2008 Bodegas Poesia Pasodoble Mendoza
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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 |
2008 Orestiadi Ludovico Rosso Sicilia
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I was really excited to find this bottle at Costco. What an interesting wine and perfect for me as I continue to work on my book about Italian wine. Price at Costco was $19.99.
This is a Sicilian wine with the IGT designation. The wine is comprised of 90% Nero d'Avola (the red grape of Sicily) and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. I have enjoyed many bottles of Nero d'Avola and I think they are one of the best buys for Italian wines around $15-$20 but I had never had a blend like this. Nero d'Avola typically exudes a nice herbal aroma and this wine showed much of that. Lots of berry fruit on the nose, white pepper, spice and a little floral. On the palate this wine is full bodied with a soft tannic structure and a good bit of acidity. More ripe berry flavors, a lot going on, definitely tobacco and some black licorice; finish is a spicy, dry and sticky. This is an excellent wine, and a good buy at Costco. Pair this with a nice Italian dish with spice, red sauce and/or red meat. I enjoyed it with basic spaghetti (cooking for the kids) and it was superb. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points |
Beer Review: Chimay Ale Grande Reserve Blue
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So I know this one is a little different than what we usually cover, but when I was visiting my Costco to pick out the wine I wanted to review for the site, I overheard a couple people balking at the $9.99 price tag for this one pint, nine ounce bottle of Chimay. They clearly had never tasted Chimay.
Since Chimay Blue is one of my favorite beers of all time, and feeling the desire to spread its joyfulness to more people, I bought one at the great price of $9.99 and actually say down with the Redneck Wine Guy to enjoy and review for the site. It started out a great night of beer drinking. Here are our notes. We picked up a lot of scents on the nose including caramel, honey, amaretto, clove and orange peel. It's amazing how much is on this beer. The color was a light amber, honey color that was thick enough that you can't see through. On the palate, we picked up noted butterscotch, caramel square, vanilla, molasses and white pepper aromas with a hint of All Spice. Finishes full with the 9% alcohol kicking in on the back palate. The beer really comes together at the end, rounding out what is clearly one of the best beer drinking experiences I think you can get. Highly recommended, and this price at Costco is very good. Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA |
2010 Chateau Chantemerle Bordeaux
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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. Costco item #:774452
Price: $6.99
Rating: 88 (largely due to value)
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2011 Kirkland Signature Medoc Bordeaux
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This wine really changed a lot with air. I was getting ready to write it up as one of my least favorite Kirkland offerings. But after an hour or so in the glass it's come around, albeit only a bit. I'm a big Bordeaux fan, and frequently enjoy wines from the Medoc region, but most cost more than the $8.99 I paid for this bottle at Costco. At that price, it's hard to be too critical, but I wouldn't rush to the store to stock up on this one.
I reread my comments on the 2009 vintage of this wine, and feel very much the same for this year's wine. Overall, the wine is just not that interesting and rather one dimensional. Nose is almost non-existent; in the mouth the wine opens up with a bit of dark fruit, blackberry, and black licorice flavors, leading to a dry and slightly spicy finish that wraps up quickly. If you're a Bordeaux fan like me and are looking to try an inexpensive bottle for fun, go for it. Otherwise, I'd take my money and look for anything from Spain for $9. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 85 Points |
2008 Vecchia Cantinia Leone D’Oro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
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(This review is a guest post from Ryan at VivaItalianMovies.com)
I decided to go old school and sample a glass of this wine while viewing Roberto Rosselini’s 1959 drama Il Generale della Rovere, given the fact that both wine and film have regal-sounding names. But while the film lived up to the hype, the wine fell disappointingly short. The nose was inviting, with hints of cherry. But the first mouthful was kind of blah, not fruity, slightly meaty but rather nondescript for a sangiovese. The aftertaste was suitably dry and chewy but didn’t reveal any interesting flavors. I decided to try pairing the wine, priced at $17.49 at Costco, with some fusili with sausage to see if it fared any better. It held up nicely against the tomato sauce and hearty meat, but still failed to reveal any legs.
I really wanted to love this one. But while it’s a perfectly decent red wine, you can do better for the money.
