Almost instinctively, I will purchase new wines that I find from Spain’s Toro region because they are some of the best buys in the wine world today.  So obviously, I love when they pop up at Costco.

This bottle was of particular interest, initially due to its massive weight in the hand but also for the 96 point sticker from Wine Enthusiast proudly displayed on the front of the bottle.  For a $28.99 wine (Costco price) to receive 96 points, I was both impressed and skeptical.

I cheated and gave the wine a quick Google before purchasing, only to find that 96 point rating along with the wine’s retail price of $110.  So is Costco really offering it at less than a third of retail?  That appeared to be the case.

But what’s inside?  Is this a good wine, even at the Costco price of $29?  It turns out the answer is a resounding yes.  This is a beautiful wine that is giant in body and flavor but also generously elegant with a modern feel.  I’ve had a few similar Toro wines in the past, where it comes across as a combination of old vine grapes in a more new world style.  And I’m a fan.

The wine pours near black in the glass, and yes, it’s a hefty drink with alcohol at 15%, but it really worked for us.  Super vibrant aromas after the wine had a chance to breathe; smells like a flower shop with a heap of fresh soil dumped in the middle of the store; big and bold in the mouth with loads of black cherry, blackberry, anise, a touch of dark chocolate; super super dry into the finish.  Maybe one of the driest wines I’ve had in quite a while.

We didn’t pair this wine with a meal which is really too bad.  A huge juicy steak would send an already amazing wine over the top because of the chalky finish.  There’s a lot to this wine, keeping you guessing and interested on every drink, which I want good wines to always do.  I can’t recommend this one enough, and at $29 it’s not an inexpensive wine, but for what you get, it really is a steal.

This is an obvious addition to the Recommended Wine list.  I can’t go as high in my rating as Wine Enthusiast, but this is a solid low 90’s wine, so I’m going to go 93 points.  I’d like to taste it again in another 2-3 years to allow it to develop a little further and I think it would be magnificent.  Enjoy this Costco buy if you find it.  I bet these go fast.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 93 points (a CostcoWineBlog Recommended Wine)

Costco item number: 555346

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA (Cumberland)

Alc. 15%