Metasip

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New Video: Meet A Rose from Aldi Called Trestoria

Hi everyone! You know we love Aldi wine and beer. And, given the current state of the economy, we’re spending more time at Aldi for just about everything*.

To wit, a little while back, we decided to experiment and see what Quarantine Beverages we could buy for a minimal amount of cash.

Hence this photo:

Aldi Aclohol Purchases
You don’t have to spend a lot to drink like a million bucks.

Today, we review the Trestoria Rose. (We’re looking for the accent mark, can’t find it, and are afraid that we’ll have one of those “&–” errors on the site, so…)

We’ll let you watch the video for the review.

Focus on the wine, not the fact I need a haircut

* The rest is either from Costco, and we do realize we need to update this “What to Buy at Costco” post, or from the local independent market, where the service is better than the chain and the specialty items we need, like the marjoram we bought on three separate occasions because we thought we were out of it.

A Venezuelan Sipping Rum Worth The Price

I’ll admit to having scored this one for its novelty factor; seeing a rum from Venezuela of all places sounded rather interesting. I’m glad I bought it, as Diplomatico scores serious points as a sipping rum.

First of all, I’m not an expert on rum; in fact, the sum total of my rum knowledge is limited to ordering a “Bacardi and Coke” as my go-to “End of Meetings, Must Stay Awake for Mandatory Dinner” drink during my corporate days. (And I gave up soda ten years ago, so the Rum and Coke days are done, too.)

Diplomatico Rum
Diplomatico Mantuano Rum – Product of Venezuela

I will, however, admit that the thought of sipping something that wasn’t whiskey was intriguing. So, having found this at my unnamed local wine, beer, and spirits place, and seeing the price was under $30 at the time, I went for it. Let’s take a look.

Taste

Your fear of rum could be similar to my fear of rum: if you don’t mix it, what do you do with it? That brings us to the concept of just sipping. A rum. With nothing else going on.

If you wonder how that actually works, check out this video from an International Rum Ambassador:

(I want this guy’s job when I grow up.)

I tasted mine neat, but can understand the desire to water it down at least a little; next time, I’ll do it on the rocks to cut down on the strength. I didn’t find it too overpowering, though.

I get the “caramel” and “molasses” notes that other tasters mentioned on other sites (here’s a link to a review from another site that tried the “Exclusiva” from Diplomatico). And, again, this rum, to me at least, is designed for sipping — though it’s possible you could mix it with cola.

Profile

40% ABV (80 Proof). For comparison, Captain Morgan normally clocks in at 75 Proof.

Value

$24.99 was what we paid back then; the price seems to have gone up to around $30 for the lower-end (which is what we sampled). You’re not going to have it every day, but this bottle has lasted me the better part of a year.

Metasip Grade: B+

I teetered back and forth between B+ and A-; I don’t think I’ve sampled enough rum to go with an A-, though, so we’ll keep it here for now.

Enjoy!

Rocabela Vinho Verde Rose

I should have been scared. By two things.

RocabelaIn the case of this wine, the Rocabela Vinho Verde Rose, I should have known that something that is “Vinho Verde” and “Rose” might suffer from an identity crisis. Plus, “Delightfully Refreshing,” as it says on the bottle, is code. Usually, code for “something I won’t like.” I still want to talk my way into Portugal someday to figure out what the story is here…but, til then, let’s get to the review.

Rocabela Vinho Verde Rose Review

First of all, we’re using the PC and can’t find the right key to add the accent mark. So sorry about that. Plus, the whole SEO thing might mean that we need to keep the accent mark out of this post. Anyhow…

Taste

Tasted like it wanted to be a champagne, but an average one at that. Tiny amount of bubbles – why does it pale in comparison to that other rose? No clue. (“That other rose” is the one from Trader Joe’s that we reviewed here.)

We expected – with the weather and the barbecued chicken – to find this to be the perfect thing yesterday. IT WASN’T. So disappointing.

Profile

As opposed to the Vinho Rose from TJ’s, this is “Vinho Verde Rose,” which refers to the region of Portugal where it’s grown. Learn more here and, Wines of Portugal folks, consider this our audition – we would love to come visit.

10.5% ABV.

Value

Only $4.99 at Aldi. Not a…well, not a BAD buy. But we’ve had much better from Aldi.

Metasip Grade: B-

We can’t pull the trigger on a higher grade. We are anxious to try more Portuguese wine – again, there’s really good stuff made there, and not just Port and Vinho Verde (the wine, not the region).

 

Sofia 2013 Rosé

Ready for a wine to become your go-to for summer drinkin’? Why yes, Sofia strikes again with her 2013 Rosé.

Sofia 2013 Rose
Francis’ Daughter, which you of course knew.

If you don’t know about Sofia, the person, a quick primer on the maker of the Sofia 2013 Rosé. Sofia is Sofia Coppola. Visiting the Wikipedia page tells me that she’s no longer married to Spike Jonze, which is a piece of pop culture that eluded me. This nugget must have been obscured by the Kardashians.

