We're spending more time in the cheap seats (aka, stacked boxes of wine at Costco, vs the wooden crates). This one was an easy drop in the cart, and frankly, turned out to be a bottle that doesn't belong in the cheap seats at all.
A $9.99 Rioja Reserva with 93 points from Wine Enthusiast. Seems hard to believe. With a 93 point rating, what are these bottles doing still hanging around in early 2025?
If you click through to the Wine Enthusiast website for their review, they show a price of $45. And Costco is selling it for $10? This is nuts.
And we liked it quite a bit as well. Not a 93 pointer, but definitely 90-91. I think we'll call it 91. Really amazing you can buy a wine like this for $10. Spanish red lovers should stock up.
Mostly medium ruby in the glass, pleasant scents of earthy red and dark fruit; medium bodied with plenty of acidity and a nice structure; flavors are raspberry, cherry mixed with blackberry and plum; herbal and vegetal into the finish that really digs in and holds on.
This is a delicious wine. Again, it's hard to believe Costco's price here. We'll put on our Top Picks list. We imagine these will fly off the shelves once word gets out.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 points (a Costco Wine Top Pick)
Costco item number: 1873961
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA (Kennesaw)
Alc. 14.5%
GBH says
Intrigued and will likely pick up a couple to try (I always buy at least 2 bottles to try, allowing for bottle varation and my own mood and food matchup varaiations - prior to commiting to a six-pack or a case...).
Two random notes:
1. Wine Enthusiast's ratings on Spanish wines has gone way higher on avaerage since Mike DeSimone took over that assignment. I am not a fan of inflated ratings (looking at you Suckling, Halladay, Luca Maroni et al...!)
2. The back label (an addres famous for mostly useless blurb) states the wine has been aged in "...new and semi-new barrels" - the equivelant of semi-pregnant?😂
James Corbitt says
Which Costco? Can’t find this in the North Atlanta area? Can’t be sold out yet. Just got this email!
GBH says
We picked up 6 bottles in Kennesaw earlier this week.
Jason Huggins says
I can’t find this anywhere in Atlanta! Any ideas?
Editor says
We are independent of Costco so no special insight. New app is the best way:http://costcowineblog.com/how-to-search-wine-inventory-at-any-costco-store/
Julia Booher says
Sadly, we have not found this wine at the Perimeter or Cumberland Costcos, but both are carrying a 2019 Otoñal Reserva Rioja ON SALE for $8.99 (regularly $16.99). We have loved this wine in the past and happily grabbed a few bottles!
Marsha says
After coming up empty in Bradenton FL, I scored in Miami Lakes. Grab it if you see it it's yummy and as a fan of Spanish wines like I am you won't be sorry!
Julia Booher says
Sadly, we have not found this wine at the Perimeter or Cumberland Costcos, but both are carrying a 2019 Otoñal Reserva Rioja ON SALE for $8.99 (regular price $16.99) We have loved this wine in the past and happily grabbed a few bottles!
Sean says
I got this at Duluth Costco at discount price.
EngProf says
I have not posted in a while - likely eight or nine years ago when I lived in the Atlanta area. I found this Alfar wine in a south Florida Costco. To my taste (and another person with a similar tempranillo affinity), this wine is not that good and does not merit such a high rating. Perhaps a lot of this wine was produced and there may be variation in sourced grapes and/or process. Atlanta seems to have a better batch.
Marsha says
Found it in Bradenton FL . Did not disappoint! 🇪🇸