) BULGARIA. Most of the Bulgarian wines we’ve had in the past have been mature, many too mature, so it was refreshing to open a very bright vividly fruity expression of this area. The color is inky black red with massively ripe fresh fruit deeply nuanced with smoke and earth. The palate is much the same with even more emphasis on rustic raw fruit, very ample tannin with a clear sense of exotic wild berries. This is a big wine perfectly pairing with our hearty pot roast. If one could find it, I would certainly seek it out if in the $8 price range. With our 2019 Carrete Viognier (13.5% ABV) CHILE ended up tasting with leftover mac ‘n cheese. Certainly the characteristic floral, Riesling-like aroma speaks clearly. The palate offers a surprise burst of mineral essence laced with diesel, again, not unlike a big Riesling. I’ll never know, but, I suspect that this wine would age nicely for several years showing off its depth and complexity even more so. It is a bit edgy at the moment and really deserves a companion like mac ‘n cheese. Nice job.

DAY 14,15 and 16 Today with pork steak we enjoyed a very nice rose; 2019 LTD Grenache / Cinsault Rosé (12% ABV) France. The color is a very pale salmon with an aroma of exceptionally fresh grape / citrus smell. The acid is quite evident, but matched by a tropical fruit liquor-like flavor. Maybe not quite in a league with AOC wines from Southern France, but, nonetheless quite appetizing. 2019 Baciato del Sol Rubicone IGT Trebbiano (12.5% ABV) ITALY was a very pleasant surprise. I don’t know a great deal about Trebbiano other than the fact that it can be over produced in NE Italy and often results in flat insipid wines. This fresh brightly fruity crisp citrus-like white wine is anything but. Bracing acidity and mango like nuances to work nicely as an aperitif or with fairly rich foods too. I’m pretty susceptible to heartburn if acid is out of whack but this wine even finishes with a bit of a zing and no heartburn! With Dad’s Lasagne we dove right into door #16 which is a really dandy bottle of 2019 Moulinet Grenache / Syrah Red Blend (14.5% ABV) FRANCE . We were greeted with a very deep black red tone fulfilled by an aroma that is ripe, plump and rich; loaded with plum and berry smells. The palate is round and ripe smoothing out fairly substantial tannin. It reminds me of Costiers de Nimes; not sure if it is the cepage or the terroir accounting for the similarity. This is a pretty substantial wine that way over delivers for a non AOC generic red.

Day 17 2019 Cara A Cara (Fernao Pires / Moscatel Graudo / Antao Vaz) White Blend (12% ABV) PORTUGAL might seem like less than a perfect mate for Polish Keilbasa, but, this lovely floral mineral laden wine would compliment most foods. I normally think of Portuguese whites as lean and mean, but, this one is very easy plump and soft on the palate; one of those wines one hardly notices until the glass is empty. What a surprise a week later. After sitting half empty in the fridge, we finished if off Christmas Eve. This is really delicious now with lots of sweet ripe dried fruit components. One of the best in the box.

Day 18 2019 Pollo Pazzo Terre Siciliane IGP (Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot) Red Blend (13.2 % ABV) ITALY is pleasant enough, but, pretty light and non descript. Nice toasted dried cherries in the nose with more of the same on the palate works well. But, not distinctive enough for an everyday wine in my opinion.

DAY 19,20 and 21 We started to fall behind again in our white wine drinking and with beef tenderlon and then lamb shish kebab, we needed another couple of reds. We did open the white in between with a little cheese so we could move on. 2019 Six String Navarra DO (Tempranillo / Garnacha) Red Blend (14.2% AV) SPAIN, like all of the wines in the box, it was a nice wine, good color, inviting bouquet and pleasant on the palate, but, no match for the beef steaks. We ended up opening a Ribera del Duero Crianza that more than filled the bill. Later on, we opened and tasted the 2019 Maison Savas Bordeaux AOP (Sauv Bland/ Semillon) White Blend (12.5%ABV) FRANCE. The classy nose of minerals, lemon, thyme and grapefruit demanded a sip of clay, slate, more green herbs and lemon custard. It is really quite a nice bottle of wine easily worth more than $8 per 750ml. Back to the reds, with the lamb shish kebab we popped the 2019 Barcelos Touriga Nacional (Jean / Alfrocheiro / Tinta Roriz) Red Blend (12.5% ABV) PORTUGAL. It isn’t much different than the Six String above with maybe a bit more middle palate. Again, pleasant and useful, but, not quite what I wanted with this very flavorful lamb dish. Thankfully, we still had some of the Ribera left.

DAY 22-23 I made one of my very favorites today, scalloped potatoes with carrots, onions and ham, so we finished up the last two still wines which both worked well with that dish. First, we poured a little of the 2019 Flutter La Mancha DOGP Chardonnay (12% ABV) SPAIN with the potatoes. It is a really clean fresh appetizing white wine with orange rind and grapefruit in the nose and lemon moraigne pie in the finish; a nice mineral-like steely edge to it. I’m impressed and surprised how distinct and different it tastes from most Chardonnay on the market. 2019 Chateau Cap de Piolet Bordeaux AOC (14.5% ABV) FRANCE is easily the best red wine of the box. The big nose is full of forest floor, black fruit and cedar. Though quite tannic, there is a very enjoyable youthful edge of fresh berry fruit and the unmistakable Bordeaux terrior on display. No mention of grape variety, so, being from the right bank, I would assume it is a classic Merlot based blend. I wish more of the wines in this assortment had the clear regional flavor exhibited here.

