Ain't Found A Good Title Blog

It’s always dangerous to rely solely on one’s memory.  However it’s even more dangerous to have 10 open bottles of wine and try to rank them.

Here goes, from memory and my reviews, the best so far.  Intentions are always good.  The good intentions here are to update this post semi-often as new wines are reviewed.  Some wines are going to be ranked simply as a tie because they’re so close or the memories are so faded.  However, at least for the top few, these stood out from the rest.

1.  Gaetano D’Aquino Chianti Riserva DOCG – 2006 – simply no negatives, a light very smooth red, Tuscany, Italy, DOCG

Aquila D’Oro Chianti DOCG – 2009 – a slightly stronger taste, but still, no real negatives, Tuscany, Italy, DOCG

Reserve De L’Estey AOC Médoc  – 2008 – a very nice Bordeaux blend, smooth with no negatives, Bordeaux, France, AOC Médoc

Gonfalone Chianti DOCG – 2009 – another very nice Chianti – purchased from ALDI of all places, Tuscany, Italy, DOCG

2.  Alexander & Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon – 2009 – a light smooth red, even better if  aged another year?, California, USA

Rodney Strong Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon – 2008 – a  very good stronger tasting red, no negatives, California, USA

Montepulciano D’Abruzzo DOC – 2009 – Villa Cerrina – a different grape, a stronger taste, but still a good wine, Abruzzo, Italy, DOC

Gaetano D’Aquino Chianti DOCG – 2009 – a very good stronger tasting Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, DOCG

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG – 2007 – Incanto – a nice stronger and slightly different tasting Sangiovese blend, Tuscany, Italy, DOCG

Barton & Guestier Merlot Vin de Pays d’Oc – 2006 – serendipity helped find this fine wine on the clearance shelf, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, Vin de Pays

Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso DOC – 2009 – Pasqua – a different process makes for a unique tasting wine,  Valpolicella, Italy, DOC

3.  Aquila D’Oro IGT Toscana – 2009 – a very drinkable Super Tuscan, Tuscany, Italy, IGT

Sangiovese Di Toscana, D’Aquino Gaetano IGT – 2008 – a Super Tuscan, equal to the Aquila D’Oro, Tuscany,  Italy, IGT

Trader Joe’s Coastal Syrah – 2008 – a very nice smooth wine with a stronger and earthier taste similar to the Montepulciano D’Abruzzo above, California, USA

IL Valore Chianti Riserva Marchese De Petri – DOCG – 2006 – old school Chianti, neutral smooth taste with some acidity, Tuscany, Italy

4.  Les Caves Joseph – AOC Bordeaux – 2008 –  A smooth French wine,  Merlot & Cabernet blend,  Bordeaux, France, AOC

Roccalta Sangiovese – IGT Puglia – 2010 – Smooth Sangiovese grapes with a bit of extra character – Puglia, Italy, IGT

5.  Charles Shaw Merlot – 2009 –  Yes.  $2.99 and not bad, California, USA

Trader Joe’s French Market Reserve Merlot – 2007–  a lesser classification from the Bordeaux region, France

6.  Trader Joe’s Coastal Zinfandel – 2007 – a stronger red with a stronger taste, California, USA

7.  Ruggero di Tasso Nero D’Avola IGT – 2008 – a stronger red,  perhaps just not to my taste,  Sicily, Italy, IGT

8.  Fat bastard Shiraz – 2007 –  another mildly earthy red, this bottle had an off aftertaste, France

Trader Joe’s Petit Reserve Pinot Noir – 2009  – just not that good, Edna Valley, California, USA

9.  Charles Shaw Shiraz – 2008 – an “industrial” taste sends it to the bottom, but still drinkable,  California, USA

10.  With so many good wines above, does anyone care what’s down here?  We’ll reserve this area for wines to avoid.

Southern Point Cabernet Sauvignon (Walgreens) – first to make the avoid list, California, USA

Notes

These are all reds.  My preference.  The “lighter” reds seem to bubble up to the top.  Again, my preference.  Mostly all are under $7.  Most can be found at Trader Joe’s.   That will limit your search to one store if you’d like to try any of these.  Although, even at TJ’s, these are not always in stock.   The various wine classifications seem to have some merit.  Look for the wines with the higher classification.  Too bad the American wines don’t have a similar system.  The Italian wines from Tuscany rock.

Tags: ranking, ratings, review, reviews, tj, tj's, top 10, trader joe's, wine

This entry was posted on 01/23/2011 at 16:24 and is filed under Trader Joe's, Wine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.