Grade: 87
-- Ryan, Viva Italian Movies |
2009 Bodega El Angosto Tinto
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This wine is an absolutely steal for only $11.99 at Costco. I'm going back today to try to buy more. I enjoyed this bottle with two other people who also agreed that it drank like it cost $30-$40. If you are a regular reader of this site, this is why you buy wine at Costco, right here. Go get it.
Smells expensive on the nose, a little cinnamon and some spices. I thought the wine appeared a bit younger than 2009 when I poured it, and when you get into it more you realize we are drinking it at a perfect time. The wine is medium in body with ripe fruit, mostly red fruit with a hint of plum; strawberry licorice, some leather aromas toward the end. Tannins are juicy; a long multi-layered finish. A superb wine that I still can't believe was only $12. This wine will go on our Silver Rated wine list as well as our Value Picks. This is an incredible buy right now at Costco. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 92 Points |
2008 Piccini Chianti Classico
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This bottle isn't a bad buy since it's only $10.99 at Costco but I was hoping for a bit more from the wine. It has all the right markings for a great wine - Chianti Classico, DOCG, good vintage. And maybe I bought this one at a bad time since I'm writing a book on Italian wine and have been enjoying some of the best the country has to offer. But in my research I've had many Chianti Classicos under $15 with more depth and character than this one.
The wine is light in the mouth and it's easy drinking, very simple and subtle; dry finish. Flavor pops quick, a bit of red fruit, cherry and plum. Finishes up quickly with a little pepper. Again, the price is fine for this bottle. Drink it with your anytime spaghetti dinner. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 Points (And a quick pointer from my forthcoming book on Italian wine...if you aren't looking at these wines already, be sure to explore wines from Veneto, specifically Valpolicella, and if you want to be super specific Ripasso, which is essentially Amarone at a bargain price. I don't think you can beat wines with any of these markings on them for the money. Write down the bolded words and take them to your wine shop - or Costco if you get lucky) |
2012 Simi Sonoma Chardonnay
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I think Simi did a pretty good job with this Chardonnay, especially for only $8.99 at Costco. Inexpensive Chardonnays like this can really go sideways pretty quickly, but this one hangs in just fine. It met my expectations for a good value, but didn't offer much more than that.
This is a good Chardonnay for people (like me) who don't prefer the huge oak and butter. This wine is more fruit forward, nice and citrusy on the nose and you can really taste the apple, pear and mango flavor before the subtle oak slides in at the finish. All around a very "safe" Chardonnay and a good buy at this price point. This bottle won't drive you to buy it by the case, but it will satisfy your palate for a good mid-week dinner of chicken and vegetables, which is how I did it. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 Points |
2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot
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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 |
2009 Abelis Carthago Luis Selection Toro Crianza
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Costco always turns up the heat with their wine selection during the holidays. I can't remember the last time I saw such a big selection of different varietals of wine there in a long time.
Maybe it was due to the 90 point IWC review (note the sticker on the bottle), but this Spanish Crianza did not meet my expectations. The color is a dark purple and nose almost tangy, acidic and powerful in itself. That theme continued as this is a bold wine with almost grippy tannins and medium plus acidity that overpowers the small amount of dark fruit I tasted. It left me looking for more after a short tangy finish. I came back the next day and paired it with some Manchego cheese which helped the fruit come through more and it improved considerably. Goes to show you how a wine can improve with food, especially when they're from the same region. There are better Spanish wines you can find for $14.99 (or less) at Costco, and if you hunt around you can find this for less elsewhere. Rating: 87 |
2010 Castillo de Maluenda Calatayud Altos de Sueno
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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
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 |
2011 Casarena Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon
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Wait, wait, wait. Pretty great! That pretty much summarizes the Casarena Reserva 2011 Cabernet. It is made from 82-year-old vines and the mature vines show: this is a rich, plush Cabernet with a nose of prune, blackberry, coffee and toast. But, like a bad first date, this wine doesn’t show-off much on the first day. When it finally emerged from a self-imposed exile on the 2nd and 3rd days, some really lovely characteristics began to show.
