I was really excited to try this wine. First off, I'd never heard of it and as you can see below, the Costco bin was full minus the one bottle I bought. After I brought it home, I started Googling about it, but didn't find much. So the intrigue was building right up until the moment I opened it.
The story on the bottle does a pretty good job setting the stage for what's inside. Eight winegrowers joined forces with the goal of creating an excellent wine from the Coteaux d'Ensérune which is located in France's Languedoc region (I have never heard of Coteaux d'Ensérune but a little research indicated the area has 2 cooperative wineries, and 19 independent wineries; so pretty small area).
The blend they put forth here is 60% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Malbec. And I thought it was outstanding, and a good buy for $25.99 at Costco.
The nose is a little stinky at first, then lets off more earth and floral scents. The nose becomes quite lovely actually as the wine gets some air. It's medium to full in body, very spicy throughout, which I enjoy, reminiscent of a top notch Rhone wine (Gigondas comes to mind).
More spice into the finish which is bone dry, sticky and lasting. This is really a nicely balanced wine that will please all types of red wine fans. Be sure to get it out in the decanter for a bit before enjoying.
Parker went 92 points on this wine, and I'm going to agree with him. We will also be adding to our Recommended Wine list. Great effort here, and makes me want to investigate a little more about who all these winemakers are. Their autographs are on the front of the label.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 92 Points
Costco item number: 1159238
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA (Kennesaw)
Alc. 13.5%
Jim Enos says
Gee, 87 points is the best you can do for this outstanding St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc?
Were you having a bad day? It has been one of our favorites for a long time, as one of those weekend bottles. Hope it gets a more favorable score in the future.