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This is a lovely wine, and I hate to say I was surprised (since it's from Montsant), but it certainly met my already somewhat high expectations. I just haven't had many wines from Montsant that I didn't think were great for the price. It's a killer region, and this wine is a fantastic bargain for only $12.99 at Costco.
The wine really does leap out of the bottle. Big aromas, red fruit, juicy, lots of ripe red cherry, red licorice, then a little cedar and spice on the finish. (15 minutes later) Now the wine has had a little air, and it's getting even better. The red fruit flavor keeps magnifying. This is a fun one. Grapes are Grenache, Carignane, and Syrah, which frequent readers of this site will know are some of my favorite grapes especially in European blends such as this. So maybe I'm a little biased. Try it for yourself, and let us know. I'm going with a low 90's rating and placing this one on our Bronze Rated wine list. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points Costco item number: 600976 |
2011 Bibi Graetz Casamatta Toscana
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This bottle is a terrific value for only $9.99 at Costco. It's a perfect everyday Italian red, ideal for complementing meals, but can stand just fine on its own.
Comprised of what I'm guessing is mostly Sangiovese, the wine is young and juicy; it just jumps out of the glass. Nice dark fruit flavor covers the palatte and is rounded out by a spicy and dry finish. This is one that's great to enjoy young. An easy addition to the Value Picks, it doesn't get much better under $10. Drop one of these in the cart if you see it. I'm a fan. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points Costco item number: 702148 |
2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Horse Heaven Hills Sauvignon Blanc
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A Costco staple, the Horse Heaven Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc from Chateau Ste. Michelle is always a solid white for under $15, and the 2011 is another good offering especially considering its $11.99 price tag.
The nose has light floral scents, a little earth and a hint of its citrus flavor. On the palatte, the grapefruit, pear and apple flavors come together nicely; medium in body, a little dry on the finish, but the acidity helps stick it out. This would be a great summer bottle so I might buy a few more to save for when I want a crisp, clean white for sunny days. I reviewed the 2008 vintage of this wine, and gave it 89 Points, which is perhaps a little on the high side for the 2011, which I'll bring in just a point below that at 88. Recommended. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points Costco item number: 229303 |
2006 JC Cellars Stagecoach Vineyard Syrah
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A delicious Napa Syrah, drinking really well right now. And it kept getting better with more air, opening up into a luscious, fruit packed and spicy wine that has a nice velvety feel in the mouth.
Flavors are dark fruit, blueberry, blackberry, balanced with earthy undertones and a touch of leather and black licorice. I originally had this marked as a Bronze Rated wine, but I am going to up it to Silver. The price at Costco was only $19.79, and for a wine of this caliber, this is a good deal. I'm going to see if I can get another one or two to hold on to for a while. This is one that Syrah lovers of all types will enjoy. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 92 Points Costco item number: 704997 |
2009 Kirkland Signature Medoc Bordeaux
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A simple, palatable but not incredibly interesting Kirkland Bordeaux. Since it is only $8.99 at Costco, there's not too much to complain about. I found it to be more enjoyable than many other $8.99 bottles, but also a little one dimension.
The wine offers some good earthy and spice scents on the nose; then opens into nice dark cherry flavors, a little black licorice, some tobacco and pepper. Finish is simple, a little dry but not overly dry. This is a good wine priced just right. You certainly won't feel as though you overpaid (and may not feel you underpaid either). CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 Points Costco item number: 666695 |
2011 Cuvee A'Dair Sancerre
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Just a lovely wine all the way around, and a must buy for Sauvignon Blanc fans, especially for $14.79 at Costco. Sancerre is in France's acclaimed Loire Valley and almost every wine I've tasted from here has been excellent.
Big citrusy nose, almost like you'd expect from a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc but in the mouth it takes on a life of its own. Flavors of lemon, lime, grapefruit, maybe some apricot, all very palatable. A good dose of acidity as you expect from these wines. Lovely on the finish. Super food friendly, probably moreso than the New Zealands. I really enjoyed this one. Nothing I would change, and it'll join our Silver Rated wine list. Don't let the label and lack of description turn you away (shameless plug: if you'd like to learn more about the wines of France, check out my pocketbook primer on the subject: Decoding French Wine). CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points Costco item number: 685573 |
2009 Chateau Saint-Didier-Parnac Prieure De Cenac Cahors Malbec
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If you like Malbecs from Mendoza, you really need to explore those from the other side of the world too, notably Cahors France. This is a beautiful Malbec that is awesome on its own and could pair with almost anything. For $14.99 at Costco it is also a very fair priced wine.
