It’s been a little while since I’ve reviewed a Merlot (too long in fact), so I thought I’d give this one a try.  I like Franciscan wines in general, especially their Magnificat from ’07 which I had stashed in my cellar until they were consumed, much to our enjoyment, last year.  This bottle is 97% Merlot …

Review by Michael S Cabernet wines are bold, big and beautiful.   We love Cabs….and we aren’t talking about those competitors to Lyft and Uber.   Chile figured out that Cabernet wines are big sellers and went about perfecting that big, bold flavor at a much more reasonable price than many of those cabs from closer by.  …

Here’s another ’09 Rioja Reserva that slightly more expensive than the recently reviewed Montecillo, but this wine brings a bit more complexity and dimension that I think is worth the extra $8.  Either way, these Riojas are incredible buys at the warehouse right now, delivering tons of flavor and fine tuned, elegant delivery at bargain prices.  …

This is a nice treat for only $10 at Costco.  It’s a standard GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) blend from France’s Languedoc region.  We last reviewed the 2011 Grenache/Syrah blend from Gerard Bertrand, which I also enjoyed very much especially for its $10 price tag.  Many readers agreed, and I think those same readers will find …

It’s that time of the year again, when the Kirkland Russian River Chardonnay hits stores, and so begins the ongoing dialogue about this wine.  I liked the 2012, but another of this site’s reviewers felt differently.  We both agreed on the ’13 as I didn’t find it quite as engaging as the ’12.  We’ve had …

Regardless of how you’re spending this Memorial Day weekend, whether you’re boating, camping, picnicking, hiking, grilling or just sitting around in the backyard, if you’re a reader of this site then a glass of wine is also likely somewhere in those plans. So I wanted to list a few good, summery, warm weather wines that …

When this bottle hit Costco stores, I received countless emails from readers wanting to get our take on it.  Sorry we were slow to the party here, but for some reason I couldn’t find this wine at any of my Atlanta Costco stores (I’m also looking for the ’14 KS Chateauneuf that I’ve heard is …

This is not only an excellent price on this particular bottle from Costco (it’s $19 elsewhere online and probably more in other wine shops), but at $10.99 it’s a bargain price for a Reserva Rioja.  This is why I love Spanish wine; the quality to price ratio is off the charts right now. Perfume and dried …

This is a lovely expression of Sauvignon Blanc from France’s Loire Valley.  The wine is clean, crisp and bright, bursting with citrus fruit flavor, a little acidic bite and a lasting finish.  When you find Sancerre priced like this ($19.99) you might want to scoop it up.  I’ll likely be making a return trip to …

[CostcoWineBlog contributor Michael recently returned from a trip down under where he toured and experienced many of Australia’s awesome wineries.  Here’s a report on some of the standout wines he found on his journey] Alas, some of the best Australian wine values are exceedingly difficult for U.S. consumers to experience because they aren’t exported to …

For an everyday table wine, I thought this was a pretty good buy.  It was $7.89, and I was looking for an easy red for my wife and I to sip on while we grilled some BBQ chicken and vegetables.  This one fit the bill quite nicely, as so often Bordeaux can. It’s a simple wine, …

Pinot noir fans take note of this one.  Costco’s price is $22.99 and the wine is worth every penny (Wine.com sells it on sale for $29).  This is a lovely Pinot that pours dark and rich in the glass, leading you to believe it’s an entirely different wine.  But once you get into it, it’s …

I don’t have a formal wine education and while I’ve thought about pursuing a certification of some sorts, I have acquired my limited (I think wine is a lifelong journey) but growing knowledge of wine through reading books, sampling wines and sharing wine experiences with other people (and readers of this site), especially those who …

Just a heads up, I’m working on a book about Spanish wines as part of my Decoding Wine Series, so I’m going to be scooping up as many as I can find at Costco and in particular, will be looking for those from smaller, more diverse regions within Spain.  I am a big fan of …

This Chardonnay was $9.99 after a $5 discount so I thought that sounded appealing for a ’12 Carneros.  And after cracking it open, I realized that it was indeed very appealing.  This is a lovely, balanced Chardonnay that we enjoyed outside on a mild spring evening.  Starmont is part of the Merryvale wine portfolio. Citrus, orange peel aromas on the …