DAY 24 We skipped a day in order to enjoy the last bottle, Brilliant Brut Vino Supmante (11%ABV) ITALY for Christmas breakfast. A beautifully white froth gathers at the top of the glass dissipating to slow strings of bubbles. Lots of fresh fruit, not unlike Spumante Dolce, yet, the palate is clean and dry though with plenty of sweet fruit nuance. As a stand alone bubbly, I wouldn’t get too excited, but, as an ingredient into Mimosas, it worked great as a foil to the sweet acidic orange juice and persistent volatility of the Orange liqueur; ideal for our purposes.

As a whole, I found this assortment a little less interesting than the wine Advent calendar that we bought from Aldi last year. I do like that these are 375ml vs the Aldi 187’s. There were a couple of gems, however from some of the regions known for their quality wines. Most of the regional wines were pretty generic.

11/23/2020

Our friends Durk and Kathy Piersma had just returned from Costco and suggested we try the 2017 Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG (13.5% ABV) ITALY $7.99 at Costco. Were they ever on to something! We haven’t been able to find the Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva lately, so were Jonsing for a classic European style at a decent price. This one filled the void; big time. The nose is ripe but rustic with more earth than sweet fruit and transitions to a palate with very ample tannin smoothed out with youthful juicy acidity and black cherry-like flavors. For the price, it will be an everyday drinker, but, we will save a few just for the knowledge and report back (God willing) in about five years. I’d give it an over all silver but, for the money, it is solid GOLD.

11/1/2020

We went over to Aldi today to take advantage of the 87 cent Butter Ball turkeys and grabbed a couple more wines to try. First, Alice spotted the 2015 The Fire Tree Red Wine Riserva Sicilia DOC, ITALY (14% ABV) $9.99 which I think is a new arrival in spite of the 5 year old vintage. This wine SCREAMS Mediterranean! It is amazingly fresh, lively, edgy, and vividly fruity for a wine in its fifth year. It has the vigor of the best Rhone wines, but, the rustic, slightly bitter firm tannins identify it as unmistakably Italian. With the very winter-like weather today, a blast of the Mediterranean was very welcome. Considering the price of Rhones these days, this is a good value. Like many Italian wines, the color is deceiving. The lightish red color makes the onslaught of big flavors all the more impressive. I’d give this one a GOLD medal if judging a competition. Perhaps it is not nearly as classy or complex as a Rhone Cru, but, it certainly has as much oomph. The other wine that caught our eye was a 2018 Bear Bros. California Cabernet Sauvignon, USA (13.5% ABV) $8.99 because somehow the word “bear” sounded like a big wine. Well, it is a pleasant well rounded decent wine, but nothing of distinction to explore. Though the winery is located in Greenfield CA, just south of Estancia and Hahn and in the neighborhood of J. Lohr (three of my favorites) the fact that it is simply California appellation and not Monterey, the wine is probably a generic Cab bottled at one of my favorite wineries for Aldi. And, that is exactly what it is; generic Cab. If I were giving medals out, this would be lucky to earn a BRONZE.

9/12/2020

I don’t buy a lot of wine at D&W these days because the prices are inconsistent and often much higher than the competition. However, even after Roz’s departure, the selection of interesting wines remains the best in the area particularly wines of the Mediterranean and West Coast wines grown in historical vineyard regions. What caught Alice’s attention was the 2018 Ghostrunner Lodi Ungrafted Red Wine (Zin based) (14.5% ABV) CA $12.99 at D&W. I was particularly interested to see what sort of wines were being grown ungrafted. I had assumed any wines planted in the last 40 years were planted on grafted vines and I knew that for 12.99, it would not be 150 year old vines. To my surprise the Mokelumme River area is planted extensively with own-rooted vines. Some from the previous century, but most in the last 40-50 years. Apparently the sandy soil thwarts the invasive phylloxera nematodes. It was worth a try for that reason alone. The wine is off dry with a pleasant jammy ripe component though it is not a big fat Zin by any means. Alice thought it too sweet tasting and though I found it very delicious, I had to agree that it was a bit boring within a few sips. We also bought a couple of Rhones while at D&W. The first was a 2018 Delas Saint-Esprit Cotes du Rhone (14% ABV) FRANCE $11.49 at D&W which I used to sell many years ago. The color was remarkably dark for what I would assume is a Grenache based wine. There is a nice woodsy, floral, spicy nose and a quite mouth filling slightly acidic grip stimulating the palate. Not a big or complex wine, but, I like the acid driven balance for a refreshing change from the California red. Next we opened a bottle from one of my favorite appellations of the Southern Rhone. The 2018 Le Clairon des Anges Costieres de Nimes (Grenache 60% Syrah 40%) Rhone (14% ABV) FRANCE $8.99 at D&W was equally dark in color leading me to believe that the Delas Saint-Esprit probably had a good dose of Syrah in it too. The nose was completely different than the Delas Saint-Esprit however. Though a bit less forthcoming, I really liked the slightly edgy raspberry-like aroma and the juicy mouth feel. It did not have much of the weight I normally associate with this appellation. All three of these wines would do well with any meal, but, tonight I felt the food quality far out-shined the wines. Alice made a cold seared beef salad that I’ll have to say might be the tastiest meal we’ve had all year. So, with all the lemon, mustard and vinegar assaulting my palate, maybe the wines didn’t stand a chance. If these wines change tomorrow (currently all high BRONZE) with something tamer, I’ll revise this piece. Meanwhile, check out this recipe below! (dated September 20, 2020)

8/14/2020

Another of the Costco selections (see below) is a bottle of 2015 Chateau Grand-Clapeau Olivier, Haut Medoc, Cru Bourgeois, Bordeaux FRANCE (13% ABV) $9.99 at Costco. Those of you who buy Brodeaux know how hard it is anymore to find good Bordeaux under $15 let alone a Cru Bourgeois for that kind of money. The label states that it is a 92 point James Suckling pick. This wine has a typical left bank blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with just a splash of Petit Verdot. With just enough age to soften out some of the tannin, it is still a very young wine with a ripe plum-like nose and a faintly emerging sense of terroir. Maybe a bit young to fully appreciate its pedigree, it, nonetheless is way more complex and compelling than most wines in this price range. For this price, not only can I not fault it, but, I’d praise it with a SILVER medal.

