Comments for Jason's Wine Blog

Comment on 2009 Tormaresca Neprica Puglia IGT by Under the Influence

Under the Influence — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:21:38 +0000

TJs in the Chicago area, and probably other Midwest locations, have it @$7.99. This may be the one instance where California doesn’t get all the good stuff! Cheers!

Comment on 2009 Tormaresca Neprica Puglia IGT by TL

TL — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:29:31 +0000

I got a few bottles of this at the BevMo sale last year for under $7. It is currently at $9.99.

Comment on 2010 Chariot Gypsy by anastasia wiley

anastasia wiley — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:24:04 +0000

Loved this one. But Cocobon 2009 was my fav of them two.

Comment on 2009 Tormaresca Neprica Puglia IGT by jason

jason — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:52:16 +0000

They are indeed owned by Antinori. Yet to see this one at TJ’s. Where did you spy it?

Comment on 2009 Tormaresca Neprica Puglia IGT by Under the Influence

Under the Influence — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:44:48 +0000

Heartily concur. Tormaresca — which I believe is still owned by Antinori, one of the largest, most respected and oldest (since the 14th century!) wineries in Italy — has been producing this very tasty and well-balanced red for some time, so it was good to see it appear on TJ’s shelves and at a great price.

Comment on 2010 Roccalta Sangiovese by Under the Influence

Under the Influence — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:36:17 +0000

Roccalta sangiovese is labeled as an IGT wine originating in Puglia (in the south of Italy) but bottled in Pontedera, an industrial town outside of Pisa (where Vespa scooters are built). Italian IGT wines are a clarification above “vino da tavola” and indicate that the wine, or at least the grapes, are from a specific geographical area. Since sangiovese grapes are grown just about anywhere in Italy, the IGT designation here may just be window dressing, as it isn’t clear whether the grapes or the wine in bulk was shipped to Pontedera for bottling. In any event, this is a simple wine, maybe as classy a plonk wine as you will find (crafted by an Apulian master winemaker!, though not necessarily in Apulia), that doesn’t taste too bad if you’re not paying attention.

Comment on Trader Joe’s Wines – Top 10 Wine List by Beth walsh

Beth walsh — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:44:32 +0000

Trader Joe’s had an amazing french champagne this Christmas (2011) I can’t remember the name. Can you help me out on this one. It had tiny bubbles and a nice toast flavor… Is there any left ? I should have bought a case or 3. Can you recommend a toasty champagne or bubbly under $30?

Comment on Top 10 Trader Joe’s Wines: 2011 Holiday Edition by jane

jane — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:50:59 +0000

Re Grocery Outlet and other closeout stores – I’m reluctant to shop there because I’m worried about how the wine has been stored and handled turning a good deal into a bad one. Anyone have comments/experience on this?

Comment on 2010 Roccalta Sangiovese by Juan

Juan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:41:31 +0000

The wine smells great and has a deep rich color to it. The first sip dances about the mouth with fruity flavors and then halfway through, is overtaken by a calm acidity. The acidity is not the sharpest, but nevertheless present and lingers a little. I felt torn between liking and disliking this wine. In all, I found the bottle enjoyable, but not to the point were I’ll be buying it again. The key selling point here is the price, which still makes this bottle well worth it.

Comment on Trader Joe’s Wines – Top 10 Wine List by Under the Influence

Under the Influence — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:06:03 +0000

The 2010 Trentatre Rosso has made its appearance, and with two bottles under the belt, I can say it is still kinda, sorta, um, er……good. It has traces of taste characteristics of earlier vintages, but like the Epicuro wines the TJ Empire continues to market, it has lost its distinctiveness. At a $6 price of admission it remains a good buy, but as you can see, this is faint praise. Meanwhile, I am communing with ancestors with the rustic, chewy, nectareous Grifone primitivo at $4 a pop.