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Holy smokes, this wine is a steal for only $7 at Costco. If you are not drinking wines from Portugal and Spain right now, you need to hop a country or two from where you might be tasting and experience the insane value from these regions right now. Maybe the varietal makeup is a little …

Read More about 2012 Casaleiro Reserva Vinho Regional Tejo Portugal

Reviewed by Michael S Combine a very good value wine at Costco with a $2.00 discount and you’ve got one tasty treat. First, my bias disclaimer: I’ve been very impressed with Columbia Crest’s H3 line of wines over the years. They’ve offered one of my favorite Merlots and their Cabernet Sauvs have been quite nice. …

Read More about 2010 Columbia Crest H3 Chardonnay

   Obviously a catchy label, and the story depicted is kind of interesting.  The wine is a tribute to the culture built by British convicts who were sent to live in Australia instead of facing a death sentence in Britain for committing one of 19 crimes.

Tastes like mostly Shiraz and it’s fresh being a 2012.  I’m not sure what other varietals are in here, but the wine is slightly sweet, light in the mouth, pretty one dimensional with light spice, and overall an ok buy for only $8.99. 

Sometimes the cool bottle houses a great wine (remember this fantastic Aussie wine).  Other times it dresses up a mediocre wine.  This one falls somewhere in the gray area in between, leaning toward the latter.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 Points
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA
Costco item number: 792283

Read More about 2012 19 Crimes Red Blend

   I find most wines from Mendoza to be at least a good bargain and this one certainly follows suit for only $10.99 at Costco.  This is a nice red blend, consisting of 45% Malbec, 35% Syrah, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.

And it’s an interesting combo.  The first thing that hit me, almost on the pour, was the smoky/wood.  There’s a big cigar cedar element to this wine, which is ok with me if the flavor can pull through, which it did.  Being an ’08 it’s had a little time to chill out.  There’s a nice blue berry component, a little tobacco; some pepper on the finish, a bit chewy.

Overall, I’m going to say it’s a nice wine for the money.  Certainly a little different package from Mendoza with the blended varietals, but I would recommend it, especially at this price.  You could enjoy this wine with a lot of different cuisine.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA
Costco item number: 774420

Read More about 2008 Bodegas Poesia Pasodoble Mendoza

  
How many times do you come across a decent Bordeaux for $7?   My answer is: “rarely, if not almost never”.   I had to use “almost” because of this 2010 Chateau Chantemerle. Costco’s buyers found a very decent merlot-based wine that quite nicely pairs with most foods.  You don’t want to drink this alone — it is an accompaniment wine.  

A combination of 65% merlot, 25% cab and 10% cab franc, this is a wine that you’d expect to drink in a French bistro with your meal.   It is both tannic and fruity with a dominant flavor of black currant.    There’s enough acidity to complement the food but with a smooth aftertaste.   I drank this wine over three days and found the second and third days superior to the first, so feel free to decant this wine or nurse it slowly over a few days.  Bon Appetit.
– Michael S


Costco item #:774452
Price:  $6.99
Rating: 88  (largely due to value)
Read More about 2010 Chateau Chantemerle Bordeaux

  It’s been a while since I reviewed one of the Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlots, and I’m happy to report that the current vintage is quite nice for the Costco price of $13.99 (it’s been slowly creeping up).

You’ll want to give this wine a little air.  It opens up a little closed but after some time in the glass, its true character began to emerge.  The nose is subtle and floral; in the mouth the wine feels medium in body, tannins are gentle and the flavor is spot on to what I remember from this wine; jammy dark fruit, a hint of vanilla and chocolate, ripe fruit, a little vegetal.  This wine is ready to drink now.  Finish is very pleasant, longer than expected with a touch of spice.  

This bottle is a good buy at Costco.  Also keep an eye out for the Columbia Crest H3 Merlot if you like your Columbia Valley Merlots.  It is similar in price and value, and seems to widely distributed around the country.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA
Costco item number: 160933

Read More about 2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot

 

Wine: Altos de Sueno

Winery:  Castillo de Maluenda

Varietal(s): 75% Grenache, 25% Syrah

Vintage: 2010

Region:  Calatayud Appelation, Aragon Region, Spain

Costco price: $9.89
Reviewed by: Redneck Wine Guy

 

As I write this, the South has settled into a cold, rainy streak.  The rain seems to never stop, flooding trout streams and keeping wildlife bedded down.  The waders and camouflage stay put up and the pajamas stay on….sometimes all day long.  What I do love about this time of year is the comforts of soul food and red wine.  From stews to roasts, Tempranillo to Bordeaux, the season offers a plethora of opportunity to tour the world in the comforts of home by pairing foods from one country with wines of another.  Today – Spain.