We received a shipment from Last Bottle today from Washington, so, I had specifically bought a bottle of wine at Costco in anticipation to compare. The wine we bought on line was a 2016 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla WA (14.5% ABV) for $16 regular retail $33. I’m a huge fan of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates so when I saw 2016 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley WA (13.5% ABV) $5.99 at Costco, I jumped on it. I am a big believer in mass produced quality as evidenced in Washington, Australia and among a few pockets of old family California wineries. So, we compared them blind. To be honest, I didn’t have a preference. There is a bit more of a sense of earth and cedar-like nuance in the Amavi, but, the Columbia Crest is clearly it’s equal. There is certainly more bright fruit and supple almost sweet ripe black fruit in the Columbia Crest and the easy drinkable style is irresistible. It is certainly among the very best buys of 2020 and unquestionably a GOLD medal in my book.

8/7/2020

Another of our recent finds is the #22 Top 100 wine buys from the Wine Enthusiast, 90 points is the 2015 Patamar Lisboa Vinho Regional Red Blend Reserva PORTUGAL (13% ABV) $7.99 at Costco. I think this is my new “Cotes du Rhone substitute”. It wasn’t that long ago that you could easily find great Rhones for under $10 but, that seems to be harder and harder, even from retailers like the Village Corner (Ann Arbor) who specialize in great affordable Rhones. When we opened the Patamar, the explosively bright floral vividly fresh aroma just came right up and seized our senses. One doesn’t expect that from an $8 wine so when it hit our lips and the fruit multiplied in both liveliness and complexity, we knew we had something. I’m not saying the flavor is the same as a Grenache based Rhone, but the temperament or personality if you don’t mind personification, is the same and every bit as enjoyable with it’s edgy vital characteristics. GOLD!

7/12/2020

For some reason, I feel like I’ve already reviewed this wine because I know we’ve tasted it before. But, scrolling through all my old blogs, I could find no mention of it. Alice made up one of my absolute favorite foods today; poached salmon with green mayonnaise. It brings back a seminal moment in my gourmet education going all the way back to when I was a student at U of M enjoying poached salmon for the very first time. My roommate’s father was a Ford executive and at a meeting the caterer served a whole salmon with green mayonnaise but failed to flip it when one half was eaten. Fortunately, my roommate’s mother saw the entire untouched salmon half and thought of two hungry boys who devoured it in a matter of minutes from the time she dropped it off. I’ll never forget it So, with Alice’s specialty, we enjoyed a bottle of 2018 LaRue Cotes de Provence Rosé FRANCE (12% ABV) $8.99 at Aldi. My publisher saw a column on this wine which lists it as a great value. Though, compared to what most Cotes de Provence Rosé costs, it is a value, but it is nonetheless a pretty expensive “Aldiwein”. I think it was at least a dollar less last year. The pretty salmon color certainly didn’t hurt it’s wine pairing affinity with today’s meal. The nose is delicate but pleasing; vinous with red wine hints yet mostly citrus and minerals. The palate is much the same; delicate, but, correct leaving a pleasant clean mouth feel. As Cotes de Provence goes, this is worthy of its appellation for sure though I’m certain I can get better rose for less money from Spain or elsewhere in France. If I had to put a medal rating on it, BRONZE would be my award.

7/7/2020

Our Aldi is being remodled, so, I haven’t been there in a while but, today, I hit the store on the south side. This store has a slightly larger selection so I came across a CA Cab that I don’t recall seeing at my north side store. 2018 Sargent Canyon Proprietors Selection Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown, CA (13.5% ABV) $6.99 at ALDi stuck out among the other wines in that price category because it is a single appellation. How is that possible for $6.99? If you do the math, Central Coast grapes are about $1200-$1500 a ton. Impossible to sell a wine from those grapes under $10 and make money. Not only a solid appellation, but, sustainably grown as well. So much for the pedigree, what does it taste like? The nose is not big, but, precisely Cabernet, clean, good ripe fruit aroma, and enough alcohol to volatilize some level of complexity. There is something that makes me think of Monterey with a hint of pine and rosemary lurking in there. The palate reflects the nose to a tee. Soft but ample mouthfeel and lingering tannin makes this the sort of wine that doesn’t attract any attention to itself, but, next thing you know, your glass is empty. Certainly not a blockbuster, but, for the money, I’m lovin’ it! On an AWS point system, it is barely a silver or maybe a solid bronze, but, bang for the buck, this is GOLD all the way. Another wine I spotted that seemed ridiculously cheap for the appellation is 2017 Broken Clouds Sonoma Coast Chardonnay CA (13.5% ABV) $8.99 at Aldi. The label is a shameless imitation of Cloudline which makes me wonder how they get away without copyright infringement. Fortunately, not my problem, so I can simply enjoy this absolutely wonderful Chardonnay which is not big or showy, but, offers the perfect balance of sweet fruit, tropical fruit, hint of butter and cream, lemon custard with a hint of earth and oak at the tail end of the finish. Because it is not demonstrative, just deliciously drinkable, it would probably not score high in most competitions, but, on my score sheet, it is GOLD.

