This is one of our top go-to bottles at Costco, and while the window when it hits stores seems to vary year to year, the quality of this wine is remarkably consistent.
Costco has maintained the price too at $12.99, which is what's it's been since 2015 when we found it for $11.99. So inflation luckily hasn't hit this one. Online prices are around $15-16. As far as bottles for $13 go, this wine is really in a class of its own.
E Guigal is a powerhouse in French wine, and as we've noted in past reviews, they make an awesome Chateauneuf and Crozes Hermitage that we also have enjoyed as well as a white Cotes du Rhone.
Let's do a quick recap of our ratings on past vintages, and you can see the consistency right away.
2018 vintage: 89 points
2015 vintage: 89 points
2013 vintage: 90 points
2011 vintage: 89 points
The varietal makeup in this latest vintage is the same as last year at 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre.
Getting into the wine, it pours a medium to dark ruby in the glass with red berry fruit and spice on the nose; more red fruit in the mouth with some blackberry, plum; more body with this vintage, approaching full bodied; pepper, spice, earthy in the finish.
This remains a solid buy, and we're going to keep our rating consistent at 89 points. An excellent value at this price, and a versatile wine to have on hand for almost any occasion or cuisine.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 points
Costco item number: 35853
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA
Alc. 15% (yes, creeping up from 14% last vintage)
Joe Roberts says
I have friends who ask me about ordering wine at a restaurant, particular those with sky-high price lists. My advise is to search for Cotes-du-Rhone---very reliable wine that is usually modestly priced in comparison. And if you happen to find a C-du-R by Guigal you have really hit the jackpot---- hard to beat on a price to value scale.
Dana De Nault says
Hi All,
I just want to share how much I enjoy your news letter which I sometimes access on my phone when I am shopping in Costco. Over the years, I have enjoyed amazing wines at incredible prices, all thanks to you. This brings me to my question: have you considered creating a phone application? It would be so great to open an app and access your content and listing tables while purusing the aisles in my local Costco. Keep up the great work!
Very Best, Dana
Editor says
Glad you enjoy the site and thanks for following us.
We did have a mobile app for a while but it became too difficult to manage along w the site. We shit it down several years ago.
You can save the URL on your phone and bring it up quickly with one button push. I know a lot of readers do that which kind of makes up for the dedicated mobile app. Cheers.