Fruity nose, a little floral and it gets peppery if you inhale enough. Great medium body feels perfect in the mouth. Has perfumy scents before it opens up into spicy cherry and red fruit flavors. Highly acidic and tight, this one attacks the lower jaw muscles as it leads into the spicy finish. A really nice wine at this price. Very different from its cousins in Mendoza. This is how the French do Malbec and I really enjoyed it. Spring this one on your wine snob friend; then tell him what it is and how much it cost. Adding to our Bronze Rated List. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points Costco item number: 685676 |
2008 Embuix de Vall Llach Priorat
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A balanced red blend from Spain's famed Priorat region which is just a huge bargain for only $18.99 at Costco. This was a fun wine given its varietal makeup: 30% Garnacha, 25% Carinyena, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah and 10% Merlot. Anytime you find a Priorat wine for under $20, it's typically a safe bet.
The wine is super dark on the pour with a nose of spice, earth and pepper; softer on the palate than I was expecting (great mouthfeel) and as the wine got some air it really started to open up. Dark fruit flavors, leather notes, dusty and a little chalky toward the finish but the flavor holds through. Definitely a little different but the blend is masterful. This is a great Costco buy. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 181390 |
2011 Francis Coppola Sofia Rose Monterey County
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I thought this was a lovely Rose for $12.79. There's not much to not like. It's a clean drinking wine, perfect for any occassion; just an easy sipper that's nice to have on hand, especially with the holidays around the corner. You can feed this one to novice and expert wine drinkers alike.
The wine has a little sweetness and acidity to it that reminded me of pink lemonade. We enjoyed this one before a big meal and saved half for afterwards. Perfect. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points Costco item number: 194685 |
2010 Kirkland Signature Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
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A decent Napa Cab for the $12.99 price point at Costco. Since I've always gone kind of middle of the road on these Kirkland Napa Cabs, I had a few other people try it, and they all agreed it was a nice wine for the money, but nothing special.
I gave the 2009 vintage of this wine 86 points and will do the same this year. What you have is a nice Cab (although I'd guess there's a touch of something else in here, likely Merlot), that starts fresh and ripe on the nose, it's medium to full in body with tight tannins, a little cocoa on top of the dark fruit flavors, and some spice on the rather quick finish. Not a bad wine by any stretch, and ok at this price point. See what you think and let me know on our Facebook page. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 Points Costco item number: 929290 |
2008 Chateau La Nerthe Cheateauneuf-du-pape
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This is a nice Chateauneuf at a pretty good price ($39.89 at my Costco). It's not a knock-your-socks off wine like I recently found in the (much more expensive) Beaucastel, which if price is no object you should definitely buy. But if you're looking for a Chateauneuf on the lower end (and $40 is the lower end), the Chateau La Nerthe is a good pick.
This wine is purply dark ink color in the glass, nose is lively with earthy, spicy nutmeg scents. On the palate the wine feels great, it's light and fluffy with softer tannins. Flavors of red fruit, a bit of strawberry into a spicy ending. Good food wine. All around solid wine. Not a bad buy at $40, but you could probably find other Rhone wines in the $20-$25 that would taste similar. But I'm still giving it 90 Points. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 482702 |
2011 Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
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This is a regular addition to Costco's wine roster each year, and this time it showed up right as the wonderful sub-$10 Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc ran out at my Costco. At $8.99, here's another Marlborough favorite that's a great replacement for the Nobilo.
I reviewed the 2010 vintage of this wine and found the 2011 to carry many of the same qualities. It's characteristic Marlborough with a nose that just leaps out of the glass. Citrus like Starburst with grapefruit, apricot and a lemony acidic finish. Slightly sweeter on the finish than the Nobilo and as I remember prior vintages being. But it rounds out an awesome wine at a great price at Costco. Pick up enough to save a few for the summer when these really shine. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points (same as 2010 and the Nobilo) Costco item number: 335929 |
2008 Leone d'Oro Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Figli d'Italia
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This wine is huge on the dark fruit, just begging to be enjoyed with a hearty Italian or red meat dish. It took me a while to figure this wine out (which is a good sign); its nuances hit you a little different on each drink (mostly Sangiovese grapes with a little Canaiolo). For $17.79 at my Costco, I think this is a real bargain for the quality.