The palate was very soft, ripe, and supple. This does not drink like a typical Cabernet Sauvignon, typical of the South American Cabs. Instead of complexity, it is plush and lush: Medium-dark ruby; sleek, glossy, good legs. Nice aroma of vanilla bean and white pepper, with some nice lingering fruit in the finish. By the 4th day (yes, I waited that long to finish the bottle) it continued to drink very nicely – long legs and long life! I found that I had to wait, but this wine came through. Decanting is a must and a second date is highly recommended. For the price, this wine offers a lot, but not early.
Note: The pricing suggests that Costco may be phasing out this wine. The early birds will likely be the only ones get this wine. Happy hunting. - Review by Michael S
Rating: 90 (for value) Price: $14.89 Costco Item #: 712496 Purchased at Costco in: San Diego, California |
2009 Vina Real Crianza
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This is a great deal for $10.99 at Costco and really over delivers. The first thing I picked up was the bright cherry aroma on the nose along with the deep red color of the wine. The fruit comes through immediately and continues mid palate with medium tannins and just enough acidity to balance it out. It's medium body allows the flavors to stand out without being overpowered. My favorite was the red fruit spice that took the wine home through the finish. Tasting it blind, it might fool you into thinking it could be a Bordeaux. I enjoy how these Spanish wines from the same region can be so different. -- Adam L Rating: 90 Points |
2011 Bogle Essential Red
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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 |
2011 Tapiz Alta Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
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This is a big meaty Cab, packed with flavor and distinctive Mendoza style. It's a real bargain for $15.59 at Costco. As the winter months approach, this one will warm you up. Enjoy it with a hearty red meat dish.
This wine really changed with some air. At first the nose was earthy and spicy, but after an hour or so, it became much more floral. In the mouth, the wine feels soft and juicy at first, then the big body and flavor creeps in and hits you with a burst of energy. Flavors of dark fruit, blackberry with hints of leather, tobacco and black licorice. The wine picks up its spice notes toward the finish. This is a nice bottle for the money. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points |
2011 Can Blau Montsant
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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... Rating 88 |
2011 XYZin Old Vine Zinfandel
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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 |
2010 Lincourt Chardonnay Courtney's Vineyard
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This is a lovely Chardonnay at the great price of $14.99 at Costco - a real bargain for a California Chardonnay of this caliber. This is an extremely food friendly wine, with just the right amount of fruit, spice and oak to complement just about any meal.
Nose is bright, lots of lemon and citrus scents, smelling more like a Sauvignon Blanc. But then the nice body and Chard characteristics take over, and you get some vanilla and stone on top of the citrus fruit. Really well balanced between these elements. The finish brings just a touch of oak, which works great. This is a winner all around. Great price, Great wine. This is what buying wine at Costco is all about. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 35512 |
2011 Cameron Hughes Lot 387 Merlot - Oakville
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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.
Rating: 82 points Costco item number: 818040 |
2011 Kirkland Signature Napa County Cabernet Sauvignon
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As the nights get colder in Southern California, sitting down with a bottle of red wine on a Saturday evening sounds better and better. I've had this Kirkland Napa County Cabernet on hand for about two weeks and decided tonight was the night to take it out for a spin.
As I poured what would be my first taste, the wine color was deep purple and it's nose exhibited traditional black fruited currant flavors. Unfortunately, my first sip was disappointing. Maybe I expected more because the Kirkland brand has delivered some great value wines, but this one clearly needed some time to open up and figure out how it wanted to present itself. To those that pop and pour, beware. If you judge it right out of the bottle you will be disappointed. For those just getting into red wine, that brings up an important point. After being in a bottle a while, most wines need time to open up and let being exposed to air do it's thing. Couldn't be truer in the case of this wine. I decided to decant the bottle and forget about it a couple hours. Coming back to the wine and starting over gave it a second chance to impress. This wine has some good qualities, but they seem out of order. There's a quick rush of black fruit which isn't as ripe as I hoped and held it back. Before I could think more about the fruit, I was greeted with traces of oak and chocolate, soon to be followed by a surprising tasty dusty cocoa flavor that lingered momentarily (which happened to be my favorite part). This wine sells for $12.99 and I've seen it at a few Costcos. Give it a good amount of time and it will not disappoint in the end considering you don't have high expectations. Rating 86 Points |
2011 Joel Gott Blend No. 815 Cabernet Sauvignon
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This is a blended red from different California vineyards, hence the 815 label, and was $13.99 at my Costco. A quick online search will show this wine for a dollar or two cheaper at various outlets, so the Costco price seems decent overall. As for the wine, it is a subtle Cab, blended very well to create an easy drinking bold red. The vineyards include regions such as Sonoma, Paso, Lodi and Lake County, all great areas, and each one brings a little something different to the wine.
