Looks like another Mar/April release for this one, earlier than we've seen for the first few vintages of this popular Kirkland single vineyard Cabernet.
We had to do a double take on the price on that Costco placard. This wine started at $16.99, crept up to $17.99, and now it actually went down to $15.99. Quite a reversal in the right direction, and a big surprise on a wine that typically flies off shelves.
Looking back at our ratings since the inaugural 2018 vintage, you can see it's landed in the solid low 90's, pushing up to a big 93 point rating in the most recent 2022 vintage. That wine was incredible.
2018 vintage: 91 points
2019 vintage: 91 points
2020 vintage: 91 points
2021 vintage: 92 points
2022 vintage: 93 points
And this one is a winner again, albeit a little different from the 2022 vintage, but this wine is beautiful in its own way.
Overall a very elegant expression of this vineyard for the 2023 vintage. Pours a medium to deep ruby, the wine is medium plus to full in body with moderate tannins; dark fruit flavors of black cherry, plum, blackberry; classic Napa character with notes of tobacco and cedar, little vanilla; nice finish.
This is a delicious wine, easy going this time around, and again "elegant" is the word that hit us while tasting. A lovely wine crafted with the same winemaker, Jeff McBride, who has made this one for a while.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 92 points (a Costco Wine Blog Top Pick)
Costco item number: 1491800
Availability: We buy our wine in Costco warehouses around the Atlanta area. The best way to locate wines near you is by using the new Costco mobile app and searching with the Costco item number we listed above.
Alc. 14.5% (up from 13% last year)
allan cohen says
re your comment of a price decrease-I have seen this across the board-10-25% price decreases from peak. My understanding is that a significant decline in wine consumption is the driver
If available at your costco try brassfield eruption red approx 15/16 WE 93 and Vivino 4.0
We have been drinking Eruption since 2009 vintage
Editor says
Thanks. Will look for Eruption
Henry says
Bummer, I missed it at the local NoVA warehouses as it out of stock. Interesting that the prior vintage sat around for quite a while so perhaps they stocked fewer bottles this time. Price is higher at $17.99. Hopefully they will restock (I've see that happen with some wines).
Thanks for the review!
Scott B says
A price decrease would have been nice but they must have read your review! Price at Clearwater, FlL yesterday was $17.99. We bought 6 anyway.
Meg says
It’s $17.99 in Minneapolis. Also out of stock.
Matt Stevens says
FL is also 17.99!!
Leon says
Tried to find this and several others from your 4/4 blog in Santa Cruz today. Could not even find the Malbec, let alone any ofl the others, At least we still have a bottle of the 23 Malbec and the 22 Suscol. The areas where the Kirkland wines are usually located was gone. There was some Bordeaux Superior and it was flying out quickly (I helped). Maybe they'll restock next week; really want to compare vintages on some of these wines.