CostcoWineBlog.com

Top Menu

  • Home
  • FAQ
  • About
  • Forums
  • Find a Costco

Main Menu

  • HOME
  • Start Here
  • Wine Reviews
    • Kirkland Wines
    • Cabernet Sauvignon
    • Sparkling
    • Rosé
    • Chardonnay
    • French
    • Italian
    • Spanish
    • Malbec
    • Pinot Noir
    • Sauvignon Blanc
    • Other Red
    • Other White
  • Top Picks
  • Forums
  • Features
  • Best of the Year
  • Our Books
    • Decoding Spanish Wine: A Beginner’s Guide to the High Value, World Class Wines of Spain
    • Decoding Italian Wine: A Beginner’s Guide to Enjoying the Grapes, Regions, Practices and Culture of the ‘Land of Wine.’
    • Decoding French Wine: A Beginner’s Guide to Enjoying the Fruits of the French Terroir
    • Around the Wine World in 40 Pages: An Exploration Guide for the Beginning Wine Enthusiast
    • A Gentle Slaughter of the Perfect Kind (Fiction)
    • The Callisto Symphony (Fiction)
  • Home
  • FAQ
  • About
  • Forums
  • Find a Costco

logo

The #1 Source for Independent Reviews of Costco Wines

CostcoWineBlog.com

  • HOME
  • Start Here
  • Wine Reviews
    • Kirkland Wines
    • Cabernet Sauvignon
    • Sparkling
    • Rosé
    • Chardonnay
    • French
    • Italian
    • Spanish
    • Malbec
    • Pinot Noir
    • Sauvignon Blanc
    • Other Red
    • Other White
  • Top Picks
  • Forums
  • Features
  • Best of the Year
  • Our Books
    • Decoding Spanish Wine: A Beginner’s Guide to the High Value, World Class Wines of Spain
    • Decoding Italian Wine: A Beginner’s Guide to Enjoying the Grapes, Regions, Practices and Culture of the ‘Land of Wine.’
    • Decoding French Wine: A Beginner’s Guide to Enjoying the Fruits of the French Terroir
    • Around the Wine World in 40 Pages: An Exploration Guide for the Beginning Wine Enthusiast
    • A Gentle Slaughter of the Perfect Kind (Fiction)
    • The Callisto Symphony (Fiction)
  • 2018 Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Langlois Chateau Cremant de Loire Brut

  • 2017 Ego Bodegas Goru Gold Red Blend Jumilla

  • 2017 Gerard Bertrand Tautavel Grand Terroir

  • 2017 Clos de Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

ItalianKirkland Wines
Home›Italian›2011 Kirkland Signature Series Brunello di Montalcino

2011 Kirkland Signature Series Brunello di Montalcino

By Editor
September 17, 2016
12805
7
Share:
2011 Kirkland Signature Series Brunello di Montalcino

The Kirkland Brunello is back with the 2011 vintage, right on the heels of the excellent 2010 vintage that was released earlier this year.  As expected, readers have been writing in about this new arrival, and I’m thrilled to have finally found it near me.  But I’m even more excited because I stocked up on the ’10 before it disappeared, in part because I loved the wine and wanted to keep a few on hand, but also so that I could compare future vintages against it.  So here’s a double review, pitting the new ’11 against the awesome ’10.  And I’ll say up front, there’s a clear winner.

I’ll start with some comments on the new 2011 that is in stores now.  The price on these Brunellos is $24.99 which any Italian wine fan will tell you is a steal for a wine from this region.  Brunello is made with Sangiovese, arguably some of the best on the planet, so these wines are always a treat when they appear in the warehouse.

The 2011 pours a medium shade of purple in the glass, and is medium body in the mouth; aromas of dried fruit, brandy, earth and spice.  In the mouth, muted fruit, red cherry, almost a NyQuil flavor that dies pretty quickly into a dry semi-lasting finish. I have decanted this bottle for an hour now, and am getting a little more fruit, but still leaving me desiring a bit more.  I feel like I’m drinking a really inexpensive Chianti.  This is not the wine I hoped that it would be.

And next to the 2010 vintage, it’s not even close.  The 2010 is even more magnificent than it was nine months ago. What a beauty.  They pour about the same with the ’10 showing a little more age around the edges.  There’s 10X more going on in the nose with the ’10 vintage.  You don’t even have to get your nose into the glass to pick it up.  The fruit is much more pervasive, a higher arch of power in the delivery, more dust and earth than the ’11; fruit is vibrant and robust, tasting like it is younger rather than older than the ’11.