The nose is young, floral with hints of cinnamon; flavors of fresh cherry, blueberry, more cinnamon; the flavors come as kind of a quick pop and the wine settles into a slow smooth, dusty finish. 2011 wasn't the best year for California, and I was told by winemakers on a recent trip to Napa to be picky about what to buy; but this wine seems to come together. It's a nice food wine, and an ok buy for CA Cabs overall. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 Points Costco item number: 236764 |
NV La Fiole du Pape Chateauneuf-du-pape
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Obviously the bottle is the first thing you notice here, and I have to give them marks for creativity. I usually avoid cute gimmicks like this at all costs, but this one happened to be a Chateauneuf-du-Pape and at $23.99 at Costco I figured it would be fun to roll the dice.
The wine is light ruby garnet in color, floral nose , some violet, candy; medium plus in body. Flavors are dried plum, little vegetal, green pepper, scents of leather with spice and pepper, both getting strong into the close. A little dry and chalky on the spicy finish. Needed some air to get going, but turned into a decent wine in the end. As a fan of Chateauneuf-du-Papes, I have to say I didn't get that signature Chateauneuf flavor on this one. Sometimes that happens in sub $25 Chateauneuf wines. They end up tasting more like a standard Cotes du Rhone, which isn't at all bad, just not what I was hoping for. Overall, have fun with the packaging, but don't get too pumped for the wine inside. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 85 Points Costco item number: 753984 |
2010 Chateau Teyssier St. Emilion Grand Cru
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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. -- TJ Cohen |
2012 Tangent Sauvignon Blanc Paragon Vineyard
2010 McLaren Vale Kangarilla Road Shiraz
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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 |
2010 Chateau Petit-Freylon Cuvee Sarah
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(CostcoWineBlog.com would like to introduce its newest contributor, Michael S.) 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.
Rating: 87 points Costco item number: 680633 |
2011 Charles Smith The Velvet Devil Merlot
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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 |
2011 La Quercia Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
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I always like a nice Montepulciano, so I was really looking forward to sampling the 2011 La Quercia Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, which hails from the eastern-central part of Italy. A quick sniff revealed hints of cherry and oak, and the first sip was tasty – light and fruity.
Not too fruity, though. This is a medium-bodied, well-balanced wine with hints of cherry and a crisp, pleasant finish. I found it complex enough to pair with a tasty plate of fusilli with bolognese sauce without it being overwhelmed. Having said that, I enjoyed it even more on its own later that evening when I kicked back for a viewing of Francesco Rosi’s Hands Over the City, one of several memorable Italian movies celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
At $9.99, the 2011 La Quercia Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is kind of a tweener price-wise, but I was pleased to find that it compared favorably with similar wines in the $12-$15 range. Definitely worth grabbing a few bottles.
Grade: 88
-- Ryan, Viva Italian Movies |
2011 Chateau Lilian Ladouys Saint Estephe
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I never really considered buying wine at Costco to go along with the countless other items I'd eventually find in my shopping cart as I checked out. As I began to drink more wine, I ventured into the wine section and found myself ogling the different wines they had in their distinctive wood boxes and stacked by the palate aisle by aisle.
