It's been nine years almost to the day when we last reviewed the Kirkland 10-year Tawny Port, and in the past few months it seems like we've heard from more readers than ever before inquiring about this one.
Tawny ports are great to have on hand during the holidays, and are perfect to finish any meal, which is when we like to enjoy them.
As we mentioned a few months back in our feature story "Who are the real producers behind Costco's Kirkland wines," the Kirkland 10-Year Old Tawny Port is made by Fonseca, within the well known and respected Taylor Fladgate group.
A comparable bottle from Taylor Fladgate runs in the upper $20's, so this is 30-40% less in the Kirkland wrapping. And it's a delicious port wine that we think fans of fortified and dessert wines will get behind.
The wine in the glass is an amber brown; flavors of prune, raisin and fig; nutty all around with notes of caramel; then spice and cinnamon towards the lingering finish.
This falls right at 90 points for us, a solid buy, particularly at this price. We like it chilled at about cellar temp (55 degrees), so we keep it in there, and have been enjoying a small glass after the holiday meals.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 points
Costco item number: 787876
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. 20%
Joe Spencer says
Wish Costco would offer a Kirkland Ruby or LBV Port as well!
SPA says
Me too!
Ian says
This Kirkland port is LBV.
Dave says
We love this port. Too bad we can’t buy in Tn!
One other great use is to make a port reduction for your filets/meats. They always say when making a reduction to use a port you would want to drink and this is a great option at a low Costco price.
Brent says
I had stayed away from the Kirkland 10-year Tawny after having tasted it well over 10 years ago. The last time I had tasted it, it tasted more like a ruby port to me than a Tawny. At that time, it was clearly labeled as being produced by Taylor Fladgate. I tend to find myself liking 20-year Tawnys and Colheitas more than the younger profiles. But this year I was in Costco and needed a Tawny for the holidays, so I decided to take a chance. I was pleasantly surprised as this Tawny did show more aged Tawny character with touches of caramel. It still leans more to the sweet, fruity style with plum and fig notes, but it was an acceptable stand-in.
Wendell says
I'm always hopeful when I see this bottle but the last 2 times I bought it over the last 2 or 3 winters, it had no brown/tawny color or nutty flavor at all...100% reddish tone and as Brent said in his post here, a very Ruby Portish look and flavor. There is no red in amber so if you say it's amber I may have to put on my optimistic cap and give it another try.
Bob says
This latest iteration of a 10 year Tawny is a good intro to young Tawny.
I am still looking for the return of the Kirkland 20 year Tawny made by Taylor Woodehouse as it's been a number of years, and it was excellent.
PS. I also await your review of the newest vintage of Kirkland Chablis Premier Cru, as it's been available for some time at the 4 Costco stores I've been in this past 4-6 weeks. Did I miss it?
Editor says
Hey Bob, we have been looking for the new vintage of the Kirkland Chablis constantly and just haven’t found it near us. If it came this way it must have sold through really fast. Hopefully we are just a bit behind other locations.
Brent says
Our Costco used to carry the Warre’s Otima Twany port. I don't recall if it was the 10 or 20 year but regardless it was a much better tawny than the Kirkland. Though the price was higher and only a 500 ml bottle.
Kenneth C Pao says
I have tried both the Kirkland 10 year Tawny Port and the Kirkland Chablis Premier Cru at our local CA Orange County Costco near Irvine. Both are excellent. Thanks.