This wine jumped out at because of the friendly price ($8.99) and 89 Point Wine Enthusiast rating.  Also, I love Côtes du Rhône.  These Grenache-based blends are classy, simple, and versatile. 

I fell in love with Rhone wines when I took a wine course in New York through the American Sommelier Society.  We tasted Côte-Rôtie, Crozes-Hermitage, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and I was hooked. 

These wines aren’t fruity, per se.  Instead, you get a lot of meaty, floral, dried herb flavors when you’re tasting around the Rhone Valley.  Rhone wines from specific appellations can be pricey, so I’ll settle for a decent Cotes du Rhone under $10 any day.

This wine is mostly Grenache with a bit of Syrah blended as well.  This is fairly typical for Côtes du Rhône since Grenache must comprise at least 40% of the blend.  Vinified in concrete vats, the wine is aged for a short time on its lees, which are stirred daily. 

Malolactic fermentation follows and the wine is aged for “8 to 12 months” in a combination of 100-year-old (i.e. neutral) oak and concrete vats.  The oak on this wine isn’t in-your-face, but it’s there, and the smooth texture from the winemaking efforts is noticeable.  

The wine pours a deep red color and has aromas of dark plums, fruit compote, and thyme.  The palate is round and elegant, leaving a lasting sensation of black cherry and red berries. 

Braising season is not over as far as I’m concerned, so don’t store the crock pot away just yet.  This wine would pair fantastically with pot roast or short ribs.  For the non-meat eaters, I think a mushroom quiche would work really well here, and if you prefer to have chocolate cake instead, add some berries and you have a pro wine-accompaniment.

Wine Enthusiast rates this wine a “Best Buy” and Wine Spectator, always seemingly less generous than the former, gives it 86 Points.  I liked this wine a lot and especially appreciated the value.  Most Côtes du Rhône for this quality costs twice as much.  This is yet another Costco value wine.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating:  88 Points

Alcohol: 14%

Costco Item Number: 1284439

Purchased in Buford, GA