In the past I was pretty much a Napa Cab guy, but the Spanish Tempranillo I bought opened me up to a wonderful world of new wines. Since I live in Southern California, there are at least 8-10 Costco's within an hour of where I work and live. It's amazing how you can walk into one Costco and find a completely different selection of wines than at a Costco 15 minutes away. That being said, I do enjoy visiting the various Costco's to see what they happen to have on display. I noticed this wine about a month ago. At $19.99, it checked the box of what I was willing to spend on a wine for this week, not to mention I was specifically looking for French wine. As I normally do, I opened the bottle and poured a splash to taste as I decanted the rest. The color was a very deep purple and the nose reminded me of a romantic, floral, light fruited wine that I was going to enjoy drinking. At first taste, the wine was a little sweeter that I thought it would be with moderate acidity and tannins. Mid palate you were greeted with flavors of plum and leather with a semi long finish. After decanting it for about an hour, the sweetness subsided and plum flavors really took over. I thought the wine would be a little out of balance, but after more time in the decanter it came together much better. The wine doesn't quite have the flavor of ripe fruit if that's something you're considering. All in all, it's a great wine for the price if you enjoy (or want to try) French wine that's a little sweet, dark fruited with predominantly plum flavors and isn't overly acidic or tannic (but not soft). Rarely does a winery's description describe a wine so well, so if you happen to find this one in your local Costco, feel free to give it a ride. Overall 89 points for flavor and value. |
2011 Est 75 Cabernet Sauvignon
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Here's a Costco staple that I haven't reviewed in some time. This bottle, from winemaster Tuck Beckstoffer who rarely disappoints, is only $19.79, and it's a solid California Cabernet in the always popular under $20 offerings.
Nose was tight at first, a little floral and pepper to note. On the palate the fruit is just fantastic; ripe and pure blueberry, blackberry, cedar, a touch of green pepper. I wanted to learn a bit more about the fruit and found the following line from the 75 Wine Company website: "...a blend from our Lake County vineyards, Mendocino fruit and Valley floor fruit from our beloved Napa Valley." Beckstoffer seems to own grapes everywhere and can really pick and choose how to make his wines to deliver great quality for the dollar. Finish brings a touch of pepper, a little dry and very smooth. This is a good buy and a solid California wine for the money. It also seems to be pretty widely available at a lot of Costco stores so I hope you can find it. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 241276 |
Costco Wine Blog Featured in Consumer Reports
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Costco Wine Blog was featured in Consumer Reports. Here's a link to the article "5 tips to buying good wine at bargain prices: Develop a nose for great deals"
Also note that the 2011 Kirkland Sonoma Chardonnay ($7) was named a Consumer Reports Best Buy. |
2011 Catena Mendoza Malbec
2010 Chateau d'Aurilhac Haut Medoc Bordeaux
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I enjoyed this one with a little skirt steak on the grill and it was a superb combo. I love these Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux and particularly the ones from the awesome 2010 vintage. This bottle at Costco was $16.99 (which I think it a very competitive price after a quick online search), and I felt it was about mid-pack given the aforementioned specs.
It's predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with small parts of Petit Verdot and Cabernet France. On the first pour the nose just jumped out of the glass with loads of peppery spice, but after a few hours the wine settled a bit. In the mouth this one is medium in body and stuffed with fruit flavor; lots of dark fruit, plum, sticky and dry which made it awesome with steak. This is definitely a food wine. I'm a fan at this price point. It's a solid wine for the money; just not anything too over the top. About what I expected. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points Costco item number: 724744 |
2011 Chateau Smith Cabernet Sauvignon
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This is an awesome Washington State Cab I found for $16.79 at my Costco. I would have guessed its price to be almost double this, and I wouldn't have been disappointed if I had paid it.
Nose is fresh, floral and earthy; in the mouth, the first thing you notice is the beautiful tannic structure. This wine feels like it's about 5 years older than it is since the tannins are so subtle; love this mouthfeel. Fruit is dark berry, tobacco, a little black licorice and pepper spice, but young and fresh. Finish is amazing for something in this price range. Long, touch of spice, sticky. I'm really impressed. This one hit me right across the board. I'm going to add it to our Bronze Rated wine list, and highly recommend you try it. I'm going to buy a couple more to keep on hand. These are the kind of wines I like to try a year or two later and see how they've changed. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points Costco item number: 345392 |
2012 Bodega Enrique Foster Ique Malbec Mendoza
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This is a young one (it's hard to believe we're drinking 2012s already), and it feels a little disjointed upon opening. I'm willing to bet it will even out with a little more time in the bottle (and likely will tonight with some more air). But even as it stands now, it's not a bad buy at $8.99 at Costco.