Digressions aside, the Coppola family – scion Francis also holds his own in the film industry – knows its wine, too, as Dad bought the former Chateau Souverain estate in Geyserville and started making wine.

When we write the sidebar piece about visiting Napa Valley, it will include this tip: visit just one of the big boys, such as Coppola, just to hear from the big boys, get the tour, understand the process, all that stuff. Then spend the rest of your time at places recommended by locals, friends, etc.

Sofia has been at it for awhile, and even got a 90-point rating from Wine Enthusiast for the 2011 vintage. How will the 2013 stack up, at least according to this reporter? Let’s get to the review.

Sofia 2013 Rosé Review

Taste

FACT: Americans don’t drink as much rosé as French. By insanely wide margins, as referenced in these charts from the French. Probably because of the following if/then logic issue that, I’ll admit, crosses my mind all the time:

IF White Zinfandel is pink AND White Zinfandel is swill, THEN all pink wine is swill.

In fact, it wasn’t til some other wine lovers hooked us up with some really really good rosé that my own thinking started to change.

ADVERTISEMENT: At the Plonk Wine Club, we do the picking and you do the drinking! We do all the work so that you don’t have to.
This, per the website, is a Rosé of Syrah, Pinot Noir and Grenache. (Ya know, reading that website makes me think that I should be capitalizing the word “Rosé.” Because it’s a variety of grape. Also, that stands out and I can then show off that I figured out how to do the accent aigu in Francais. (Now, about that cedille.)

This is not sweet. I don’t do sweet wine. I want something with a great nose – this has it – and some earthiness to it – this has that, too, probably the Pinot. Can’t taste like chalk (which I get from a lot of Chardonnays, personally; a surefire sign that I’m not spending enough on my Chardonnays).

Quintessential “summer drinkin’ wine.” An absolute delight – enjoyed some at the block party this past weekend and, well, it didn’t disappoint. Plus, stands up to lighter stuff you’re eating – which, in my case, was a salad. Not a steak wine at all, but that’s okay, because block parties aren’t about steak.

Profile

Syrah. Pinot. Grenache. Not sure how much of each. ABV of 12.8%

Value

$12.99 at Costco. SCORE! Website says you can pay $14 or so with a membership. My last time visiting Coppola’s Estate (the winery, not Frank’s house; don’t call him “Frank,” either) the person in the tasting room told me: “Don’t buy our wines here. You can get them cheaper anywhere else.” Smart marketing, though, to mark their own stuff up so it’s got some caché from buying it there. Or not.

EDITOR’S NOTE: On my most recent trip to Costco, this was $9.99, not $12.99. May not have been $12.99 at all – though we’ve had friends in other states tell us $12.99 was their price.

Metasip Grade: A-

Why doesn’t this get an A if it’s an “absolute delight?”

My thinking is this: at $12.99, without a lot to compare it with, I’m not sure it qualifies on all the scales for an A. It’s a great value – if you buy it at Costco. And it drinks more expensively. BUT, it’s not the right mix of Taste, Profile, and Value to justify an A.

 

Wells Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale

WSTPA‘ello, guvnah.

There’s folks that say a beer made to taste like something that isn’t beer, isn’t really beer. To such critics the Brit brewers at Wells – makers of Wells Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale – likely would say, “Piss off.”

I, however, would say, “Hold off a moment.” Granted, there are plenty of sweet or savory or otherwise un-beery libations that would best be left in the bottle. Don’t even get me going on all the macrobrewed swills that end in “A-Rita” (unholy alliances of beer and margarita not fit to water your lawn with).

Then again, flavored beers can be fabulous, in the right brewmaster’s hands. Look at those crazy Belgians and their delicious lambics. Coffee stouts abound, and many of them are darned dandy drinks (quick question: is it okay to drink coffee stouts in the morning? No? Damn).

Then there’s this sweet ale, modelled after a classic British dessert. Is it worth a tipple, or should you wish it a hearty cheerio and throw it in the Thames? Let’s have a go, shall we?

Wells Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale

Taste

If you’ve ever dug into this ale’s namesake, you know it’s strictly for folks with a serious sweet tooth. Half the big brown lump is sugar, and then mashed up, super-sweet dates. Might as well rip open a bag of brown sugar, grab a spoon, and dig in.

This ale doesn’t go that far. It very wisely reins in the diabetes-inducing sweetness so the bitterness of the hops can pop through—it’s a nice balance that reminds you you’re drinking beer, and not liquid sugar.

Profile

5.0% ABV. The IBU count stands at 40—probably a good number, to balance out the sweetness

Value

At my local pub (literally 212 steps from my front door) it’ll put you back $5. Great value; however, Wells has cut the bottle down from 12 ounces to 11.2 ounces (cheeky bastards–I’d be miffed if the label weren’t so gosh-darned adorable).

Metasip Grade: B+

This would be a fantastic beer to go with a fruity dessert, like an apple crumble or peach cobbler—or skip the actual dessert and just knock back the Sticky Toffee Pudding Ale to finish off your meal.