balsamic vinegar

I've used Alessi in the past for marinades and it has worked fine; not too costly either

I get my good stuff from http://fioreoliveoils.com/site/ . I have been to the store and did the tasting... have yet to find anything better.

Aim for a balsamic that doesn't have added sugar or artificial additives. Good ones will have an age on the bottle. 5 years or less will be fresher and sharper whereas 25 years or older are likely to require you to take out a second mortgage and probably only for the expert or the wealthy!

Fini is a good brand (for commercial as opposed to artisinal balsamics). From Modena in Italy.

You might also do a comparison with good quality, aged Spanish sherry vinaigrette. Often a better value with better flavor.

Cook's Illustrated often tests products and publishes the results. The magazine--or website if you have a digital subscription--is always a good place to start.

Is there a shop near you that does tastings? I spent a fun afternoon recently trying different vinegars in a local specialty store.