WT4Nights: Frugal Dream Della Venezie

Vigne Il Giardino Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie, DOC, 2019

Learned that Delle Venezie was elevated to DOC status (from IGP) during 2017. Excerpts of my maybe-too-detailed notes.

Greenish gold; excellent clarity. Medium minus legs. Aromas of white fruit and flowers, with subtle baking spices. Hint of melon. Light to medium body; juicy and bright texture. Medium finish, medium plus acidity. Tasted over 4 days; very slight fading by Days 3 and 4, but clear staying power. Impression: friendly, pleasant. At $3 plus tax, QPR is above average. A great party wine for this summer, or as a daily drinker. Pop and pour from the refrigerator; screwcap. Such a good value that I went back to TJs and bought 4 more. Drink now.

Know I don't usually quote a price, but darn this is good stuff for the money. It seems that the wine may be $4 to $5 in other states. Apparently TJs advanced tasted it and bought up quite a bit of the vintage. That said, the local TJs had much less left on my second trip. But I got my half-case, thank you very much.

[Jenise]

At $3 plus tax, QPR is above average

For something you'd go back for a six-pack of, that QPR's way way way above average!

Happens occasionally at TJs. And even if we have too much wine, which we do, there's always room for summer daily drinkers.

May not entertain this summer, but who cares? Sometimes I just want a simple, or a step above simple, glass of wine.

[Jenise]

Used to love shopping for bargains at TJ's, but I found myself kissing too many frogs. Their selections seem to cater to extreme new world tastes, like butterball chardonnays. Where I live, these days Grocery Outlet's a lot more fun for slumming.

Used to love shopping for bargains at TJ's, but I found myself kissing too many frogs. Their selections seem to cater to extreme new world tastes, like butterball chardonnays. Where I live, these days Grocery Outlet's a lot more fun for slumming.

Jenise, just in from a CT buddy in CA, Grocery Outlet ideas. FYI.

2018 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brancato - a very nice, user-friendly rose for $4.99, ripe-fruited but not sweet and carrying good acidity
2018 Torres Catalunya De Casta Rosado - a bit of a step down from the previous rose for my palate, but still good and priced at just $2.99
2015 Goodnow Tempranillo - not profound, but a solid day-to-day red at $4.99...we've gone through quite a bit of this over the last two years
2018 Owl Box Pinot Noir from Carneros is a pretty decent lighter-styled pinot for $5.99...

We have a Grocery Outlet nearby. Never been there. Maybe soon if/when in the market for daily drinkers.

Cheers!

[Jenise]

Thanks, I'll pass those on to my brother who shops there regularly. But, the thing about these stores is that they're franchised, so each individual store owner has a lot of say about what goes on the shelves--and there's zero consistency in the supply chain (including price) in the way there is with Trader Joe's. Too, we rarely see Washington wines in our GO's, it's at least 80% California whereas in California they report getting cool WA bargains never seen here. And the majority of the California wines are $5 wines factory wines made for selling at $5 and not real winery product: "bottled by" or "produced and bottled by" but not "vinted by" if you read the fine print on the back label. I'll bet half of them are made in the same factory, just different labels slapped on them. As best I understand it, the chances of you and I finding the same wine is pretty close to zilch.

But when you find a real bargain, wow what a bargain. While I understand chances are remote, I would pass back to your friend a dark orangey-red WA rose called Impuls, a sangio-cab franc blend with remarkable body and personality. $4.99.

[Jenise]

Btw, I should have added that we see the lack of consistency even between the three stores in our area. One might get something the others don't. Of course, they'll have a majority of same product, but it's the factory stuff I mentioned. The cool discovery stuff is hit and miss. As in, Ferndale gets a case now, and long after they run out a case shows up at Lynden. You can't time it.

Thanks, I'll pass those on to my brother who shops there regularly. But, the thing about these stores is that they're franchised, so each individual store owner has a lot of say about what goes on the shelves--and there's zero consistency in the supply chain (including price) in the way there is with Trader Joe's. Too, we rarely see Washington wines in our GO's, it's at least 80% California whereas in California they report getting cool WA bargains never seen here. And the majority of the California wines are $5 wines factory wines made for selling at $5 and not real winery product: "bottled by" or "produced and bottled by" but not "vinted by" if you read the fine print on the back label. I'll bet half of them are made in the same factory, just different labels slapped on them. As best I understand it, the chances of you and I finding the same wine is pretty close to zilch.

But when you find a real bargain, wow what a bargain. While I understand chances are remote, I would pass back to your friend a dark orangey-red WA rose called Impuls, a sangio-cab franc blend with remarkable body and personality. $4.99.

Will pass on, Jenise. I find in some retailers that managers can vary what's on sale. Especially items that have a defined shelf life. Went grocery shopping this week at a small chain. All sales in their published ad were there, plus more. Got some good deals.