 

It is safe to say that Spain has caught the eye of the wine world, and in recent years has taken the US market by storm.  Some are coining it the “Spanish Wine Renaissance”, bringing a country rich in wine history back into the conversation after disappearing from world view for many years.  The options are seemingly endless, with many years’ worth of wine exploration that await.

 

I paired this Altos de Sueno from the Aragon region of Spain with a venison stew made from a hunt from last year.  The grapes in this blend (Grenache/Syrah) compliment and pair well with game meats and each bring out the nuances in the other.  The wine comes off very young, moderately jammy, and probably in need of a little more time in the bottle.  The nose and palate are vibrant with cherry, blackberry, licorice, and is super fruit forward.  Mildly to moderately acidic.  Candidly, I was not all too impressed on Day #1.  What I did find most interesting is Day #2 – both the wine, and the stew, were phenomenally better!  I expected that with the stew, but not with the wine. The “fruitiness” was still there, but was tamed and the palate much more well-rounded.  Good everyday, non-pretentious wine.  Going against the grain, I give it two ratings: Day #1 and Day #2.

 

Redneck Wine Guy Rating: 85/89

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Costco item number: 803597 

Read More about 2010 Castillo de Maluenda Calatayud Altos de Sueno

  For $8.89 at Costco, this is a solid California red blend, and a slight step above my expectations.  At this price it really is a bargain, especially if you compare to a wine like the super popular Apothic Red, which again is a fantastic bargain for $8 at Costco, but I might like this Bogle blend a tad better.

A spicy floral nose leads into a soft, rich flavor packed wine.  The varietals are Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah, and they’ve assembled the blend perfectly. Good ripe fruit, lots of red fruit flavor with a semi-dry finish that brings a little spice.  Feels wonderful in the mouth.

This is a fun little wine the more you jump into it.  I had Bogle’s Phantom blend at a dinner party a few months back and remember liking it.  This one is right there, and I’m sure a lot less expensive.  This is a very good buy.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points
Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA
Costco item number: 814632

Read More about 2011 Bogle Essential Red

  Anytime I see a new Spanish wine at Costco I’m immediately intrigued (especially at 15.5% alc).  Among the pallets and pallets of wine was this unassuming, under the radar Spanish blend going for $11.99.  

This wine is 40% Mazuelo, 40% Syrah, and 20% Garnacha.  Mazuelo is the name used for Carignan in the Rioja region of northern Spain.  It’s also the third most planted varietal in Spain.  Because of it’s strong acidity it’s most often used as a blending grape.  The nose gives off an aroma of fruit and acidity.  I was surprised that after a few minutes of air how the garnacha started to show itself and complement the strong acidity.  In between the Syrah was well represented carrying the fruit through to a short, chalky finish.  Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at the blend of these grapes.

I’m curious to see what a little less Mazuelo and a little more Garnacha would do to this wine.  Maybe next year…
— Adam L

Rating 88

Read More about 2011 Can Blau Montsant

This is a rather simple, but very drinkable and enjoyable $10 Zin. I like this one particularly because it could be served with just about any type of food.  Many Zins fit that bill, but this wine can truly cover the spectrum.  I enjoyed it with a grilled chicken salad, but it could hold up just fine with steak, hamburgers, or pizza (or the just passed Thanksgiving meal).

The nose gets peppery enough to make you almost sneeze.  In the mouth this wine is smooth as silk, medium in body, light and fluffy, soft tannins, with nice red berry flavors, a little tobacco/cigar box toward the close, and a good peppery spice on the finish.  Nice job on this one for $10.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points

Costco item number: 245513

Read More about 2011 XYZin Old Vine Zinfandel

 

I’m not embarrassed about liking Merlot, even though I risk being excommunicated by some of my brethren.  As the French have proven, merlot at its best is the best. (check out the Petrus Pomerol, if you’ve got a $3,000 laying around)   Yes, California wineries abused this versatile grape in the 80s and 90s and Sideways drove a stake in its heart in 2004.  But merlot is a beautifully supple grape that balances beautifully and can transform a modest meal into a succulent supper….if it is well done. 

