The Russian River Valley in Sonoma County is an ideal area for growing Pinot Noir. The Russian River provides a channel for the cool Pacific Ocean fog to move inland from the coast, creating ideal growing conditions for this finicky grape. Good quality pinots from this area are robust, fruit-forward, and more full-bodied than their …
Erin Reyes
Earlier this year, I reviewed a Michael David wine called Freakshow, and I mentioned that most of the wines from this winery are outfitted with bright & eye-catching labels. “Petite Petit” is probably the winner of the Most Outgoing superlative (that or Best Dressed) in the Michael David Winery portfolio. The Burgundian-esque bottle is so …
This Zinfandel has been in the wood boxes at Costco for a decent amount of time, and mostly overlooked by myself. I tried the 2013 Artezin and was neither disappointed nor impressed, and so when I saw the 2014s (and subsequent 2015s) arrive, I was apathetic about it. Here, folks, is a classic example of …
I got wine-nerd-excited when this wine arrived in the wood a few weeks ago at my local Costco. The reason being that I love mountain fruit Napa cabs. The higher elevation vineyard fruit struggles on the vine, resulting in smaller grapes with more concentrated flavors that produce fairly tannic wines. These are the kind of …
Readers were asking about this wine for some time before it finally appeared back in the clubs. This is another solid, good-value Kirkland Signature label wine. $8.49 for a Chianti Classico Riserva is hard to find elsewhere. There are eight sub-regions within Chianti, and the Classico region is considered by many to be the best area for …
Now that we are blessed with the occasional sunny and warm afternoon, I find myself starting to move towards the lighter reds and heavier whites. I have always been a seasonal wine drinker, for the most part, sipping on whites throughout the summer and almost only drinking the big reds when it’s uncomfortably cold outside. …
When I first noticed this wine in my local Costco club, I read the name and immediately pictured Josh Brolin’s face. You may remember that he played an antagonist in the Revisionist Western Film by the Cohen Brothers, True Grit. I can’t say for sure if the wine and the movie are related, but I …
I did not get a chance to try the 2014 vintage of this wine, but was told by multiple people that it was a fantastic wine. I was excited to see the 2015 in the wood a couple of weeks ago. When I say “in the wood,” I mean in the wooden bins located next …
I have always felt that Petite Sirah was highly underrated. The small grapes which grow in tight clusters often produce wines that are deep, dark, and generously tannic. For this reason, the grape is often used in blends in order to add structure, color, and give the wines a tannic backbone. Parducci’s “Small Lot Blend” …
I kept this wine on my rack for a couple of weeks before finally opening it. When I first poured it into my decanter, it appeared lighter than I had expected. This wine is a unique blend of 30% Petit Verdot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Malbec, 3% Syrah and 2% Petit Sirah. It …
I was very happy to see this wine when it appeared in various Costcos a few weeks ago. The only other two red Burgundies that have been in stock near me are $20 & $60. The $10 price for “Les Bastides” is a lot friendlier to my wallet. This is a little young but still …
I’ve been wanting to try this wine for a while. A friend of mine always recommends it and Costco carries it for a great price when compared to other retailers. Also, Napa Valley had great growing seasons in 2013 & 2014, and both vintages of this wine are available currently. The ’13s are a little …
I love a good red Bordeaux. These wines tend to really express the area in which the grapes are grown- they have a strong essence of “terrior,” if you will. The gravel and stone top soil in Pessac-Leognan is well-suited for Cabernet Sauvignon, and so red wines from here are predominantly Cabernet-based and with lots …
Costco has been getting some pretty solid Spanish wines lately. We recently reviewed the 2012 Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero and 2011 Orben Rioja, both of which received high ratings from Wine Spectator as well as our editor(s). I should also mention the 2012 Cune Rioja Reserva, which recently sold out at many Costco …
It’s easy to recognize a Michael David wine. The labels are bright, eye-catching, and often feature some sort of circus scene. The wines have unique names as well, such as “Seven Deadly Zins,” named after the seven different vineyards that the grapes in this wine are grown. “Petite Petite” is a Petite Syrah & Petite …