Sierra foothills zin deal

 Today I'm going to Trader Joe's to try to get more of this Boeger El Dorado county 2011 Zin. At $ 8.99 it is a really affordable way to have a taste of the high octane Sierra foothills Zin. There's a lot to like-tons of flavor and a pretty good level of alcohol to balance. I'm thinking that it would be a good pizza wine, maybe nice to have at a BBQ. Either way, the price is right and it will probably cellar for a few years. I give it 8 swiggs......nice score for something that is under $ 10.00  and hopefully not sold out !

Tobin James weekend

 Yes, I joined a wine club. No, it's not local but it is a place I stop by whenever I'm traveling south. These two wines are really great and don't break the bank, especially with the ample savings from being a member of the club. Without joining, the wine above-Primo Sangiovese will set you back $18.00, hardly a fortune for such a flavorful wine. This isn't like an Italian Sangiovese, more like a Sierra foothills explosion of fruit. I'll give it 8 1/2 swiggs. You might be ale to find this at better grocery stores but I got it at the winery just outside of Paso Robles, Calif. on Hwy. 46.

This is their everyday low cost wine, Chateau le Cacheflo. At $ 11.50 this Rhone blend is really affordable for such a good wine. I'll give it 8 swiggs. The winery has a 20% off per case if you are in the club.....they didn't pay me to write this ! I'm just a big fan and have been for many years. If you like super flavorful wines and aren't afraid of 14+ % alcohol , give Tobin James a try. They offer about 20 different bottles, some humble such as these two on up to fancy reserve stuff that can stay in the cellar for special occasions.

North Coast cab

I have been to this winery although it was a number of years ago. When I heard that the owner was virtually bankrupt I felt like I needed to drink a toast to him with one of his wines-after all, I did really enjoy his wines in the past. This version is the entry level version of his Cabernet, the 'Silver Label' north coast 2009. At about $ 15.00 it is not something I would buy all the time but it represents a really nice red for the money. It is easy to drink, not really tannic and could go with a variety of foods. I'll give it 8 swiggs. You'll find it at Trader Joes. I don't know what will happen with this brand in the future but I hope that it survives the ownership change. This winery is one we don't want to lose.

Nice $ 15.00 Zin

This winery is in San Benito county where the summers get really hot. There's some good Pinot, Syrah and Petit Syrah grown there as well as Sangiovese. For my taste, the Zin from that area is the star and this De Rose 2008 Cienega valley is a really tasty drink. At first it seems a bit thin and light but with time it starts really opening up-maybe decanting it and waiting an hour would help. By the time you are finishing the bottle you'll be wishing you had bought two. It is better to stop at one bottle as this wine is no joke at 16.2% alcohol ! I'll give it 8 1/2 swiggs and you can find it at New Leaf markets.

Budget Italian red

This isn't bad.....it's not exceptional but at $ 4.99 it doesn't have to be. This Epicuro Salice Salentino 2009 Riserva is a good weekday wine- not overly rich or impressive but pretty likeable, especially after it has been in the glass for a few minutes. At first taste I thought it was a non-descript generic dud ,but after a few sips it began to take on an identity-not the typical earthy Italian food-wine identity but an almost California fruitiness. If you are calling out for pizza this will do....it's maybe even a little better than that. 6 swiggs, from Trader Joes

rioja on sale

Not often does a wine like this one show up for less than $ 10 at the local market - I bought it and had it with dinner last night. For $ 8.99 the 2009 Rioja Vega is a decent dry table wine that isn't super impressive on first taste but gets better as you drink it-always a sign of a plus-5 swigg wine. I'm not sure that Shopper's Corner has any more of this but it is worth a look. I'll give it 6 swiggs.....not exceptional but definitely worth a try, especially if you are growing tired of Calif. offerings.

Regional French red

Eery once in awhile Trader Joes gets a limited amount of small production wine from the south of France. I just liked the label and had a Minervois before that I had enjoyed so I decided to try this one, Chateau Vaissiere. It is really nice, drinks well for a 2011 and at $ 9.95 is a nice departure from Calif. reds. It isn't super bold but it has plenty of flavor and isn't as bone-dry as you would think. I'll give it 7 1/2 swiggs and recommend it highly for folks looking for something that is a departure from the norm.