I adore this wine and it’s hard to believe it’s only $20.  Julia’s Vineyard Pinot makes an occasional appearance at Costco and it’s a must buy when it does.  Consistently year to year this Pinot overdelivers.  It’s a big balanced and interestingly complex wine for its price range.

Lively aromas, floral and peppery, the wine is a medium purple in the glass; you can see through the edges.  As you tip the glass you get deeper aromas of red fruit and berry which carry onto the palate.  Definitely loads of strawberry flavor with raspberry and red licorice; more dark fruit toward the finish, which offers some spice, a little dryness and is just pleasant as could be.

We were fortunate to have received a shipment of salmon from a friend in Alaska and I looked forward to pairing this bottle with a nice meal.  Here was the opportunity since I really enjoy Pinot with salmon.  And it couldn’t have been better.  It was the perfect example of the meal making the wine better and the wine making the food better.  We don’t do much to prep the salmon, just a squeeze of lemon and a touch of olive oil, to let the flavors shine through.  It was a perfect complement.

Get this one if you see it. Definitely a Top Picks addition.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 92 Points

Costco item number: 45308

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA