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Neyers is a super dependable winery. I can't think of a bottle I've had from them that disappointed so I was excited to see the Chardonnay at my Costco; especially during the summertime when I'm looking for good white wines. Price was $24.99, so my expectations were high (plus I love Carneros wines), and this wine delivered.
It is signature Carneros from the start. The nose is a good mix of floral aromas surrounded by a little citrus and oak that carry through to the palate. In the mouth, this is rich and layered, starting with a touch of citrus flavor and moving to a buttery (but not too much) and creamy finish with subtle oak notes. I get turned off by Chardonnays that overdo any one of these elements, but this bottle hits them all just perfect. A real treat, and a solid addition to our Bronze Rated list.. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points Costco item number: 681700 |
2010 Luca Syrah Laborde Double Select
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(This is a guest post from Adam L from Southern CA. He sent me a note about this wine and I thought everyone would benefit from reading his notes. I have yet to see this bottle at my Costcos but I am keeping an eye out) The wine was impressive from opening. Dark fruit aromas immediately greet you almost daring you to let it breathe more. I tasted flavored of dark berries and spicy cherries. The finish was smooth, supple and spicy finish. Tannins were minimal as was the acidity (which were coincidentally the drawbacks in my opinion). I wondered why the wine was priced the way it was ($18.99) considering the varietal, winery and country of origin, but after tasting, it was well worth what I paid for it. Normally I'm a fan of big California cabs and spicy Spanish Tempranillo's. For those who want a dark fruit and full bodied wine, without firm tannins and acidity, (along with a good amount of fruity and peppery spicy, this one should be considered. |
2012 Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc
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I wasn't expecting much from a California Sauvignon Blanc priced under $8 but this bottle was a pleasant surprise. It's a good wine for the money, and a nice summer one to have on hand.
Not a lot going on with the nose, a little floral, citrus perhaps. But once the wine gets in your mouth you immediately sense its combination of both freshness and dryness, with a good dose of lemon and lime, with some grapefruit flavors. It's clean and rather simple, which might be its saving grace at this price point. It's not trying too hard; just enough to be above expectations at this low price point. And that's not a bad thing. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points Costco item number: 162023 |
2011 Seghesio Sonoma Zinfandel
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Reviewed by Redneck Wine Guy
Here’s the setting – the last night of vacation on the South Carolina coast. My family decided for a night-in watching a movie, and I decided to do the farthest from it. Why sit inside on a perfect beautiful night at the beach when you can enjoy the last moments of mindless existence before returning to the real world of endless e-mails and voicemails. I popped the bottle of aforementioned vino, and after doing the sniff, pour, swirl, swish, taste regime I proceeded to pour a big glass and head out for the shore. As you may have guessed, I was engaged in some self-questioning and doubt….should I really have proceeded with this plan, on a hot and muggy night, with a glass of Zinfandel? The other imbibers on the beach were toting beers, frozen cocktails of various incantations, and a few bottles of far-too-chilled whites. I was the lone guy on the beach with not only a red, but a zinfandel with the hue of octopus ink. |
Upon first steps I thought I should have done the same – a cool Cuba Libré with a lime wheel would have been a spectacular choice. But nay, instead, a glass of full-bodied red. Well, I can attest that the evening decision was an amazing experience – solitude in nature with a glass of wine that improved and proved itself as I meandered along the sandy beach, collecting shells, and taking some pictures so I could share with my family what they were missing.
A word of caution – the boutique and tasting notes of this wine are very much closed upon first opening. While no wine should be solely judged upon first corking, this one especially falls into that category. Give it some time – wine, along with life, should be enjoyed slowly and given time to expose all it has to offer.
After some walking, swirling, and sipping what was first a mediocre bottle I began to see why this family has been in the wine business since 1895. Zinfandels usually fall into one of two categories – good/great or really bad. Drinkable vs. non-drinkable. This is a perfectly drinkable wine – the nose and taste of black cherry are well pronounced, a hint of ripe blackberry in the middle, with a spicy yet rounded finish of toned-down peppercorn. I’d also throw in that there is a subtle taste of fresh chewing tobacco, but only a certain segment of the reading population would appreciate that side note! The mouth feel is jammy and coats your tongue, but not enough so to turn away the average wine drinker.
