Look what we found. The latest vintage of the ultra popular Kirkland Cotes du Rhone Villages is out in stores.
It's a September arrival (barely) this time; October last vintage, and actually March before that, so hoping we see some steadiness to this timeframe. We love having these on hand all fall and winter long.
The price has gone up, but just a smidge. This wine has been $6.99 for a while, but appeared this year for $7.69. If it tastes similar to past vintages, that's still a steal.
Here's where we've ended up in point scores over the years. Pretty sure we've tasted and reviewed every vintage of this wine, and it almost always lands in the high 80s, just one semi-off year in 2020.
2015 87 points
2016 87 points
2017 88 points
2018 89 points
2019 89 points
2020 85 points
2021 88 points
2022 88 points
As we dig into this latest vintage, it is clear right off the bat that we have another winner. What a wine. Similar to years past, but a slight jump up in quality and complexity.
It pours a medium ruby in the glass, aromas of red berry fruit and herbs; flavors of cherry, plum, blackberry; medium plus in body; really packs a punch in the finish, spicy, peppery, a bit of chocolate; right up our alley. Lasting finish.
We're bringing our rating up to 89 points, which is where this one clearly belongs; really close to a 90. The fact you can buy this for $8 at Costco is ridiculous. We're huge fans.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 points
Costco item number: 887774
Purchased at Costco in: Farragut, TN
Alc. 15.5% (up from 14.5%)
Use the new warehouse search tool in the Costco mobile app to help locate a store near you that has this one in inventory.
Rick T says
Whew that’s a high alcohol level. I haven’t seen that from AOC designations before. Seems more like California which is a big reason I don’t buy any wine from California. Nothing above 13.5% for me thanks except in special instances.
Thanks for what you do. I read every one but we don’t get many of them at the Brentwood or Nashville stores.
Eugene B says
@Rick T, Sometimes I use these high alcohol wines for Tinto de Verano.
Larry says
@Rick T, Yes, I made a comment on the increased ABV in the responses to the Kirkland Brunello review, recently, where the blog reviewer had gone in looking for the Kirkland CDRV.
I usually prefer lower ABV wines, though I'm not totally opposed to higher ones if I think it serves the wine well. For me, this is not the case with the 2023 Kirkland CDRV. I did a comparison with the 2022 version, and prefer the 2022 for balance, food friendliness and overall appeal. Still have a couple of '23's left, and will be trying them again, but hope they get back in the 14-14.5% range next year.
Pat says
@Rick T, Have to agree re the high ABV on wines -- even white wines. "They" used to criticize California Zinfandels for the high ABV. Now it seems to be many wines. I don't know if it's deliberate or due to warmer than average growing seasons. But I have a hard stop for anything above 14% unless it's a wine that I specifically want to try.
JimJ says
Greetings, re the comment(s), Crikey, then save your approximately $9.00(incl tax) and buy some bogle, yes, surprisingly excessive alcohol content, could feel the burn, reckon that is how one learns though, am no expert, seems to have mellowed with the next day/glass, imagine shall enjoy a few during the autumn…
Nommel says
I'm a blue collar dude. I live in the Willamette Valley of Oregon and am a wine club member of a couple of top wineries. I enjoy the delicate notes and subtleties of wine tasting. I don't know all the proper palate terms and I really didn't care. Here is my blue collar review...
I saw this at my local Costco. I saw it was French. I saw it was 15.5% alcohol. I saw it was less than 8 bucks. I grabbed two.
The nose was exhilerating and smooth like flooring the accelerator on my 2017 Chevy Volt in Sport mode.
The overwhelming flavor note is raisin paste with a tart finish of cherry warhead candy. It is medium bodied with really no distinctive mid palate notes worth mentioning.
For me, usually higher ABV wines usually start a bit harsh but mellow each sip as the surface of my palate gets numbed by the alcohol. This wine stays at a harshness level of 6.4/10 until about the end of your first glass. By then you are flooded by the warmth and comforting hug that only a pretentious red wine can deliver that takes 3 glasses at 4x the price.
I would give this my blue collar taste and value rating of 95/100.
Perfect with a cheeseburger or slice of frozen pepperoni pizza after a hard day at work, or for moms after shuttling the kids off to school.
JJ says
I found this to taste odd, rather unique. Not bad but just not like anything or wine I’m familiar with. Usually look forward to the KCDR. Not so much this vintage.
Quinn says
Uggghhhh...15.5% alcohol??? Jezzzzzzzz....i make Pinots n such thats insane...oh well...reminds me of my Zin Phase many years ago....lol