5/20/2020

I got a tip a couple of months ago from my web publisher, Due North Marketing Communications that the 2019 Sunshine Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Estate Bottled NZ (12.5% ABV) $6.99 at ALDI was worth a try. Alice and I don’t drink an awful lot of white wine in the winter, so when I originally brought out a Chianti to go with her pasta salad with spinach dressed in basil walnut vinaigrette Alice admonished my selection. So, I went out to the garage refrigerator and voila! that botttle of Sauv Blanc was staring me in the face. I’m a little leery of Sauvignon Blanc with vinegar (acid + more acid = too much acid), but, it actually worked very well. I guess that’s like serving lemon with Tequila or lemon soaked ceviche with bright acidic Michigan reds. Any way, this is a dynamite Sauv Blanc! Wow, the aroma is as bright, lively and expressive as it can possibly be without going over the top with cat piss and rosemary; just pure lemon, fresh green herbs and a refreshingly sweet splash of kiwi. On the palate, same deal. Invigoratingly fresh and zingy without too much acid or too much veggie. Really, the whole wine is just right. I’m not sure I’ll ever pay more than $7 for a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc again. I have no idea how Aldi can ship this GOLD MEDAL worthy stuff in from NZ and sell it for this price.

4/16/2020

Regular readers must think I have a financial interest in Aldi. Yes, I do recommend many of their wines because, they surprise me in a good way at how enjoyable they are. I do buy lots of good wine at fine wine stores, on-line, Sam’s, Costco and Meijer. I guess, based on the price, my expectation is lower at Aldi and when I actually get a lovely wine for six or seven dollars or less, I’m joyful. Tonight, with a Syrian lamb stew we had a bottle of Aldi wine. The NV Runik California Red Blend CA (13.5% abv) $6.99 made me think of a fresh Mediterranean wine. The nearly black red color beguiled its cheerfully fresh vivid demeanor. Granted, this is not a sophisticated elegant wine with pedigree. It is simply delicious drinking. Based on the address of the winery (Modesto, CA), I would assume it is a Gallo product so the exact source of the grapes could be anywhere. I wish they could be more specific than “California” but, knowing that at this price it is undoubtedly from the vast expanse of the Central Valley where they grow grapes much the same way that they grow corn in Nebraska; my guess is somewhere between Stockton and Lodi. Though the wine has a distinct herbal finish, it is nonetheless very clean while exhibiting enticingly raw red fruit flavor. It is a wine that is at first delightful and continues to grow on you. This might sound crazy, but, considering the price, I might be inclined to give this wine a GOLD medal.

3/15/2020

Box wine is something I haven’t addressed since 2016. So, while at Costco and Aldi I decided to buy a 3L Cab from both stores and compare. I was surprised that the 2018 Kirkland California Cabernet Sauvignon CA (13% abv) $12.99 was actually $2 cheaper than it’s Aldi counter part. The Kirkland has a nice fresh, but not edgy or raw, red fruit aroma that suggests a soft mellowness. Clearly, this is a good, flawless, honest wine though I’m not sure if the varietal identity would be apparent in a blind tasting. The texture is ample but not gripping and the taste profile is about the same as the bouquet finishing clean and dry. The Kirkland is produced in Modesto CA, so, I assume it is a Gallo product in a league, more or less, with Barefoot. The 2019 Foster & Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon CHILE (13% avv) $14.99 isn’t nearly as engaging in the nose. There is a very noticeable whiff of fruit reduction smell as well as unwelcome fermentation odors. Fortunately, the less than inviting aroma blows off leaving a pleasant, youthful red wine of no particular distinction though pleasant enough. Not a terrible buy, but, the Kirkland is much better tasting for less money. If these had been offered in a wine judging, I would probably give the Kirkland a BRONZE and the Foster & Harvest NO MEDAL.

2/23/2020

On the Costco wine blog, there was considerable discussion about the good value but not great 2018 Kirkland Malbec and the merits of the outstanding Kirkland Signature Malbec. Unfortunately, neither were available at the Wyoming/Grandville store and according to the service desk, none scheduled for delivery. So, while there, I purchased a couple of other wines, one of them an organic Malbec which, when I got home found that the editor reviewed it too and had a very favorable opinion. So, tonight we enjoyed both with our marinated flank steak (a recipe from Kathy Piersma’s kitchen). 2018 Domaine Bousquet Organic Malbec Tupungato Uco Valley, Mendoza ARGENTINA 14% ABV $7.99 Very intense black fruit aroma leads to youthful, almost to the point of light reductive quality, suggests flavors and color not entirely unlike Petite Sirah in it’s infancy. Focused, high pitched, vividly fresh fruit texture makes a bee-line through the palate leaving a crisp raw berry impression with very cleansing acidity. Though I suspect that when the acid tames down the tannin will provide more mouth feel, at the moment, it seems just a bit narrow textured, though for the money I can’t complain. If entered into one of our competitions, I would probably score it around 80 points (BRONZE medal) just now, but, in a year or two it would probably score in the mid 80’s (SILVER medal). As a fan of South African wine, the old guard in particular, I couldn’t help but throw a bottle of 2018 Rustenberg Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch SOUTH AFRICA 14% ABV $16.99 into the cart in spite of the price being higher than my typically bargain hunting purchases. Though very deep in color, none of the purple tones of the Malbec is evident with a nice nearly opaque maturing edge. The nose is still pretty closed but glimpses of fine, classy, cedar, earth and dense black fruit are starting to emerge. The palate stays straight on target with more of the same. It certainly feels bigger in the mouth than the very pure light clean cranberry-like fruit might otherwise convey. I’ll take a chance on putting some of this in the cellar even though I wouldn’t score it much higher than the $8 Malbec (above) at the moment. Time will tell.