Overall, a good value Zin that you can be proud to serve to your family and friends. Scouring the internet I found pricing between $17 - $26. Personally, I think anything over $20 is a little steep for this one, but give it a while in the cellar and a breathing period once opened and I imagine you’ll get your value for the price. After my evening experience, no matter the price it’s a hell of a better value than a cheap can of beer would have been!
-Redneck Wine Guy rating - 90
Costco item number: 57059
Price at Costco: $18.99
2011 Riondo Monte Forte Lot 6 Pinot Grigio
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I'm drinking this one on a really hot day in Atlanta, and it's probably the best setting for Pinot Grigio, which are typically not on my shopping list. But in the interest of catering to readers who might enjoy Pinot Grigio, I wanted to give it a shot. At $7.99, I can say it's enjoyable on a hot summer day and this bottle offers just what it promises to be.
I just don't typically pick up much flavor in Pinot Grigio, and this one isn't much different. This wine might be a bit more on the creamy and vanilla side of things, which to me tastes a bit odd with the citrus fruit flavor that's peaking through. But it's drinkable, especially cold out of the fridge. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 84 Points |
2009 Bodegas Ramon Bilbao Limited Edition Rioja
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I just came back from a high end Napa tasting at my local wine shop where I had some excellent Mountain and Rutherford Cabs. I opened this to have one more glass and was surprised at how well it stood up since my palate was dialed into more new world wines that cost much more than this one did ($12.99 at Costco).
The nose projects nice dark cherry aromas, a little chocolate and some earth. Palate and mid-palate this wine really holds up well. Rich flavors, more cherry, red fruit, licorice that is smooth and fruity. Finishes subtlety at first with a nice fruit kick that's dry and lasting. This one tastes a few years older than it really is; a nice elegance at a favorable price. A good buy for sure. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points Costco item number: 786005 |
2010 Bodegas Volver Tarima Hill Monastrell
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It's Saturday, which means a lot of you are probably heading to your local Costco, and for $12.69, this is a label you'll want to keep an eye out for.
This is Monastrell from the Alicante region of Spain, and it's some of the best Monastrell I've tried for this price. Nose is spicy, with hints of tobacco and on the palate the wine is luscious with dark fruit, blackberry, plum, a little earth and leather. The finish is why I like Monstrell; it's spicy and complete. The all around balance and execution of this wine is top notch and you'd be hard pressed to find many bottles of this caliber in this price range. For that reason, I'm naming it to the Bronze Rated and Value Pick lists. This is a real winner (and it scored 93 points from Wine Advocate if you're a points person). CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 750941 |
2009 Baileyana Firepeak Chardonnay Edna Valley
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A delicious Chardonnay at a great price at Costco ($17.99) for a bottle of this caliber, especially considering it's all over the Internet for $25+. Citrus fruit hits vanilla and a touch of oak and stone on the finish to deliver a great summer white.
Nose was a little closed but opened up with some good swirling. Tropical fruit, pineapple, apricot and grapefruit flavors with fresh acidity, bright and thirst quenching (I drank it in 89 degree heat while grilling). Finish brings a little earthy stone element rounded by a hint of oak, nothing overbearing. All around a solid buy at this price. I'm surprised to see '09s floating around of a wine like this. See if your Costco carries it and scoop up at least one. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 333780 |
2011 Kirkland Signature Chateauneuf-du-pape
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It's a real treat every year when these Kirkland Chateauneufs hit the shelves. You just can't get into this region for the price that Costco offers ($20) and the wine this year is superb as always.
This is a Rhone blend consisting of 58% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 13% Counoise-Vaccarese, 4% Cinsault and 2% Muscardin-Mourvedre. Don't let a few of the less familiar grapes deter you. This is a solid Rhone red at an unbeatable price. Here's my review of the 2010 (which was a great year), and this year stacks up about the same. An easy Silver Rated wine for the site. Perfect dark fruit and berry flavor, spice that hits your nose as you take each drink, young juicy mouthfeel that would only get better with a little more age, and a finish that's near perfection. This one could run for a while in the bottle and it might be kind of a fun experiment to drink it again in 2-3 years. If it's still around I might try to snag some for the cellar. Great wine. A red wine lover's dream at this price. Must buy. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 92 Points (a point up from last year) Costco item number: 777662 |
2012 Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc
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This is a decent value Sauvignon Blanc for only $7.99. It's a little bland on the finish, but the bright fruit and citrus flavor packs a pretty good punch early on for a super inexpensive summer white like this.
Floral nose, citrusy too; the flavor is fresh and vibrant with apricot, peach, lime and grapefruit flavors. It's a wine that starts better than it finishes (drops off quick), but for something in this price range, it can easily be looked past. As is usually the case with Chilean wines, this one offers a good bang for the buck. A fun summer wine at a great Costco price. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 Points Costco item number: 753880 |
2010 Bodegas Lar De Paula Rioja Tempranillo
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This Rioja is just perfect all around and a joy to drink. The timing couldn't be better as the tannins have really softened and the wine just cushions in the mouth.
Great balance of every component. The nose is fresh, floral and a little spicy. Big cherry and rich red fruit flavors on the palate surrounded by those soft tannins. Drink after drink you want to go in for more. This leads into a stunning finish with hints of oak and spice that lingers for a long time. I misplaced my purchase notes on this wine so I don't have a Costco item number or the price I paid. I believe it was around $15-$20 which makes this an incredible buy. Definitely grab this one if you see it, especially if you like big, juicy and finely executed worldly reds. A Silver Rated wine for me. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 92 Points |
2010 Concha Y Toro Gran Reserva Carmenere Serie Riberas
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Really enjoyed this one and a beautiful execution of Carmenere at a Costco price of only $13.99.
Fresh and vibrant nose, then blueberry and dark fruit combine with chocolate flavors on the palate. Finish retains that fresh fruit, dry, chalky and lasting. Getting a little stone/slate on the finish too as a little time passes. A fun one for a change from the usual varietals. Give it a shot with some hamburgers off the grill this summer. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points Costco item number: 736192 |
2010 Terra Valentine Spring Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
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A nice mountain Cabernet that I found for $33.99 at my Costco. This wine took a while to open up. It was super closed up at first and I was a little worried. But as an hour or so past, it started to show its true colors and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It's blended with a few other varietals so the final make up is 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, & 2% Petite Verdot. Quality Napa nose, dark as could be in the glass, the wine definitely ramps up to a great finish. Flavor is dark fruit, blueberry, black currant, black licorice and black berry. Definitely a little stickiness to the finish which is great. Dusty and dry on the close too, which demands a red meat dish. A good wine at a fair price. I'm a fan of the mountain wines so will gravitate toward them a bit more. If you're looking for more of the juicy Napa Cabs you might want to stick closer in the valley. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 123399 |
2011 Joseph Carr Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
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This is really a lovely expression of Chardonnay especially for only $15.59 at my Costco. The winemakers did an excellent job of managing the oak to let the vibrant fruit flavors come through. It's a perfect summer food wine; definitely my style of Chardonnay.
Tropical and floral on the nose, matches its lighter color, and then on the palate you get nice young fruit with flavors of apple, pear, lemon, maybe even a little watermelon as the acidity takes hold. The finish brings in a touch of the oakiness and rounds out a very enjoyable summer wine. At this price I'll scoop a couple up for drinking later in the summer. A good wine to enjoy with friends, as indicated on the back of the label which simply says "Share." I'm a fan, and will put this one on our Bronze Rated wine list. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 690875 |
2010 Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
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"Had to try this one to see what they can do with Oakville cab at this price...and the result is pretty good. One of the better Kirkland wines I have tasted (Their Chtf. Du pape is good as well). Nose hits you right away with dark cabernet fruit, what I expect from Oakville. Surprisingly maintains some distinct characteristics of leather, black currant, raisin, blackberry, and vanilla oaky finish - much of what you can find in more expense big name wines from Oakville...Some dusty mild tannins suggest this has some potential for smoothing out a little bit with time. Relatively thick coat finish feels good, but a little bitterness and heat. Falls a tad short overall in terms of complexity (somewhat one-dimensional), but it is a big dark fruit driven wine that could fool many in a blind tasting. Better than expected, and overall I would recommend this one - especially for under $20. *Give it some time to breath....big improvements" -- TJ Cohen *KirklandWine*
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2011 Kirkland Signature Cotes du Rhone Villages
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I just realized this Rhone bottle from Kirkland was a Villages, which is even better. At $6.99 this is the steal of all steals for readers who enjoy their Rhone reds.