2010 on the left, 2011 on right

2010 on the left, 2011 on right

Quite frankly, these don’t even taste like the same wine side by side.  I understand the ’10 has an extra year of age on it, but the gap between the two is so wide, it’s clear the ’10 is exactly the awesome vintage that it was praised to be.  I’m glad I scored that one so high, and happy to have a couple more in the cellar.

My advice here, is to look through the bin in hopes you find a 2010, but skip the 2011 and go for one of the Chiantis priced less that still kick butt, like the Monsanto that I’ve seen lingering around.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 Points

Costco item number: 1001151

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 14.5% (for the 2011; the 2010 was 14.9%)

PS: We wrote a beginner’s guide to Italian wine that you can check out here if you want to learn more about the great wines and fantastic values that can be found in the “Land of Wine.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Related

Previous Article

2015 Kirkland Signature Cotes du Rhone Villages

Next Article

Costco Wine Cartoons by Doug Pike #38

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • 2011 Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva
    ItalianKirkland Wines

    2011 Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva

    May 19, 2015
    By Editor
  • 2013 Kirkland Signature Series Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon
    Cabernet SauvignonKirkland WinesRecommended

    2015 Kirkland Signature Series Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

    April 7, 2018
    By Editor
  • 2012 Castello di Uzzano Chianti Classico
    Italian

    2012 Castello di Uzzano Chianti Classico

    February 26, 2016
    By Editor
  • Riondo Prosecco Spago Nero
    ItalianSparkling

    Riondo Prosecco Spago Nero

    April 4, 2018
    By Editor
  • Kirkland WinesOther Red

    2012 Kirkland Signature Rutherford Meritage

    April 27, 2014
    By Editor
  • 2016 Kirkland Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon
    Cabernet SauvignonKirkland Wines

    2016 Kirkland Signature Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon

    September 1, 2018
    By Editor

Latest Comments

  • Dan R.
    on
    April 15, 2021
    Well, sorry, but isn’t the first time. Your reviews never available on my Costco in Clearwater Florida.

    Langlois Chateau Cremant de Loire Brut

  • Editor
    on
    April 15, 2021
    Hi Randy, I haven't found the '19 Carneros yet, but have enjoyed them historically, so hopefully ...

    2017 Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir

  • Eric Morris
    on
    April 15, 2021
    Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. Fine occasionally, where I have a hard time ever thinking I ...

    Langlois Chateau Cremant de Loire Brut

  • Randy Gonchar
    on
    April 14, 2021
    I have been drinking the 2019 KS Carneros Pinot Noir but have not seen a review ...

    2017 Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir

  • Editor
    on
    April 14, 2021
    Hi Eric. The word missing was supposed to be “bland”. Not sure how that got removed ...

    Langlois Chateau Cremant de Loire Brut

Timeline

  • April 17, 2021

    2018 Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

  • April 14, 2021

    Langlois Chateau Cremant de Loire Brut

  • April 10, 2021

    2017 Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir

  • April 7, 2021

    2018 Kirkland Signature Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

  • April 3, 2021

    2017 Ego Bodegas Goru Gold Red Blend Jumilla

logo

This site is 100% independently written by fans of Costco wines with the goal to build a community of like minded Costco wine fans, and to share great wines picks so we all can find wines that we enjoy.

NOTE: This site is not affiliated with Costco Wholesale Corporation in any official way.

We'd love to send you our new reviews. We promise never to spam you or share your email. If you have something to share with us, please let us know. We hope you enjoy the site.

Follow us

  • Recent

  • Comments

  • 2018 Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

    2018 Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

    By Editor
    April 17, 2021
  • Langlois Cremant de Loire

    Langlois Chateau Cremant de Loire Brut

    By Editor
    April 14, 2021
  • Cambria Julia's Vineyard Pinot

    2017 Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir

    By Editor
    April 10, 2021
  • Dan R.
    on
    April 15, 2021

    Langlois Chateau Cremant de Loire Brut

    Well, sorry, but isn’t ...
  • Editor
    on
    April 15, 2021

    2017 Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir

    Hi Randy, I haven't ...
  • Eric Morris
    on
    April 15, 2021

    Langlois Chateau Cremant de Loire Brut

    Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. ...

Find us on Apple News

  • Home
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Review and Sample Policy
  • Forums
© Copyright CostcoWineBlog.com. All rights reserved.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.