Not great—UPDATED

"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove) 02/23/2020 at 20:46 • Filed to: Virtual wine club with chariotoflove

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UPDATE: it got better toward the bottom of the bottle. Strange how that happens.

This is a Chianti I got at Trader Joe’s for $4. I have never seen a Chianti for less than $10 on the most aggressive sale, and was intrigued. I have also never had a Chianti I didn’t love...until now. Despite being bottled over 4 years ago, this wine tasted young and thin without any of the deep fruity notes I’m used to. Unlike the 3-buck Chuck Cabernet I got with it, I will not be purchasing this one again. Although I will be finishing the bottle.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Chariotoflove 02/23/2020 at 20:59

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I'm scared of wine that costs less than $15

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Chariotoflove 02/23/2020 at 21:02

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Maybe it doesn't taste right unless you eat it with liver and fava beans

E90M3 > Chariotoflove 02/23/2020 at 21:07

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Necessary wine reviewing with Chariot oflove.

Chariotoflove > E90M3 02/23/2020 at 21:27

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You need to do more recipes, and we can do food and  wine paring posts.

Chariotoflove > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/23/2020 at 21:28

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Good point. 

Chariotoflove > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/23/2020 at 21:30

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I have given myself an ongoing challenge of staying under $10 for any bottle. I have made quite a few discoveries, but some experiments don’t work out. Still, anything red can make a nice sangria. 

E90M3 > Chariotoflove 02/23/2020 at 21:37

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Caroline will wonder why I'm taking pictures of all the things I'm making. I made stuffed peppers tonight. 

RacinBob > Chariotoflove 02/23/2020 at 21:37

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Our closest Trader Joe’s is 70 miles away so we stock up when we get the chance. We got another case in Madison, Wi ye sterday. I find their $6.00 French wines very drinkable.

Chariotoflove > E90M3 02/23/2020 at 21:39

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I get those looks from Linda too. Bring her in on the reviews. 

XJDano > Chariotoflove 02/23/2020 at 21:40

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As mentioned before, I’m not big on wine. But I really think I’m missing out on a whole ‘nother world out there. And I’m willing to give it another try.

I think the fact  that I treated wine like liquor and drank it alone or not as a meal was the problem. I once had a red wine with steak and it Seemed to go well together. I think there is still hope though.

Chariotoflove > E90M3 02/23/2020 at 21:41

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Also, I am interested in your stuffed peppers. Those recipes vary widely. I am trying to get my girls interested. Also, I keep trying to talk up egg plant as a menu item. 

Chariotoflove > RacinBob 02/23/2020 at 21:43

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That’s the way to do it. Our closest  TJ’s isn’t exactly on my commute, but it’s worth the occasional trip to stock up. 

RacinBob > Chariotoflove 02/23/2020 at 21:48

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By the way, Aldi has a nice selection of low priced european wines too. 

Chariotoflove > XJDano 02/23/2020 at 21:51

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As Americans I think we’re really not brought up learning about wine. I took a class in college and learned soooo much about both wines and spirits (and beers too) that helped me appreciate what I drink. A start would be to get an easy to read book like Windows on the World wine course or some such.  Also, google “wine wheel”. It’ll help you identify the tastes and smells in a wine. Suddenly it will become much more interesting. 

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Chariotoflove 02/23/2020 at 21:53

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Don't laugh but there's an Ed Hardy brand Sangria that's not bad at all.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Chariotoflove 02/23/2020 at 22:07

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Oooh I just made some last week. In a LARGE pan fry up 1/2lb each of ground hamburg and pork, along with a diced onion and salt/pepper to taste. After the meat’s cooked stir in 1.5 cups of cooked* rice and half of a 16oz can of tomato sauce. This mix should fill 6-8 peppers depending on size. After they’re stuffed top with the rest of the tomato sauce and some shredded mozzarella. Bake at 350F for an hour.

*It’s best if the rice is only MOSTLY cooked, as it won’t get mushy after baking in tomato sauce. Decrease the amount of water in the rice by like a 1/4 cup and watch it carefully. Stop it once all the water is absorbed.

Incidentally this is the same filling that I use for stuffed cabbage.

I’ve had Serbian stuffed peppers before. The recipe involves yogurt.

Chariotoflove > RacinBob 02/23/2020 at 22:33

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There’s an Aldi near work. I’ll check it out. 

Chariotoflove > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/23/2020 at 22:34

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I never laugh at affordable booze. 

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Chariotoflove 02/23/2020 at 22:36

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Overheard:

“Those cheap Trader Joe’s wines are really not very good...”
“Yeah, and the bottles are way too small!”

/s/ Sorry, had to go there...

Chariotoflove > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/23/2020 at 22:37

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That sounds yummy!

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Chariotoflove 02/23/2020 at 22:38

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Not to go all “The Takeout”, but the whole history of Aldi (USA) and Trader Joe’s is a fascinating tale of two feuding clans of a single German family.

It’s not very car-related, but I should write it up. Basically the Adidas-Puma story — but with store-branded groceries.

Chariotoflove > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 02/23/2020 at 22:38

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Ha!

Chariotoflove > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 02/23/2020 at 22:39

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Oh, I didn’t know that. 

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Chariotoflove 02/23/2020 at 22:50

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Quick version is that the Aldi founder-patriarch started Aldi Discount after the war— when the German people just needed a place they could rely on to get staple foods. He stocked a limited selection, good value, fine quality. It was what the market needed and he grew like crazy. They were strictly a “German company, for the German consumer”.

HOWEVER, when the busi ness passed on to the family— the siblings did NOT get along. Feuding boardroom battles, crazy shit. They finally found peace by splitting the territory of Germany into two pieces— founding Aldi Sud and Aldi Nord. Two completely separate companies.

All was fine until one of them gets the bright idea to run the same model in the US— only strictly under the ALDI brand, no Sud, no Nord . The other, feuding, sibling in the other ALDI goes “ Schiesse! Merde! Shit~! ”... and decides to go buy, for a mountain of cash, Trader Joe’s from, er, Joe. And re-focus on more Store Brand, House Brand, stuff like “Two-Buck Chuck” and “Trader Jose’s Mexican”.

So, if you see an uncanny similarity in the models (they even use the same suppliers for a lot of stuff— such as   th e nice Belgian chocolates and wafer cookies and the like)— well, it’s two feuding ALDI Inc heirs duking it out for your value grocery dollars.

RacinBob > Chariotoflove 02/24/2020 at 00:19

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Wine f rom Trader’s Joe tonight with a b urger with b rioche b un and also t heir baby b oc choy with seseme oil and soy sauce and mus hrooms.

Chariotoflove > RacinBob 02/24/2020 at 00:32

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Sounds great. 

ranwhenparked > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 01:12

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Are you averse to Rieslings ? Because I know of a $10 one that might change your mind.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > ranwhenparked 02/24/2020 at 06:43

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They're one of my favorite wines, but I guarantee if it's available in my area it's priced more than $10

ranwhenparked > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/24/2020 at 10:37

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With shipping, definitely. But, I've been buying a couple of cases a year from the winery in Williamsburg VA because of how consistently excellent I've found all of them to be. Their Riesling is their cheapest one and good quality for 10 bucks