It's signature Rhone all around, with the depth and richness I would expect from a bottle that cost at least twice as much. As regular readers know, I love these wines, and truly believe they offer some of the best bang for the buck in the entire world of wine. Here's a perfect entry point for any doubters. This wine is comprised of the classic Rhone varietals, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, and they come together beautifully. Nose is spicy, earthy, and then just massive fruit on the palate. Jammy dark fruit, blackberry, blueberry, a touch of chocolate, maybe some red licorice; which leads into the clean, slightly spicy finish. Here's your everyday red wine. Stock up. It's a bargain at this price. And a good BBQ wine for the summer. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points Costco item number: 887774 |
2010 Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Red Blend
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A solid red blend from a consistent producer. This is a nice big rich wine that's fruity, meaty and accessible. Great food wine and a good buy all around for $13.99 at Costco.
The blend consists of 60% Merlot, 28% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Grenache, 2% Malbec, 0.5% Cinsault, 0.5% Mourvedre. I'm a fan of the Indian Wells Merlot, so having the Merlot dominate is fine with me. I actually completed a recent Napa trip where I saw more and more Merlot based red blends from many of the big and small guys. The Merlot really helps give it the richness for the other grapes to round out around. Nose smells young, fresh, floral. Big red fruit flavor, cherry, strawberry, raspberry; forest floor aromas and turns a little spicy toward the finish. Finish is dry and lasting. This wine tasted almost exactly like I thought (and hoped) it would. A good buy at this price. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 708779 |
2010 Chateau Boutisse Saint-Emilion Bordeaux
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I really enjoyed this one. The minute you smell this wine you can tell it's a winner. At $23.99 it's a good buy for right bank Bordeaux (Merlot based blend) fans, of which I seem to be becoming more and more of myself. And 2010 was a blockbuster year in Bordeaux.
Again, the nose is what gets me. It immediately reminds you of a high end Cab or Merlot, even one from CA. Floral, graphite, finesse and on the palate you get some excellent dark fruit, black cherry, black licorice and pepper; tannins are still a tad tight leaning me to think this one would get better in the years to come. Strong, lingering finish. I had intended to grill a steak with this wine but didn't get properly prepped and I missed out. Fun food wine, nice execution all around and a good price from Costco on a big Bordeaux year. Highly recommend. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points Costco item number: 695716 |
2011 Geyser Peak Uncensored Red Blend
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This is a hodge podge of different varietals, most of which I believe come from the Geyser Peak Sonoma estate, but I'm not certain. It definitely has Merlot, Cab and Syrah in the mix. It almost has so much going on that everyone will find the taste appealing. And it's not a bad buy at $11.99 at Costco.
Kind of mushroomy on the nose, fruit forward on the palate. Flavors of cherry, dark fruit, black licorice and a little vegetal on the finish. A bit of spice thrown in the mix as well toward the close. This is the perfect wine for novice wine drinkers who visit your house. They will love it. Now as I get a little snobby, I will try to admit that if I went to someone's house and they served this, I would enjoy it too. It's that kind of wine. Easy to please, almost everyone. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points Costco item number: 753741 |
Jettlynn Gout de Miel White Blend
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Here's an interesting white blend you don't see everyday: 65% Grenache Blanc, 15% Muscat, 10% Chardonnay and 10% Riesling. Hailing from Paso Robles, blends like these from the region seem to work more often than not. In this case, I think Costco's $16.99 price tag is a good bargain on what is a thoroughly fun and different style of white wine, just in time for the warming weather.
Kind of that fresh, new earth, floral nose, with citrus flavors on the palate. I'm a huge fan of Grenache Blanc, and was happy to see it as the dominating varietal. The other grapes help build some complexity and add a little more body and depth to the wine. The Muscat definitely comes through, and the finish has a small touch of that Riesling sweetness. Put together, the wine is well executed. Jettlynn sells this wine on their website for $50, so Costco's $16.99 price is a fraction of their full retail. I'd recommend this one for white wine fans looking for something a little different to break up the monotony of Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays this summer. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points Costco item number: 690864 |
2010 Small Gully Mr Blacks Little Book Shiraz
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This bottle is a reader favorite and it seems to swing in and out of my Costco without any regular schedule. But if you see it buy it. This is a heck of a good bargain for only $11.79. Seldomly do you see Barossa wines this inexpensive.
And what a perfect time to drink this one. It's just right, with a little time in the bottle to mellow out. The heavy pepper you get in many Australian wines can sometimes turn me off, but this wine is soft, with hints of pepper on the close, and overall is packed with vibrant red fruit flavor. I enjoyed it through and through, particularly after a bit of air, as the wine opened up. This doesn't at all taste like a $12 bottle. I'd highly recommend scooping some up if you see them. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 650452 |
2011 Badia a Coltibuono Cetamura Chianti
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Nothing special with this one, but it's only $8.99 so I can't ding it too hard. I just didn't find a lot of flavor here. It's really a light bodied red, lighter than I expected, and turns into a very basic, singular Chianti. For every day spaghetti night, bring it on. For much else, look elsewhere.
