$2.89 wine is worth a trip to Aldi

I get it, people. I write about a lot of wines that are more expensive than many of you want to pay. I usually like wines in the $8 to $20 range, but some of you won't cough up more than $5 or $6, no matter what I write.

You've probably heard of Trader Joe's Charles Shaw wines, also known as Three Buck Chuck.

This week, I tried something even cheaper. At $2.89, it's 10 cents less than the Trader Joe's brand and is exclusive to Aldi, a grocery brand that's owned by the same German family as Trader Joe's.

Aldi is a little funky, you need to put a quarter into a slot to use a shopping cart, and the products are a little unusual. But, there's a tiny wine section, and their Winking Owl is front and center.

I tried four of the five available. I skipped the white zinfandel.

Pinot Grigio: It looks and smells like it should. Not too sweet, which is nice, but it's kind of boring. I'd like more acidity and it seems a little watered down. I'd give this a C+.

Merlot: Pretty good, with soft fruit flavors, and a lack of mouth-drying tannins. B- grade, barely. Personally, I'd spend a few bucks more and buy a merlot from Washington State.

Cabernet Sauvignon: Sure, there's fruit, but there's such a weird fakey fruit quality and strong green vegetal flavor that I can't recommend it. I read another reviewer who tripped all over himself to write how good the cabernet is. Please try this wine. I don't like it, and strain to give it a grade of C-. If you like it or hate it, it doesn't mean I'm right or wrong, it just means you know something about how your preferences line up with mine.

Shiraz: This is the winner to me. The other three wines I tried all seemed watered-down. But the shiraz tastes like it should, with good fruit flavors that remind me of blackberry, and some smokiness that's reminiscent of South African pinotage. I'd buy it again. You can do a lot worse for $10, more than triple the cost of this.

Please be sure to watch the video that goes along with this review, and have a safe Valentine's Day, whether you spend it with a sweetie, or on the couch with a pizza and good movie.

Email: winedude@indystar.com

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