For those of you who don't know me personally, I LOVE wine. I like to enjoy a glass after work and on the weekends. Somehow, when ever we get together with friends I bring wine. So I'm not only buying tastey bottles from vineyards, I'm buying bottles at grocery stores, and on a weekly basis. Drinking wine can be expensive, but I'm all about the inexpensive jems. I find most of said jems at Trader Joe's, and I would like to speak a bit on my four go-to's (all of which can be purchased at Trader Joe's).
LaGranja 2010 Tempranillo (AKA The Pig) is a steal of a find at $3.99 a bottle. It has a twist top and should be aerated before consumption. I usually just twist the top and let it sit for 5 minutes, then come back and run it through my Vinturi (if you don't have one of these and you like cheap wine, get one - http://www.vinturi.com/products/vinturi.html). After that process its a completely different taste, smell, and experience. It's a dark wine that tastes like raspberry, licorice and a hint of fig. Its an easy wine, and at $3.99 a bottle, its worth trying for yourself. It also keeps over a few days, gets better even, and is ideal for your after work glass of vino.
LaGranja 2010 Tempranillo/Garnache (AKA The Zebra) is a dollar more expensive than The Pig at $4.99 a bottle. Its worth your extra 'buck' as this one does not need to aerate as long and does well just poured into a glass. It is dark in color and smells like raspberries, blackberries, and cocoa laced with coffee. It tastes similar and has a soft tannin. Amazing flavor for the price and a great go-to for entertaining or personal consumption.
Albero 2009 Tempranillo Barrica is a great switch up from The Pig or The Zebra. It's $6.99 a bottle and must be aerated. On the nose its blackberry and spice. Its dark in color and has fast running legs. At first taste it's all spice, but unfolds into bold fruit flavors, and has a mellow finish. I recommend letting this bad boy sit for at least an hour before serving. This is best used as the second bottle in an evening of entertaining.
Caves des Papes 2010 Cotes du Rhone to me, is a go to. I love this funky, squatty bottle AND the taste is great for every day consumption OR entertaining. This Cotes du Rhone goes for $5.99 a bottle and does a great job of competing with more expensive bottles. I aerate this bottle, but perhaps its just a habit with less expensive wine...as I'm not sure its necessary. This wine is spicy and has a pleasantly dry finish.
I usually get two to three of each of the aforementioned bottles in a mixed case along with other random bottles. Its great on my wallet and we always have extra bottles in case we host an impromptu dinner party.
Hopefully I've inspired the budget watching folks to try something new!
xoxo,
KW
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