2/12/2020

As usual, being in the wine aisle at Aldi, I had to stop and take a look. I recognized a very nice bottle of Italian Zin from southern Italy (Puglia) that the Scholma’s shared with us a couple of weeks ago. It was a bit high for my wine budget ($12.99) but, it was really good so I bought a bottle anyway. It is 2017 Ripa Di Sotto Zinfandel Puglia IGT. So, while in the department, I spotted a couple of other selections from the Prestige Beverage Group that were much cheaper. Why not give ‘em a try? First, I bought NV Rosso Grande Alberone Black Bio 14% ABV $9.99. Though the winery is in the Piedmont (the spectacularly picturesque town of Diano d’Alba), the label states that it “…contains several grape varieties from Southern Italy that are farmed organically…” It further states that it received 96 points from Luca Maroni with a gleaming medal on a very impressive looking black label and wax capsule. So, when we got home, we opened it up to see what was inside. This is a wonderful bottle of wine! It possesses much of the warmth and fat ripe fruit one would expect from California along with the undeniable class and vigor of Italy. Plenty of pigment and a rich mouth feel, yet not terribly tannic, complete the picture. Really nice wine. I grabbed one more Prestige Beverage bottling while at Aldi. This was the 2015 San Zenone Toscana Rosso IGT 13% ABV $5.99. I loved it for the rather gripping tannin and rusticity that left one’s palate tingling with anticipation. Dark and full of black fruits, it was pretty typical of what we call “super Tuscan” wine though, the label makes no such claim nor mention of the grape varieties. Alice felt it was way to harsh and overpowered our rigatoni with kale and sausage. I’d buy it again. So, today 2/14/20, I did just that along with a couple bottles of it’s sibling NV Rosso Grande Alberone (buff label) 14.5% ABV $8.99. Oddly enough, Alice liked the buff label even better than the Black Bio. It certainly has more structure owing, perhaps, to the inclusion of wines from the Veneto. Though the back label says that the winemaker Benedetto Lorusso met with winemakers and tasted wines from all of Italy’s provinces to understand the relationship of practices and terroir, there are three that seem to be the origins of this wine; Veneto, Puglia and Sicily. This is also a high scoring wine; 94 points from Luca Maroni. The label states that it is cask aged. Surprisingly, it comes from a different winery than the Black Bio. This winery is located in the Veneto about 50 km north of Verona on the north end of the gorgeous Lake Garda. The nose is pretty similar as is the very ripe almost raisin-like unctuousness. The big difference seems to be in the rich grip and long finish. I prefer the Black Bio, however.

12/01/2019 - 12/24/19

sneak peek is here

We bought an advent wine calendar at Aldi. If it turns out to be 24x187ml of Winking Owl, it will be the biggest disappointment of the year. If it turns out to be a nice collection of Internationally recognized fine wine appellations, it might just be a very novel way to toast to the holidays. We’ll review each wine starting December 1st. At $69.99 for 24 187’s that’s equivalent to $11.67 per 750ml. It will need to be pretty damn good to live up to our very value oriented expectations. Just in! Yesterday, we picked up the seven day (Dec 25-Dec 31) sparkling wine package. Stay tuned………..

