Here's an exciting new addition to the Kirkland wine family, and we were pumped when readers told us this one had started to appear in their stores, and we were finally able to find it near us.
This is a Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, which is the top of classification scale for Chianti, above Riserva. The designation means this wine is made from the estate's top grapes and aged for 30 months compared to 12 months for Chianti Classico and 24 months for Chianti Classico Riserva.
Costco's price is right on at $17.99. Most other bottles with this same designation are $35 and up. This is some amazing juice for under $20, making this bottle a very welcome addition to Kirkland's wines. Let's get into it.
The wine is a deep ruby in the glass with nice earthy aromas and dried dark fruit. In the mouth are flavors of blackberry, blueberry and plum that really come together beautifully; light mouthfeel; has a little of that cigar box and black pepper into the perfect finish, fresh acidity and nice depth. A beauty.
The wine is produced by Basilica Caffaggio who has distributed some of their other entry level wines in Costco in the past. In clicking around to research their other Gran Selezione wines, the prices are at least double what this bottle is selling for at Costco.
We had high hopes for this wine, and we're happy to report that it lives up to them. This is a great bottle to have around for the holidays. Pair it with any food, and anyone. We hope Costco continues to bring in future vintages of this exciting new wine. Cheers.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 93 points (a Costco Wine Top Pick)
Costco item number: 1714095
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA (Kennesaw)
Alc. 14%
Henry says
So many wines, so little time! I am looking forward to finding this in the No. VA stores and stocking up.
Editor says
This is definitely one to seek out. Cheers
Navin S says
@Editor, Just called my Henrico, VA store. They have 60 in stock, same price.
Score!! I will be there this evening. Thanks for the info.
Bob G says
@Henry,
Please post here if you find it. I live in NoVA too and would love to try some.
Amy M says
@Bob G, I bought it at Pentagon City last week.
Mitch L says
Yay! Glad you liked it. I did, too, and am going out to get more. It is now available in No. Virginia.
Bob G says
@Mitch L,
In which NoVa Costco did you find it?
Mary Willett says
I just saw this in the DC store last Friday while visiting from NJ and passed on it. Darn!!
Bob says
I have a lot of trouble finding these wines in S Florida.... jus sayin'.
ATM says
@Bob, Costco FL is terrible for wine and liquor. Not even close to what you find almost anywhere else.
Andres says
@ATM, Pembroke Pines has it
Andres says
@Bob, Pembroke Pines has it
Roberto says
Hello!
I recommend this wine and I don’t do that often! Very hard to beat at this price point. I am going to pick some more tomorrow. I am enjoying it with my wife’s raviolis right now and the pairing is fantastic!
Hope you enjoy it it too!
Merry Christmas and peace to all!
Bob G says
Hate to be "that guy"...
I found this at my local Costco in Arlington tonight and picked up a few bottles since the bin was almost empty.
Corvin'ed a couple glasses and honestly, I was underwhelmed. Some fruit on the nose, but otherwise very thin, watery with very little to no tannins and a very short finish. Really can't taste the fruit all that much. It was clean and smooth, though. Let it breath for a couple hours and it just went flat.
I drink Chiantis in the $20-30 price range all the time (mostly Riservas and Grand Seleziones) so I have a pretty broad basis for comparison. While the PQR doesn't suck, don't expect much more despite the label.
Drink now in its prime.
billr says
absolutely agree - price - value - point on.
Patrick O'Leary says
Almost broke our wine opener getting the cork out.
The Kirkland Chianti Classico has more taste at half the price
Kevin Mahon says
Another example of very limited availability. I would suggest you check in with the customer service desk to check availability before creating demand that cannot be fulfilled. My Costco received zero allocation
Ted Ryan says
I just got back from 3 weeks in Tuscany where I spent many pleasurable days drinking great Chianti’s. I went to my Scottsdale Costco and was elated to find it was still in stock. I bought a case. It is a great wine from a great region. When you factor in the price at $17.99 you have one of the better wine values I have seen from Costco for a very long time.
As an example, Tenuta di Nozzole Riserva has reappeared on the Costco shelves. It is also good (unusual nose for a chianti, tho). They are similar in price, but get the Gran Selezione.
I may go back for more!
Sage says
Price dropped to $15.99 at the Papillion NE store…