Seems like yesterday we were buying 2007 vintages in the stores, and long behold we’re now at 2016.  I think this bottle marks the first 2016 I’ve tried, and an Albarino is a good way to do it because they drink nice young.

(Side note: they also drink ok after a few years of bottle aging too.  I had an 8 year old Albarino at Jaleo, one of my favorite Spanish restaurants, and it was pretty good; the color was starting to darken, it held the fruit nicely and offered a little more to think about).

I also love finding Albarinos at Costco since the price on them elsewhere seems to have jumped 20% in the last two years (maybe it’s just me but I think their popularity has driven prices up).  So to find this one at my Costco for only $11.99 was a welcome exploration.

Not a lot coming off the nose.  A little stone fruit perhaps. This wine had an ever so slight effervescence to it that I liked.  It was noticeable right on the pour.  Pleasant in the mouth with subtle lemon, citrus, a little sour tart and apricot in the way of flavor.  Finishes dry and quickly.

I was hoping for a bit more from this wine.  It’s decent, and easily enjoyed on a hot summer day, which is how I tasted it, but just not packing much of a flavor profile mid palate.

It’s an easy wine to enjoy if you’re sipping and chatting with friends, not thinking too much about what you’re drinking.  But even then, I think you can do better in this price range, or just a little further up market.

(Like this Sancerre that I saw back in stores this week)

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 85 points

Costco item number: 1145877

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 12.5%