We haven’t seen as many Chateauneufs in warehouses as we would like.  But maybe that’s starting to change which is common around this time of the year.

I noticed the always incredible Beaucastel is in stock, which is a favorite (and an expensive treat), but then saw this bottle priced at $26.99, which is pretty amazing for a wine from this region.

The nose is old world, earthy and spicy, distinctively European, and smells (and tastes) older than a ’15.  In the mouth are flavors of red fruit, pepper, spice, black licorice and notes of an old library book.

The wine was a little hot and smoky out of the bottle but that dissipated after some time in the decanter.  I thought the finish was superb and drove the fruit home with more spice, herbs and tons of stickiness.  There was a slight lingering taste of alcohol on the first few tastes, but again something that was less noticeable over time.

At $26.99 this is a huge value buy for fans of Southern Rhone wines, and is just $5 more than Costco’s own Kirkland Chateauneuf, the past few vintages of which I haven’t enjoyed nearly as much as this wine.

I’d say this one is a buy all day long and a great complement to any cuisine you might be preparing this holiday season.

It received a 91-94 from Wine Advocate, which is pretty impressive, and I’m going to go on the lower side of that.  I could see my score bumping up a point or two after this one developed in the bottle another few years.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 points (a CostcoWineBlog Recommended Wine)

Costco item number: 795872

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 14%