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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 |
A Couple Thanksgiving Wine Picks from Costco
I'm a believer that many different types of wine can complement the Thanksgiving holiday. The variety of food with such varying characteristics means there's not really any single home run wine that matches all the flavors. I like to serve one white and one red bottle with the meal (at the same time, one glass of each per person), usually preceeded by a bubbly, Champagne or Presecco, while the meal is prepared.
With listing Costco wines, it's always a moving target since the inventory moves so quickly. But I found two wines we reviewed recently that I really enjoyed and that I think would be a good complement to the Thanksgiving celebration. These were purchased at a Costco store in Atlanta, GA so I can't say if you'll be able to find them near you. But keep an eye out.
- Andrew, Editor
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I really enjoyed the Baileyana Chardonnay so was thrilled to see the Pinot hits store shelves. This is an $18 Pinot that drinks like it cost two to three times that. It's an easy crowd pleaser, with great mouthfeel and has enough vanilla, pepper and spice going on to jazz up almost any meal. My review here. |
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I'm a fan of most Carneros wines and this Chardonnay hit me right on all accords. Rich, layered with touches of butter, cream and oak, but not too much. In my experience Neyers has never produced a bad wine. They are dependable, and for $25, this is a solid Chardonnay. My full review here. |
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 |
2009 Baileyana Firepeak Vineyard Pinot Noir
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This is an awesome, highly approachable, drink anytime, Pinot Noir. I love Pinots because you can pair them with just about anything, and in the summertime, when the whites start blending together, a Pinot is always the solution.
This bottle is $17.99 at Costco, and it is a fantastic Pinot in my opinion. It's as smooth as smooth gets. I usually hate using the word "smooth" to describe wine but in this case, it tastes near perfect. This wine is fresh, opening up with red berry flavors with some vanilla, a little pepper, subtle tannins and a lasting finish. I enjoyed this bottle with a spicy veggie stir fry and it was absolutely perfect. I'm a big fan and plan on adding a couple to the cellar. I'm also putting this on our Silver Rated wine list, which typically doesn't see many wines under $20. And if you didn't read my review of the Firepeak Chardonnay, it is also a big time winner. This is a winery to remember. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 92 Points Costco item number: 345740 |
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.
2011 Neyers Chardonnay Carneros
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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 |
French Wine Book Volume 2 Now Available
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I've been working diligently on the latest version of my French Wine Book, "Decoding French Wine: A Beginner's Guide to Enjoying the Fruits of the French Terroir," and I'm happy to say that this new second edition is live today on Amazon.com.
The Kindle version is only $3.99 and it includes information on major French wine regions including Bordeaux, Loire, Burgundy, Alsace, Rhone, Languedoc-Roussillon and Champagne. This book is short and conscise, written to help the beginner wine drinker become more familiar with French wines that may seem overly complicated and complex. |
I wanted to really make this simple to digest, and to help turn more people on to these amazing wines. If you've followed this site for a while, you know I have a tendency to review many of the French wines, particularly the 2010 Bordeaux because they are an amazing vintage. But I also look at many other French wines and regions, because the value is typically so great, especially at Costco. So here's a chance to boost your knowledge and ultimately, your enjoyment, of these awesome wines.
Download a free sample chapter here.
Thanks for supporting this site.
Andrew, Editor
2011 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir
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By Redneck Wine Guy I’ll let you in on a little secret – wine is not my career. Rather, I’m a sales guy who travels the globe selling my wares hoping that the next commission check will be enough to buy a case-or-two of the good stuff to collect, store, and share with family and friends.
Today was an incredibly long day. I am in Florida, and in one day traveled over 350 miles. Upon arriving back to my hotel, the last thing I felt like doing was getting myself put together to end up sitting alone at a restaurant bar to eat most likely subpar food while drinking well-level booze and mindlessly surfing on my iPhone. The brilliant idea of grabbing some snack foods and a bottle of wine to sit comfortably in my room was much more appealing. Tonight I was looking for easy drinking – not cheap, just easy. I was drawn to the Oyster Bay Pinot Noir for several reasons – it was reasonably priced at $12, it had a screw top so I did not have to buy a wine opener/borrow a wine opener from the hotel, and there are some “hella good” (that is a Southern colloquial phrase shorting the expression “Hell of a Good”) wines coming out of New Zealand. It was worth a shot. |
In color, this wine is light….like, a tad bit darker than a Rosé. The legs are quick – if it was a woman, she would run a lot faster than a courting man could chase her. The nose is very floral, and hints of ripe berries, vanilla, and a tad bit of spice. This wine drinks young, and only opens slightly over time. Upon first taste, this wine needs a bit of time to hang out. This wine is 13.5% alcohol and rather unfortunately I think the taste of alcohol is too pronounced and slightly acidic. The resounding profile I kept going back to time-and-time again was strawberry. Abita Brewing Company out of Abita Springs, Louisiana makes a phenomenal seasonal lager called “Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager.” There are a lot of parallels in my opinion to this wine and that beer. The finish is moderate – you will not forget it after first sip, but it will not linger long into the night. Absolutely a good buy at the price point.
Redneck Wine Guy Rating: 88 Points
Winery: Oyster Bay Vineyards
Varietal(s): 100% Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2011
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
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 Mirassou Pinot Noir
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Young, bright and fruity and for $6.99 it's not all that bad. Very one dimensional though from beginning to end. A very simple drink, that early stage Pinot fans may enjoy a bit more than others. There's really nothing to not like. It's just so basic.
The wine gives you little bursts of red fruit, almost reminding me of a cherry Laffy Taffy; tastes sweet and sugary on the finish, with maybe a little tobacco and smoke. You'll be hard pressed to find many CA Pinots that even exist in this price range, so I have to give them props for that. If you're looking for a decent mid-week drinker, here you go. If you're looking for much more, you will want to keep looking. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 85 Points Costco item number: 955147 |
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 |