Il Tarocco Chianti Classico – Trader Joe’s Top Picks Wine #3

90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo Nero from Tuscany, Italy.

Purchased at Trader Joe’s for $9.99.

From the bottle:

“Made from carefully selected Sangiovese (90%) and Canaiolo Nero (10%) grapes. This wine has intense ruby color and aromas of ripe red fruit. This is a full, well-balanced wine with a nice finish.

Aged in small oak french barrels for twelve months and six months in the bottle to acquire smoothness.

Serve at room temperature with roasted beef, pork or lamb dishes.

13.5% Alcohol”

The 2011 Torraccia di Presura Il Tarocco Chianti Classico begins with the classic sour red and black cherry Sangiovese aromas, leather and spice. Tasting reveals a rustic wine (just like a good Chianti should be) with more savory sour black cherry, leather notes and a fairly prominent earthy undertone. The wine needs a couple hours to open up but when it does you’ll find a great example of a Chianti Classico at a fabulous price. Dry, grippy tannins lead into the medium-long finish.

This is an excellent deal, in fact we liked it almost as much as the Basilica Cafaggio we found at Costco that we dubbed “The Best $10 Chianti Classico We’ve Ever Tasted“.

Available exclusively at Trader Joe’s.