This is a new Bordeaux style blend from California’s Central Coast that is hitting Costco stores.
Costco’s $8.59 price tag is very competitive since the wine can be found at Total Wine for $13 and at a similar price at other outlets we found.
A quick Google search indicates some high ratings too including a whopping 92 points from Wine Enthusiast and an Editor’s Choice designation. We were interested with perhaps what turned out to be too high of expectations.
A little digging around also turned up the blend which is 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 24% Merlot, 23% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc.
The wine is a medium to dark ruby on the pour with a young and juicy nose; in the mouth, red fruit flavor with a little black cherry, blackberry and plum; it finished on the quick side.
This is simple and easy, not really our favorite style of red blend. It’s very fresh and juicy, which I know some readers will enjoy more than we did.
Not a bad wine by any stretch, but it’s far from 92 points in our opinion, and while priced under $10, likely not a bottle we will return to.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 85 points
Costco item number: 1720838
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA (Kennesaw)
Alc. 14.5%
Jon says
I wish you guys would start giving every bottle a simple "dryness" rating (i.e., 1 =dryest; 5 =sweetest). It is wonderful that you use all sorts of other words to describe wines but a lot of folks like a sweeter wine while others (myself included) want their wines dry. If it's not dry then I don't care about the descriptors. If it's dry, then I love hearing about specific characteristics.
Hal Bumbalough says
Thank you for being willing to publish reviews of Costco wines that are not distinctive or really don’t measure up to previous ratings. It’s helpful to identify wines that aren’t worth the effort as much as the ones that are.