Nose of perfume and flowers, gets a little spicy the more you put your nose in. The wine is medium in body, lighter than I was expecting, and the lightness feels good in the mouth amid the firm tannic structure. I think it would improve in the palate with a little more age and air time. Flavors of red berry, cherry and tobacco. The finish is a little short and discreet. For the under $9 price, this falls in line with most other low priced Mendoza Malbecs - they are hard to beat for the money. But going $5 up market could yield a wine with a lot more character. Costco item number: 485363 |
2007 Clos des Andes Bodega Poesia Malbec Reserva
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(Here's another reader review from Adam in California)
Nose led with sweet fruit and hinted of a smooth texture and blackberry flavor. Popped and poured my first sip which had the dark fruit spicy flavor and was smooth. Mid palate you could feel it coat the back of your throat with a fine texture that I hoped meant a great finish was coming. Finish was not as long and complete as I was tempted with, with some but not marked acidity. I decanted it for about 30 minutes and came back a little disappointed. The dark fruit was still there but was showing signs of being muted as was the spice that accompanied it on my first sip. I let it sit another 20 minutes or so and it seemed to want to start to settle. The Blackberry flavor returned when I came back to it with a lingering tartness that pretended like it was going to turn quite bitter, but never did. Still I couldn't quite put my glass down. This one is easy to drink, but not for the above average wine drinker. $13.99 price tag. |
2012 Kirkland Signature Ti Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
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This one is always a summer favorite of mine. At $7.79 this is a nicely made New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc. For fans of these wines, this is exactly what you expect at a great price.
In my review of the 2011 vintage I compared this to the Kim Crawford and White Haven, two very nice wines that taste similar to this one for a few dollars more. The 2012 retains the same sub $8 price as the 2011, and it really hit me right on the super hot sunny day when I enjoyed it. Bright citrus flavor all over the palate; a lot of lemon and lime, and some apple and grapefruit. Finishes pretty quick with some tangy acidity. I'm going to add this bottle to our Value Picks list. As I said before if you like New Zealand Sauv Blancs, this is a no brainer. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points (same as last year) Costco item number: 301904 |
How to Read a French Wine Label
I am helping a few friends on some of wine projects, and they will be launching some very exciting stuff soon. This is a short piece they asked me to write on tips for reading a French wine label, and I figured I'd share it with everyone here as well. Enjoy.
- Andrew, Editor
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Reading a French wine label is a little different than reading one from the US. The labels are a bit more complex, but with a little practice and geographic research, you’ll soon be listing your favorite appellations in no time.
There are four key aspects to a French wine label that you will want to note: the vintage, the appellation, the classification and the chateau (or winemaker). |
This is because of long standing rules in those countries about which grapes can grow where. To understand what you are buying requires a bit of geographic knowledge on behalf of the purchaser. For instance, a Bordeaux from St Emilion (right bank) is going to be a Merlot based red blend, compared to a Margaux (left bank) that is going to be Cabernet Sauvignon based. The more you experiment and research these different appellations within France, the more you will know about the wine inside.
The classification of the wine means a few different things throughout France. In some areas, such as Burgundy, you will have Grand Cru wines which typically mean the wine is from the “highest” quality single vineyard, while Premier Cru means a “high” quality single vineyard, and then “Village” wines which may come from multiple vineyards. In Bordeaux you have the Classifications of 1855 that separate vineyards out into “growths.” The “First Growth” wines are some of the most prized in the world.
The Chateau (or winemaker) is another important aspect. As you embark on your wine journey, you will begin to encounter and recognize winemakers who make excellent wines, or (perhaps more importantly) wines that you enjoy. Often times a second bottle (or second label, meaning the lesser wine) from a top winemaker is a better quality than a grand cru from a lesser known winemaker.
Note: If you enjoyed these quick tips, take a look at my French wine book, Decoding French Wine: A Beginner's Guide to Enjoying the Fruits of the French Terroir. It's available in Kindle and paperback formats. Just click on the cover below.