DAY 1 Today with bacon, potato pancakes, fruit and coffee, we enjoyed wine #1 which is Festive Collection CAVA Rosé Brut SPAIN. As you would expect, it was just lovely with nice mousse, small bubbles, a vinous nose with hints of toast and a long refreshing finish. So far so good! DAY 2 We decided to have this one with lunch which consisted of turkey curry with all the toppings. Festive Collection Valle Central Sauvignon Blanc CHILE offers exactly what one would expect; a sweet fruity nose of citrus and subtle green herbs. On the palate, more of the same with just enough acid to keep it fresh but well within the “no tums needed” range balancing grip and mouth feel with juiciness and length. Once again, we were not disappointed and would certainly buy it if in the $8-10 range per 750ml. DAY 3 Another day, another delightful wine. Today, with Alice’s famous spinach souffle, we enjoyed Festive Collection Merlot Rosé Pays d’Oc FRANCE . The nose is nice and fresh, clean and appetizing while the palate is light with hints of strawberry and persimmon. It finishes clean and light making it just right as a luncheon wine. Day 4 After a couple of roses and a white, we were glad to see a red wine. Festive Collection Tempranillo Tierra de Castilla SPAIN shows deep black red in the glass with very full black berry / blueberry-like scents. I would guess that it has seen little or no oak aging as the fruit is quite vivid, fresh with hints of herb nuance. All in all, it served wonderfully with pasta e fagioli. Day 5 Once again, the right wine at the right time emerged from hole #5. Today, with fresh Arctic Char over salad greens, we enjoyed Festive Collection Chardonnay SE AUSTRALIA. It is fresh, clean and correct. Alice thought the balance of acid, alcohol and ripe butteriness was just right, I’d like to have seen a tad of oak and a bit more creaminess; very pleasant, but no real sense of origin here. It could have been any Chardonnay from anywhere. They call that “international” style, I believe. DAY 6 Today we were greeted by a bottle of Festive Collection Shiraz Western Cape SOUTH AFRICA. I haven’t had a lot of SA Shiraz and found this one to be clean, varietally correct with compelling black cherry-like fruit in the nose and a fresh round, but fairly light mouth feel. Of course, in my mind I was comparing it to Australian Shiraz which is much oakier with vanilla, toast and earth. This was not one of those, but, with a 187 ml bottle, it certainly left both of us wishing for a second glass with our schnitzel. DAY 7 We almost forgot to check the Advent Calendar today. Today’s wine is Festive Collection Rosé Valle Central CHILE. It doesn’t say what variety it is, but, the bright pink-blueish hue suggests something with a lot of pigment. Both the nose and the finish suggest something very aromatic and floral even Riesling-like with a nice undercurrent of fresh herbal spice. Though sweet smelling, it does finish dry and clean. DAY 8 Oh my! I’ve only had a few “Steen” in my many years of wine drinking. They’ve always been enjoyable, but, this Festive Selection Chenin Blanc Western Cape SOUTH AFRICA clearly illustrates what the wine writers are saying. The nose has class! Fine and pure with stones and lemon custard, the nose is a preamble to the mouth feel which is lightly herbal while still persistently citrus-like finishing with gripping fresh acidity and alcohol. It paired beautifully with pasta rapini. This is certainly the best of the best so far. We’re definitely going to stop in the store and see if it is available in 750 ml bottles. DAYS 9-10 We already had planed menus for the ninth that weren’t exactly ideal with what we assumed based on the 13.5% ABV to be big juicy red blends, so we delayed the selection for day 9 and my a miracle of coincidence day 10 was the same sort of wine and on Dec 10th, we had planned on American style goulash. So, we had them both together serving the Festive Selection Red Blend SE AUSTRALIA first. This is a typical New World jammy ripe “Dago Red” type that seems almost sweet due to it’s very ripe fruit yet has fairly little residual sugar. In addition, a deep violet-like intensity makes me think of Rhone. The palate is pretty much the same though even less classy. Clearly, this wine makes up in strength for what it lacks in finesse. Not bad! On its heels, we tried the Festive Selection Red Blend Tierra de Castilla SPAIN. It is deep black red with a rustic, distinct, jammy, slightly herbaceous nose with faint elusive red fruit liquor immediately transitioning to VERY rich vinous flavors on the enormously complex multi layered mouthful of plums, prunes, cactus fruit and a light hint of earth. Hard to believe we’re talking about a $6-7 bottle of wine! DAY 11 The Festive Collection Malbec Mendoza ARGENTINA has and unusual aroma of candied fruit leather. On the palate, a spike of green herb and cranberry emerges then melts into substantial soft tannins. Though Alice loved it with cheese and salami, its not one of my favorites among the Festive Collection. DAY 12 Where do they find these wines? I haven’t had a Cotes de Gascogne in over a decade. The Festive Selection Colombard Cotes de Gascogne FRANCE looks brilliant with pale straw color setting the tone for a huge explosion of fresh melon, pear, ripe peach greeting the nose while minerals, stone fruit, sorrel and sweet citrus complete the crisp dry low alcohol finish. This one’s a winner with goats milk Brie. DAY 13 Right off the bat, I was surprised to see a DOC wine among this assortment. At least rank wise, it is a full level above the vast selection of Pinot Grigio found in most supermarkets. Festive Collection Piinot Grigio delle Vinezie ITALY offers up clean grapefruit like fruit and pretty much stays on that course throughout. It is a clean and correct as they get with a nice flash of mineral and sweet/sour fruit in the finish. DAY 14 On a similar theme, Festive Collection Red Blend Venezie IGT ITALY popped up today. Big very plump super fruity berry jam-like scents in the nose with more very fresh plummy fruits as any new world offering on the palate. They don’t mention the grape varieties, but i’d bet this is a typical international blend rather than the traditional local varietals. Nice wine, but I wouldn’t guess it was northern Italian if I had 20 or more guesses. DAY 15 Another day another new appellation. Though very familiar with most of the regions and varietals of New Zealand, we’d never had a wine from Nelson a tiny region tucked in between Marlborough and the ocean. Festive Collection Sauvignon Blanc Nelson NEW ZEALAND tasted about the same as most wines we’ve enjoyed from Marlborough with very herbal, citrus-like, clay and cat piss in the nose and clean stony subtleties added in the finish. If any difference, I’d say that the acidity was a bit calmer here than most of the NZ Sauv Bl that I can remember. It worked out just fine with my favorite sammy; brie and jamon on a hot baguette. Again, I appreciate that the Aldi buyers are exploring emerging wine regions as well as finding bargains from the traditional ones. DAY 16 As excited as I was this morning when I saw the bottle of Festive Collection Carignane Vielles Vignes Pays d’Herault IGP FRANCE, I probably expected way too much. If one looks at it simply as basic quaffing country wine from the south of France and nothing more, it is just right. The fruit on the nose is real bright, round and plump with black berry scents and simple jammy flavors on the pretty one dimensional, though generous, palate. This is not a wine with much class or structure but certainly an ample alternative to E&J Hearty Burgundy with lamb chops and mint sauce. DAY 17 Certainly, the high point of all of these selections is the extent to which each is a pleasant surprise and the Festive Collection Viognier Pays d’Oc France is no exception. The lovely shimmering floral Basque pear nose and crisp lemon custard finish paired very well with French cheese and jamon though the longer I lingered, the more I could picture myself at a cafe at Valras-Plage overlooking the Mediterranean while wolfing down a big plate of Moules de Provence. DAY 18 How about another obscure wine? Yes, Pinot Grigio is a “black” grape. On the vine it looks like badly tarnished brass with copper-like highlights. But, it is indeed rare to see a rose. So, when I opened the cubby hole today, I found Festive Collection Pinot Grigio Rosé della Venezie DOC ITALY. Though very very pale; just a hint of salmon, the fresh melon nose leads directly to a satisfyingly rich strawberry-like texture. We had it with pasta, but, it might have been even better with Nicoise salad or seared tuna. DAY 19 Well, I knew sooner or later this Festive Collection White Zinfandel California USA would rear its ugly head, and today it did. Though typically mild, soft with only a whiff of fruit and a tiny kiss of acid and texture, this semi sweet pink wine is pretty much as advertised. DAY 20 Yea, Chilean Merlot isn’t anything new or exciting, but Festive Collection Merlot Valle Central CHILE is a real nice bright fruity Merlot with plenty of red fruit up front and a long very classy Bordeaux-like finesse on the palate. It is one of those simple but delicious wines that you can enjoy every day. DAY 21 The Festive Collection Chardonnay Mendoza ARGENTINA fits my description of “luxury” Chardonnay. The balance of sweet cream, lemon, mineral, and tropical candied fruit is just right. Though, I normally, like oakier Chardonnay, this one doesn’t need it particularly when served with clams in brothy Bomba rice with salsa verde. . DAY 22 Being that today is my birthday, we are invited to the Piersma’s for king crab dinner. So, we cleaned up the rest of the ham ‘n scalloped potatoes for lunch with Festive Collection Shiraz SE AUSTRALIA. There’s a really nice ripe, composty, if slightly medicinal streak of decadently baked fruit that carries through giving it a bit of heft and lasting texture. DAY 23 Today’s Festive Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Valle Central CHILE once again shows up exactly as expected. Typical Cab Sauv black currant fruit with that distinct “lift” or slightly minty smell that brings you in and after a nicely balanced middle palate lifts up again at the end with more of the menthol liquor-like fruit that spells out the Chilean influence. Though Alice didn’t much care for it, and the fact that this sort of wine can be bought most anywhere for about $5 or $6 a bottle, I feel that when it is spot on like this, it is a joy to drink. DAY 24 With Festive Collection Prosecco DOG Extra Dry ITALY as today’s selection, we decided on a big lunch at the Copper Post (with a most incredible bottle of Blue Eyed Boy by Molly Dooker) and left the Prosecco for the evening snack of cheese and cured meat. As soon as Alice smelled and tasted it, she remarked “where’s the orange juice?”. She hit that one head on. In spite of the DOC credential, this is pretty average stuff with an almost cloying edge to it. Fine for Mimosas, however.

