CostcoWineBlog.com - Reviews of wines found at Costco

2009 Simonnet-Febvre Chablis Millesime

Editor — Sat, 26 May 2012 13:36:00 GMT

An enjoyable Chablis for a fair price ($12.99 at my Costco). You see a lot of Chablis in the $15-$25 range so I'm always happy to find a lower priced one that's still pretty good.

Chablis is made from Chardonnay in the Burgundy region of France. The French make a nice clean, crisp Chardonnay that is in contrast to some of the more oaky and buttery ones you see from CA (although that trend seems to be dissipating finally). I'm a fan of the French style, particularly those from Chablis, and this bottle is an excellent value priced way in.

It's a pretty light yellow in the glass with lots of lemon on the nose. Not too puckery or tarty which is nice. Just clean flavors of apple, lemon, a little peach. Finish is mid-par, a little stony, minerally, short but crisp.

All around a good summer wine at a good price from Costco.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points

2010 Long Meadow Ranch Sauvignon Blanc

Editor — Tue, 22 May 2012 16:14:00 GMT

D-licious. I love this one. What a beautiful Sauvignon Blanc. Perfect for the summer months. This one just hit me right from every angle.

Inviting nose, citrusy, fresh. Light yellow in color; almost deceiving light since it packs in such immense flavor. On the palate, flavors of pineapple, green apple, lemon, grapefruit; finish is perfect. Not overly woody, just clean and straightforward.

This is really a beautful execution. One of my favorite finds of the year at Costco. Price tag of $15.79 is more than worth it. Enjoy this one.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 92 Points

*Silver Rated*

2010 Kirkland Signature Cotes du Rhone Villages

Editor — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:20:00 GMT

You'd be hard pressed to find any bottle of Cotes du Rhone Villages for $6.99, let alone a very drinkable one. So Costco really hit the nail on the head with this one.

It's not going to knock anyone's socks off, but this wine is an excellent value and a great mid-week drinker. Produced by known winemaker Patrick Lesec, this wine is a "Rhone blend" consisting of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. It's young and ripe, ready to enjoy now. Nose has a fresh earthiness to it; the wine is medium in body in the mouth with dark berry flavors and a peppery finish.

An easy choice for our Value Picks list, this is an easy drinking, solid red for almost any occasion. And $6.99 is a steal.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 Points

*Value Pick*
*KirklandWine*

2008 Dinastia Vivanco Rioja Crianza

Editor — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:26:00 GMT

It seems like it's been a while since we reviewed a good Costco Rioja and this is a perfect pick to jump back in with. Costco's $13.79 price tag on this bottle is great.

This is a smooth, French and American oak aged Tempranillo that's at a great point to enjoy. Light and fluffy in the mouth, the tannins have softened a tad, but the flavor is all there, especially after a little air.

Good red fruit, cherry, a little tobacco, clean finish. This is a lot more elegant than many other wines under $15. Clearly a Value Pick, this wine is food friendly and I imagine an easy drinking choice for most red wine fans. I would bet this is one of those wines that will sell out at Costco very quickly too. So grab a few if you see it.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points

*Value Pick*

2011 The Beach House Sauvignon Blanc

Editor — Sat, 05 May 2012 17:30:00 GMT

About what I expected from this cute package from South Africa. At $7.99 it's really hard to complain. This wine is predominantly Sauvignon Blanc with a smaller part Semillon, which actually brings a little more interest to the wine.

Otherwise, it's bright, citrusy and packed with lemon and grapefruit flavors. Typical acidity, falters a bit on the finish but remains easy to drink and a fair bottle for a hot day when you just want something to sip on.

I'd go in a couple more bucks and opt for any Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc if it was up to me (and Costco has plenty to choose from). But for the money, this wine met my expectations.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 84 Points

2010 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir Marlborough

Editor — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:17:00 GMT

Good value here from this Pinot Noir from Oyster Bay, which is perhaps a name you associate with their excellent Sauvignon Blanc.

This Pinot is well done, especially for the $11.99 price at Costco. Nose starts kind of peppery, and then you notice the wine's nice light body and red fruit, cherry flavors. Finish is ok, maybe a little on the flat side, but it does linger for a bit. A good package at this price point for sure. More character than you find in most Pinots in that $8-$12 range, so I will definitely recommend trying one.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 Points

2007 Waterbrook Meritage Columbia Valley

Editor — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:54:00 GMT

A pleasant Washington Bordeaux blend, this wine really lets the varietals come through cleanly and has a nice long finish.

Comprised of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 17% Merlot and 13% Petit Verdot, I really tasted the Cab Franc and Petit Verdot, which brought that Bordeaux style dryness to the finish. Nose points to a red blend, and on the palate it's got some body and depth, a stony dryness in the mouth that makes it a nice food wine.

I'm a fan of Washington State wines (that's where I got started in this whole wine thing). From Walla Walla in the central part of the state, this $19.99 bottle is a nice pick for fans of these style of wines, and would be a good trial bottle for people who are less familiar, but interested.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points

2009 The Rule Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

Editor — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:38:00 GMT

A nice pleasant Napa Cab for under $20, this wine feels mellow at first but quickly coats your mouth with flavor and spice that hangs on through the finish. A bigger Cab than it seems at first.

Looks a little deceiving in the glass too, being a somewhat dark but still see through ruby red and purple. On the nose, it's still hiding itself a bit, but you can tell it's going to be a nice one. Flavor packed with dark fruit, cherry, licorice. And that great spicy finish. Really food friendly, and I think Costco's price of $16.99 is pretty hard to beat.

So if you're looking for that nice sub $20 Napa Cab to open with a meal, you can't beat this one. Adding to our Bronze Rated wine list too.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points
*BronzeRated*

2009 Tormaresca Neprica Puglia

Editor — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 16:41:00 GMT

An interesting blend from the Southernmost part of the "Italian boot," this wine is made from Negroamaro, Primitivo and Cabernet Sauvignon (40/30/30). It's a unique combo that is also the origin of the "Neprica" name, and it packs a good punch for only $8.89. Hard to beat from a value perspective.

Nothing crazy jumps out on the nose, a little spicy, floral, but then the dark fruit flavors with some chocolate and tobacco kicks in. Dry finish, some pepper that hangs out for a while. Easy to enjoy.

Overall, not a bad wine at all for the price. You'd be hard pressed to find many that are better. This is a good everyday wine for grilling and pizza; you almost can't go wrong. It'll go on our Value Picks list.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points

*ValuePick*

CNBC to air original documentary, "The Costco Craze: Inside the Warehouse Giant"

Editor — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:21:18 GMT

Just heard that CNBC is producing an original documentary on our favorite wholesaler called "The Costco Craze: Inside the Warehouse Giant."

You'll see Costco Wine got a link in the "Related Links" section on the right hand side of the page.

Documentary airs Thursday, April 26th at 9pm.
-- Editor