 

I was excited to discover a Napa merlot being offered by Cameron Hughes – a very versatile negociant whose bottlings are often carried by Costco.   CH reportedly produced 6500 cases of this merlot, so my hopes were raised further.  Even better, it is being offered at a very reasonable $11.59 (after a $3 discount).   I drank it with two meals over a period of two days, paired with a salmon salad and a humble hamburger.  In both cases, the merlot disappointed.  The nose was weak, if non-existent. The taste was all front-forward blackberry fruit with no discernible finish and a surprisingly high tannic quotient for a Napa merlot.  I took the two days to taste it out of concern that it needed oxygen, but I fear it needed CPR, rather than O2.   For the same money, Washington-based Milbrandt is producing some killer merlot at a similar price point and has been known to pop up at Costco over the years.  And the H3 Merlot is both readily available and a safe bet at Costco.  Keep an eye out for the rarely-sighted Milbrandt and take a pass on CH’s most recent offering.
— Reviewed by Michael S

 

Rating:  82 points

Costco item number:   818040

Read More about 2011 Cameron Hughes Lot 387 Merlot – Oakville

Liked this one. Beautiful nose of sweet dark fruits and a bit of spice, new world merlot type. Rich fruit on the palate, strawberry, dark chocolate, licorice, little sour cherry. Excellent mouth feel, really like the texture and feels extremely polished and well made.

Good finish, firm and silky tannins, this thing will have some good years ahead – some alcohol lingering. I have to note that I picked up a few of these bottles as Costco was selling them for $18. At that price point, this is an insanely good value.
90-91 Points

— TJ Cohen

Read More about 2010 Chateau Teyssier St. Emilion Grand Cru

I’ve seen this wine in the aisles at Costco for a while now, however the Australian label, screw top bottle, and price tag of just under $15 did a good job keeping me away.  Lately my taste has been for spicy, fruity wine, so what better to drink than a Shiraz, right?  After deciding that the screw top would not deter me, I decided to go for it.

It’s amazing how one’s preconceptions can really hold a person back from something.  The wine was dark purple, and had a bright, spicy nose that reminded me why I chose a Shiraz to drink in the first place.  As I usually do, I tasted a small amount and decanted the rest for about half an hour.  

My taste buds were immediately greeted with warm spices, cherry and plum flavors. It somewhat skipped the middle part, and finish was as if someone had pushed a button to deliver a quick tang that lingered ever so slightly.  

After some time opening up, you could begin to isolate its characteristics.  It’s not the most complex wine I’ve ever had, but imagine a medium bodied wine with a spicy, cherry flavor followed by a quick rush of acidity with a plum flavor.  All those flavors lingered in the tasty, but quick finish.

Drinking this Shiraz made me reflect on how people new to drinking wine need to ask themselves what characteristics they like in wine as opposed to just drinking varietals they like.  Although a Shiraz, the spice resembled a French Chateauneauf de Pape and fruit a Spanish Monastrell.  That being said, I highly recommend reading digging deeper into a wine’s characteristics and you may be surprised by a wine you didn’t know you liked.  Have someone with wine experience taste this wine blind and see what they have to say.  

89 Points
— Adam L

Read More about 2010 McLaren Vale Kangarilla Road Shiraz

 

(CostcoWineBlog.com would like to introduce its newest contributor, Michael S.)

What I look for from a value-priced Bordeaux is a smooth, balanced wine that makes steak sing, chicken celebrate, pork praise and tomato sauces shout “oh that’s SO good”!   Last year, I tried the 2009 Chateau Petit-Freylon Cuvee Michael and was underwhelmed.  So when I paired the 2010 Chateau Petit-Freylon Cuvee Sarah (presumably, she’s related to Michael) with a roasted tri-tip, the food gave me a standing ovation.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t for my cooking as much as this surprisingly accommodating Bordeaux with the unassuming price. Costco asks $7.99 for this easy drinking, well-structured Cab-based blend but the 25% Merlot gives the wines some subtlety that allows it to play nicely with a wide variety of foods.   It combines a little terroir with a good mouth feel, black cherry overtones and a gentle oak finish resulting in a Goldilocks “not-too-dry-not-too-fruity” harmony. It is just a nice integration of Bordeaux’s best characteristics.  

Did I mention that it is $7.99?  I’ve had more than my fill of $19.99 French blends that are far less food friendly than this sub-$10 Bordeaux. I don’t know Sarah but now I want to meet her, give her a hug and offer thanks for making good French table wine affordable.
— Michael S

 

Rating:  87 points

Costco item number:  680633

Read More about 2010 Chateau Petit-Freylon Cuvee Sarah

This is a ripe and vibrant Merlot from Washington State that I think is an excellent bargain at Costco for only $9.99.  It has a great, smooth mouthfeel compliments of its blend that contains small parts of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.  I’m a big fan of Merlot dominated blends like this, and this one proves you can get a lot in a bottle like this under $10.

Flavors are black cherry with some ripe blueberry mid palate.  The tannins are soft and juicy, leading to a smooth ride all the way through; finishes up dry and lasting with some tobacco, a little pepper. 

This is a nice package, not trying to do too much.  It results in a very approachable wine that I think most fans of red wine would find to be a good buy.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points

Costco item number: 753996

Read More about 2011 Charles Smith The Velvet Devil Merlot