Searching for flavor as it hits the palate. You get a bit of cherry. After some air (because this wine is so young), you start to get a bit more red fruit, and the wine softens up a tad. It's 90% Sangiovese with the rest Canaiolo. A little earth and a pretty dry finish. Nothing too memorable for me, and a bottle I would probably pass on. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 85 Points Costco item number: 742244 |
2011 Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Dry Riesling
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It's been a little while since we've reviewed a Costco Riesling, and this is a good one to jump back in with. It is a very nice wine for $12.99. I prefer drier Rieslings like this that are not too sweet but packed with fruit flavor.
This bottle hails from Australia's Eden Valley, and I should note that it was also #56 on Wine Spectator's list of their top 100 wines of 2012. The wine is full of tropical fruit flavor, lots of pineapple and a burst of lemon-lime on the finish. Although the weather has been pretty cold across much of the country, this is a perfect summer sipper. It's also the kind I like to pair with spicy food. This is a great white and it's dry approach makes it much more accessible than many sweeter Rieslings. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points Costco item number: 199648 |
2009 Palacios Remondo La Montesa Rioja
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This is a lovely one for only $13.49. It's big on flavor and lasting on the finish, making it a perfect food wine, or just an enjoyable experience on its own. A solid buy at this price.
It's an '09 so it benefits from a little time, which really makes right now a good time to drink it. I think it's perfect timing but that won't change in the next few years to come. Nothing special about the nose, and it leads on to the quality to come. In the mouth, this one is packed with red fruit, strawberry, hints of leather and then almost black licorice, which seems a little odd around the other red fruit. But really really nice. Perfect, through to the finish. Even better with some air time. Red wine fans looking for a great wine at a great price don't need to look further. This is going on the Value Picks list, and I plan on grabbing a few more if I see them. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points *Value Pick* Costco item number: 369408 |
2010 La Fleur de Haut-Bages Liberal Pauillac Bordeaux
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The lowest end wine from a world class estate, I played with this one a while before determining that it was ok for its $26.99 price tag at Costco. This wine is a huge tease toward their higher end wines. You can taste something great in the wine, but it's a little held back. Still a decent buy though.
Nose smells like a top notch Bordeaux, a little spice, cedar and earth. On the palate the wine is perfect; young and juicy. Tannins are softer than I expected for something so young. The flavor could have been a bit stronger and the finish as well. It's smooth and clean, but doesn't leave enough lingering to have the type of impact you typcially get from Pauillacs. Still a fair price tag on a good wine. You don't find many Pauillac Bordeaux for this low of price, so here's an easy way in. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points Costco item number: 564623 |
2011 Bula Montsant
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An enjoyable big red blend from Spain's Montsant region that is a fairly good bargain for only $11.59. This is still pretty young but drinks nice right now, fresh and clean.
The Bula is a blend of three varietals - 40% Mazuelo, 40% Grenache and 20% Syrah - so it's my kind of blend and the wine comes together quite nicely. Floral nose, not as earthy as I was expecting. Very fresh again. Flavors of red fruit, spicy cherry, red licorice with a little mineral. Quick burst of spice on the finish. A very good buy for under $12, food friendly and a good crowd pleaser if you have a group. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points Costco item number: 734143 |
2009 Flora Springs Trilogy
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Great price on this one at Costco. I found it at a Reno, NV Costco for $39.99. Online it looks like $50+. And it's a very nice wine for the money.
Comprised of Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec the wine is very elegant and soft while possessing layers of flavor and spice. Nose is a little Malbecy, some spice and earth; in the mouth the wine is just luscious; soft tannins, gentle. Flavors of dark fruit, blueberry, a little cherry; coats the mouth nicely into a dry lasting finish. Amazing balance of all these elements. This is a very nice wine. I'm going to go Silver on this one. For $40 it is just what you want. Glad I picked this one up and know about it now. A good one to impress your boss if they like wine. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 94 Points |
2011 Kirkland Signature Sonoma Chardonnay
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A pretty middle of the road wine, but not a bad value at only $6.99, especially if you're looking for an everyday white to accompany dinner. It's been a while since we've reviewed one of these Kirkland Chardonnay (last vintage was 2008) and I was hoping for maybe a bit more. But then again...$6.99...
