So there are a bunch of new Kirkland wines that hit the Costco stores near me lately, and I bought most of them and will try to get all the reviews up soon.  I’ll start with this Stags Leap bottle, which I was really excited about since it is one of my favorite places in Napa Valley, and I’ve always found the Kirkland offerings to be solid values in the past.  But while I went 90 points on last year’s Kirkland Stags, I’m going to have to go a bit lower this year.  It is a nice wine and a good buy for this area at only $19.99.  It just really came off to me as a mediocre wine from this area.  Sure, maybe worth the price, but it doesn’t scream “Stags Leap” like some of my other favorites from the area (Cliff Lede, Baldacci).

It’s a dark rich wine on the pour with a really pleasant nose that has a little mint on it; the wine is full bodied and concentrated with dark fruit, blackberry, plum, some anise, and a bit of smoke and campfire towards the finish.  The wine finishes pretty strong, sticky, and lasting. After another hour, and alongside some meatballs and vegetables, the wine improved, the finish a touch drier and dustier, and flavor became a little more together.

All in all, I’d recommend Stags fans give it a shot.  I’d be curious to hear other’s opinions of this KS vintage of this wine.  For me, it was fine, but I very much prefer the ’13.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points

Costco item number: 505081

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc 14.3%