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE ALDI ADVENT WINE CALENDAR So, as it turns out, the value is certainly there. No, these are not a bunch of Winking Owl Aldivines. What surprises me most about these seemingly generic wines is the extent to which almost every wine is true to its origin. If these were available in the store individually, I would certainly buy the majority of them. My other lasting impression is that because Alice and my wine drinking is limited to about 98% red wine, we’re missing out.

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So, with the seven days of celebrating sparkling wines (also from Aldi) we started in on Christmas morning.

DAY 25 I wasn’t too thrilled to see another Prosecco. Although Belletti Prosecco DOC Extra Dry ITALY appears to be the same wine as yesterday with a slightly different label, it was much better with a rich creamy texture, more lively spritz and a finish that actually had a bit of complexity. Maybe it just seemed better first thing in the morning with clear palates and no ripe tangy goat cheese to interfere. Nonetheless, we decided it too was best served as a Mimosa ingredient rather than a stand alone sparkler. DAY 26 Having no idea where this wine comes from other than a winery address in the Haut Jura (between southern Burgundy and the Alps) this non-specific Gourmandises Pink ICE Sparkling Demi Sec Pinot Noir FRANCE turned out to be delightful. Though touted as “drink over ice” we served it straight up in flutes to enjoy the lively mousse and pretty pink color. None of the leesy complexity of Champagne, but, still a wine of some finesse. It went great with king crab legs and garlic butter. DAY 27 Moscato d’Asti is to wine tasting what a glass of fruit juice is to breakfast. 2018 Paluzzi Moscato d’Asti DOCG ITALY is, in fact, so low (5.5% ABV) in alcohol that it is required to carry nutritional facts on the label like a fruit juice would. I didn’t know wine could be so healthy first thing in the morning. The smell is a delight! Very clean pure essence of Bosque pear gets a nice aromatic lift of exotic passion fruit in the very inviting aroma while clean albeit sweet flavors of apple and citrus complete the picture. Yes, a dandy breakfast beverage. DAY 28 Though not nearly as fine or complex as the “ICE” from day 26, I still couldn’t quite bring myself to muck up the very appealing pink color and very active effervescence with orange juice. Realistically, mimosa base would have been the best use for Belletti Sparkling Rosé Extra Dry ITALY with its fresh citrus scent and light finish. DAY 29 Today is another new encounter with Gourmandises ICE Sparkling Chardonnay Demi Sec FRANCE which like the Pinot Noir (above) has no place of origin listed for the grapes, but the winery is located in the Haut Jura. So, today we decided to follow directions and enjoy it as suggested “best over ice”. The mousse was really vigorous and a very bright citrus and mineral nose blossomed with slightly bitter entry and firm grip on the palate finished with a hint of green herb. As interesting as it is, we caved in an poured in the orange juice. Much better! DAY 30 Typically Aldi, another nice looking package and like most of these sparkling calendar wines, it has no origin listed. The winery is located in Landiras France which is just south of Bordeaux. This is not an area with which I am familiar. Francois Fouche Brut Rosé FRANCE has a very clean, fresh, appetizing aroma with pale salmon color and melon and strawberry-like flavors and a very light bright finish. Not much complexity, depth or finesse but a very decent drink with sauteed King salmon. DAY 31 Heretat El Padruell (Jaume Serra) CAVA Brut SPAIN tastes about the same as Cristalino which is a very populare CAVA available everywhere. So, nothing unique about this selection, but, it is a fresh pure example of minerality and light toast mingling with clean citrus and pear-like fruit with a bit more heft than many non-Champagne sparklers. The traditional Champagne method, however, does make it more emphatically bubbly than most of its comparably priced cousins.