This is more of a fruity Chardonnay, which I typically prefer, but it seemed a little caught in the middle of what it wanted to be. The nose kicks off tropical fruit and glides you in with some pear, grapefruit and lemon, but towards the finish the fruit collides with a bit of vanilla, butter and oak and it didn't pull through for me. With the right meal, I can drink this no problem. On its own, its flaws become more noticeable. I'd pay a dollar or two more for a different bottle. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 85 Points Costco item number: 514007 |
2011 Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc
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An excellent New Zealand offering for only $11.99. If you typically like New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, this is a must buy.
It's bright and vibrant, starts with pleasant floral scents on the nose which leads to big tropical fruit - grapefruit, pineapple, lemon. Nice acidity. This one hit me right from almost every angle. A very solid buy. Pair it up with some summer fare that can hang, and you're in for a real treat. I'm going to put this one on our Value Picks list. It's hard to beat for a summer white at this price point. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 222230 |
2010 Tranco Monastrell Cabernet Sauvignon
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A fair price for only $8.49 but as far as these low priced Spanish reds go, I think this one is pretty middle of the road. In fact, I found the 2010 Hecula Monastrell from a week or so ago, to be a more enjoyable wine and it's even less expensive.
The story with the Tranco is this. A good wine. Ripe, fresh. A bit quiet from the get go, but on the palate, begins to show it's true colors. The Monastrell brings a little spice, some nice dark fruit and it's balanced nicely with the Cab's boldness. Finish is on the weak side. The wine comes on and disappears pretty quickly. For the price, it's a decent buy. If you want to experiment with these reds a bit, give this one a shot. It's from Yecla which is almost always a good sign but I'd keep my eye out for other wines from this region. They might cost a few dollars more but I think the jump in quality would be worth it. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 85 Points Costco item number: 721763 |
2009 Chateau La Croix de Roche Bordeaux Superieur
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You could do a lot worst for $9. I thought this one was just fine for what it is, a low priced Bordeaux Superieur, with a few years in the bottle. It's a decent everyday drinker with a meal. Nothing more.
Ripe fruit on the nose; flavors are pretty mellow, a bit of cherry, red fruit; finished up with a little leather, perfume, dry and quick. This is a decent wine if you want to mindlessly sip and eat a hamburger off the grill. If you start to think about it too much, you might not like it. But still we're only talking $9. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 85 Points Costco item number: 722031 |
2010 Bodegas Castano Hecula Monastrell
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I bought this one among 5 or so other bottles and just figured at $6.89 why not? I've had some nice Monastrells before and figured this would be fine. But it turned out to be quite the bargain for under $7, a price point where you rarely find good drinkable reds. The more and more I dug into this one, I was really looking forward to every new drink. This is a solid buy.
Monastrell is a Spanish red grape that has a fair amount of fruit and (particularly in this incarnation) has a dry tannic firmness to it. Some people may not love that, but I did. It's food friendly without being overbearing. Young, ripe with a dusty red fruit flavor that's peaks rather quickly. Fast on the finish too, but what can you really expect in this price range. This is a Value Pick all the way, and a good one to check out. Not for everybody but at $7 it's hard for me not to like it. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points Costco item number: 600967 |
2011 Kirkland Signature Rutherford Meritage
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Great offering here; probably one of the better Kirkland values I've come across in a while. I scooped this up for $13.99 but swear I've seen it in stores for closer to $20.
I'm a big Rutherford fan so am naturally attracted to this one, but it's a very nice blend from one of Napa's premier areas at a bargain price. Still a bit young and closed on the nose, but after a little time it opened up nicely. Vibrant blackberry and dark fruit flavors, maybe a little black licorice, brown sugar and tobacco mid-palate. Finish is superb and lasting. The blend is 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc (I actually guessed a bit more Cab Franc, tastes like it to me). Really blended perfectly. They did a nice job on this one for only $14.00. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points *KirklandWine* Costco item number: 999309 |
2009 Novelty Hill Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
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A very enjoyable expression of Cabernet from Washington's Columbia Valley, and really a great wine for Costco's $19.99 price tag.
