The Kirkland Signature wines are, at the very worst, great values. The really good Kirkland wines are impressive expressions of whatever they are supposed to be. This Columbia Valley blend does not disappoint.
The back of the bottle mentions a unique combination of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, and sangiovese. The front label prominently displays “ALC 14.8% BY VOL,” as if to warn buyers that this wine is bold and unreserved. You don’t have to squint & turn the bottle to learn the alcohol content here.
I tend of think of Columbia Valley blends as smooth, jammy, and fruit forward. Some really great wines come out of this area. This blend is everything I imagined, and more. The nose is super aromatic & perfumed with black currant, blueberry, and crushed violet.
On the palate, the wine is a mouthful of luscious ripe fruit and milk chocolate. The texture is velvety and the alcohol is not missed. Subtle tannins coat the mouth for a finish that is dryer than the upfront fruit would predict. This wine will age nicely, so buy one for now and one for later.
What I didn’t like about this wine was the imperceptible non-fruit aftertaste. To me this is indicative of an imbalanced alcohol content. It was slightly bitter on the finish as well. That being said, I would buy it again and also drink it again. At $16.99 a bottle, it is yet another good value Kirkland wine.
I give it an 89.
- Reviewed by Erin Hayes
Purchased in Buford, Georgia
14.8% ABV
Jon Duke says
I picked up two on friday! Looking forward to trying them
srh says
THANK you for reviewing this, Erin! I've been cellaring 2 bottles of this (without having tasted it) since late Aug. What do you think about holding them until '19 [then checking to see if anyone's posted current notes]?
Erin says
I think that holding these for a few years or later is a great idea. There are enough tannins & residual sugar in this wine to make it last. I believe it will only get better with time, and that 3-7 years is ideal. I'm betting the unbalanced finish will work itself out with time in the bottle. 2019 is probably a great time to crack one open! It really depends on personal preference though. I like a little age on my wine, personally, but many people like a bright and fruity style and would prefer to drink them young.