I’m pretty sure that if these calendars are again not available from Costco next year, I’ll probably buy them again from Aldi. By then, we’ll have forgotten most of what I’ve written above and it will be all new again. Happy 2020!!!!

SOME MORE YEAR END OBSERVATIONS: Considering the price, once again, we can’t complain about the fairly interesting assortment of sparkling wines. Nothing of real elegance and breed, but, all pretty darn good, especially, as breakfast wine. Today we got the year end obits from the GR PRESS and I couldn’t help but notice the surnames. Being that not everyone who dies has an obit in the GR PRESS, I am probably over simplifying my conclusion. Anyway, here are the most popular surnames of people in West Michigan who died in 2019: 16 Johnson’s, 12 Smith’s, 7 Miller’s, 6 Taylor’s, 6 Williams’, 5 Huizenga’s and 5 Murphy’s. Lots of twos and threes too. Very few people of color oddly enough. Not sure if it was just a good year for people of color or they don’t typically run obits in the PRESS.

11/7/2019

2018 Fronterra (Concha Y Toro) Central Valley Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot CHILE $7.99 1.5 liter at Sam’s Club Initially, I wasn’t a fan nor was Alice. Though drinkable, a bitter green olive-like flavor obscured most of its attributes. However, as it sat for a day or two, that flavor disappeared and a really pleasantly balanced pallet of fruit, earth tones and spice emerged. By the fourth day, it was really drinking well. Nice to know that this larger format won’t spoil after days of being open. SILVER MEDAL

11/2/2019

So, once again, I find myself in Aldi looking at wines. I notice a familiar or semi familiar logo on a bottle of Chianti. The logo on the bottle neck looks something like the Ruffino Modus logo. I’m not sure how Aldi gets away with their labels which in some subtle way resemble the leader in each category without copyright infringement, but, they seem to have a shelf full of wines that somehow look familiar, but, who knows where the wines are produced or bottled. This Chianti gives no indication of it’s origin other than “Casa Vinicola Chianti” ; translation, “winery Chianti” which could be any of hundreds of producers. Anyway, it was only $4.49, how could I go wrong?

2018 Global Adventure Series Chianti ITALY $4.49 at Aldi Though not quite as distinctive as the Malbec (below) I’ll have to say that I did enjoy it more. In general, Europeans seem to take “house wine” or “table wine” a lot more seriously than we do here, and Italy may just be the king of everyday wines that just sing or as Bob Seeger might say “soothes the soul”. This wine is no exception. It may be as ordinary a bottle of Chianti as there is, but, it is just right for an everyday wine that pleases with every sip even though one hardly notices it. It couldn’t be more correct with it’s rustic, slightly earthy strawberry jam bouquet and simple yet dignified palate that holds when you examine it, but, disappears when you’re not paying attention. My score is based on the fact that it is just an ordinary wine, even though I absolutely love what it represents. I could drink it for every meal. SILVER/BRONZE doesn’t account for the intangibles.

UPDATE 5/23/2020

We have enjoyed this wine (Global Adventure Chianti) now a half dozen times and we continue to enjoy it. Last night, we opened a bottle after finishing one of our favorite Riojas (Bordon $23, see How to Stay Amused during Shelter in Place 5/23) and, though not as exotic or complex, in terms of just plain good drinking and satisfying a need to have something to enjoy with a bite to eat, we liked the Chianti just as well; the transition from one wine to the next was seamless. I think I need to reconsider my original rating. This one is a GOLD!

10/22/2019 

2018 Evanta Mendoza Malbec, ARGENTINA $3.99 at Aldi  As a winemaker knowing the cost of grapes, bottles, corks and labels, I am amazed at a wine that cost less than I pay for empty bottles with a cork, label, capsule and a box to put it all in.   So, I had to try it.   The color is very dark; deep red-black with pure unencumbered blackberry and blueberry-like fruit.   Not a huge aroma, but very clean and correct.  The mouth feel has a surprising amount of texture for a wine that’s cheaper than an empty bottle.   The tannin is firm but smooth and lasts for several seconds.   If I was judging this wine professionally, I’d give it a SILVER MEDAL.   Bravo!

2017 Copper Wood Merlot, CALIFORNIA $5.49 at Aldi Alice loved this wine. I liked it too, but, not as much as the preceding Malbec. It has a very nice fresh Merlot inspired fruit in the nose and a very nicely balanced palate of soft juicy red fruit and light texture. I’d probably not go more than a BRONZE MEDAL, but Alice would be closer to GOLD. Either way, a very drinkable wine for the money.

 

*What’s the old saying, “the easiest person to sell to is a salesman”.