This is a big red, full bodied and just causes you think "wow" instantly. Predominantly dark fruit, some cherry flavor with a little leather, tobacco and herb. The finish adds spicy notes, and it's elegant mouthfeel just makes it a joy to drink, even without food which it would complement to no end. Got even better with some air. A nice all around Cab from the Northwest (and I love my Northwest wines). CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 241279 |
2009 Chateau Clement Saint-Jean Medoc Bordeaux
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Another good Bordeaux option from Costco at $11.79. A Cru Bourgeois priced this low is a rarity. The wine is very nice after a little air. I could tell after the pour that there was something nice hiding in the bottle. But it took a good 20-30 minutes with occasional swirling to bring this one to life.
Nose was interesting, almost had a little cinnamon to it; in the mouth the wine felt a little dry and tight at first. After some time with it, the flavors mid-palate really began to open up. This wine accelerates and decelerates rather quickly. But it's a fun ride. Mostly Cabernet in the blend, the flavors are really nice. Juicy red fruit, leather undertones, lots of spice and a little of that cinnamon on the close. This was a fun wine to review, and a solid pick for under $12. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points Costco item number: 718340 |
2008 Villa Antinori Toscana
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This is an amazing wine especially for $16.99 at my Costco. I would drink this one all day long. It easily tastes like a $30-$40 bottle with its elegance and notable Italian character.
Comprised of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, the wine has a little of that old world, earthy Italian aroma on the nose, then opens up with inviting flavors of cherry, red fruit, spice and tobacco. Finishes up dry and lingering. This is my third or fourth experience with this wine, and I'm always amazed at what they pack in here for the price. A Bronze Rated and Value Pick. Scoop these up. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points Costco item number: 799299 |
2010 The Sum California Red Blend
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A unique red blend of California-sourced grapes made by Tuck Beckstoffer who continues to impress with these reasonably priced big reds that he distributes to Costco. This one was $19.79 and follows a chain of winners including the Amulet and the Melee Red.
This wine is comprised of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petite Syrah and 10% Syrah, so it's fruit forward on the nose and on the initial taste, then mid-palate becomes a little more spicy and dry. Flavors of blueberry and dark fruits combine nicely; feels great in the mouth. I can't remember the last time I had this blend, but it works in this package. Give it a shot, as well as his Amulet and Melee (both of which I think are still at my Costcos in the $25 range). CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points Costco item number: 505449 |
2010 Kirkland Signature Sonoma Old Vine Zinfandel
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This might be my favorite among the Kirkland Zinfandels and at $9.99 it's a real bargain. The other Kirkland Zins are typically from Amador County which is a great area (you can find the Amador reviews in this list). But this one really suprised me, and it could be because of it's intense spice and great dark fruit flavor.
Super floral on the nose, just smells like you're sticking your face in a flower arrangement. The spicy notes hit you immediately on the nose and as the wine hits your palate. Lots of dark fruit flavor, blackberry, blueberry and then a little leather on the finish with more spice. The wine has a nice ripe texture, being still pretty young, but it's drinking really nice right now. I'm going to go a point higher than the Amador bottles I've reviewed in the past. This one really hit me right. Side note: one of my kids gave me two yellow gummi bears in the middle of this tasting, and it made the wine even more interesting (in case you want to try). CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points Costco item number: 908097 |
2011 King Estate Pinot Gris
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It's been a while since I reviewed one of these King Estate Pinot Gris even though they are always in stock it seems. The last one was the 2007 vintage. I think these are excellent whites at a very good price ($13.89 at my Costco).
The 2011 is another winner. The wine is very light, almost see through but it really packs in a lot of flavor. Nose has fresh citrus and honeysuckle aromas, and then strong apricot, citrus, lemon, maybe a little grapefruit flavors. The finish is perfect. Nice one all around, and a summertime favorite at our household. Oregon Pinot Gris is almost always a solid pick. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 232249 |
2010 Chateau Clauzet Saint Estephe Bordeaux
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Really a delicious Bordeaux from a great vintage and at a great price. You don't often see Saint Estephe bottles dip in that low $20 range (this one was $23.49 at Costco), so I was a little skeptical. But right after the cork came out, I coud tell this was a winner.
It's just what you want from a low priced Saint Estephe: ripe fruit on the nose, a little subdued at first, but then it opens up into a mouth-coating wine, good balance with full red fruit, strawberry, and spicy cherry flavors. A little leather on the close brings the flavors together and the finish goes on and on. A great buy for Bordeaux fans, especially at this price. I really enjoyed it. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points Costco item number: 664666 |