Surrounding the dark fruit are hints of leather and tobacco that hold on throughout the finish. This wine really coats your mouth which is again why I think it would be awesome with the right dish, maybe something a little spicy; I'm thinking sausage and peppers. It's a big one, full in body and it hangs strong all the way through. I'm down to my last glass now and wish I had more. This is a nice one and it will make a good addition to our Bronze Rated wine list. Low 90's. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 695794 |
2009 Foris Pinot Noir
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It's always fun to find a $11.59 Oregon Pinot Noir at Costco. And this one was even more interesting given that it's from the Rogue Valley. This wine would have been nice for the Thanksgiving Picks we posted earlier this week.
This is a dark Pinot, in the glass and on the palate; it felt a little heavier on the palate than other Pinots. Flavors of black fruit, plum, and blackberry come through first, then it's more spicy cherry toward the finish. Finish is nice and got better and longer with a little air. Overall a nice package for under $12. Definitely recommend for almost any meal. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points Costco item number: 526760 |
2010 Chateau Liversan Haut-Medoc Bordeaux
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You don't find a lot of Cru Bourgeois in this price range ($13.89) so I was looking forward to seeing what this wine was all about. Plus the mix of 50% Merlot, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon with only 1% Petit Verdot was interesting. But this one came together very nicely. A solid Bordeaux for the money, and at $14, a great overall offering among sub $15 bottles.
Nose is fresh and lively, especially it being only a 2010, more of a medium body, but full on flavor. Loads of red fruit, strawberry, cherry and red licorice. Finishes up dry and spicy. This is an excellent Bordeaux buy at Costco. It seems like we've seen quite a few of these lately, so let's hope it's a trend that continues. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points Costco item number: 235122 |
2011 Kirkland Signature Russian River Pinot Noir
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The Kirkland Signature Russian River Pinot Noir is a staple at Costco during the fall months. I've reviewed quite a few of the past vintages of this wine and have found them to be nice for the money ($12.99).
I think the 2011 vintage is one of the better ones of the last few years. It's really young, ripe and fresh which sometimes can mask anything interesting about the wine, but the winemakers have really balanced in some nice spicy notes, and created a nice, light Pinot Noir that I could drink all day long. It's a good bargain at this price point, and one that I would certainly pick up again. Plus, you can drink this with almost any meal. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points Costco item number: 555512 |
2010 Kirkland Signature Bordeaux Superieur
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A stunning value for only $6.99, this is a ripe and juicy, Merlot dominated Bordeaux that's a must buy if you see it on your next trip to Costco.
The grapes are sourced from Chateau Le Gardera and are 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in French oak for 12 months. The wine is fresh on the nose, showing a little hint of spice, medium in body with cherry and plum flavors. Tight tannins lead into a dry finish. I would never guess this wine could be scored for $7. It's nice all the way through and probably one of the best value Kirkland wines in recent memory. A good addition to our Value Picks list. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points *ValuePick* Costco item number: 595394 |
2010 The Chook McLaren Vale Shiraz Viognier
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Lovely Shiraz from Australia and the awesome McLaren Vale region. I'm a big fan of these red blends that include a dash of white grapes, which I covered extensively in my latest wine book. This bottle is an excellent example of the quality you can get under $15 ($14.59 at my Costco).
This wine is 95% Shiraz and 5% Viognier. The result is a smooth drinking, nicely layered wine with more complexity that you get from a typical Shiraz. It has that signature spiciness but adds more floral aromas, and a remarkable finish. Each drink keeps you guessing a bit and the wine performs best with a little air. Nice medium body with rich red fruit flavor and a lingering spicy accent to the finish. I love these wines with all types of food too. This one is a winner and a good addition to our Bronze Rated wine list. Nice pick Costco. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points Costco item number: 550239 |
NV Biltmore Century Red Wine
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The Century Red Wine from Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC is an easy drinking, everyday table red. I don't know a lot about the grapes and where they were sourced exactly but the wine includes some Sangiovese and Merlot (maybe something else?).
It's a simple drinking wine that's fruity on the palate with a quick dry finish. But the flavor is much better than other sub $10 table wines like this. It's easy going, not a lot of complexity but would be a nice complement with almost any meal which is what I think it was aimed at. Price at Costco was $8.99. And I bought their white wine too that I will likely drink this week. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 84 Points |
2010 Buehler Russian River Chardonnay
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Very pleasant Chardonnay, kind of a combination of new school (citrus fruit) and old school (butter, oak) and the flavor really worked for me. Price at Costco was $11.99 which I think is very good for this wine.
More of the citrus comes off on the nose, smells like a Sauvignon Blanc a bit; in the mouth though you get that creamy texture you expect from a good Chardonnay with apple, lemon and pear flavors. Finish starts to bring in a bit of the oak element, in a nice dose though that's not overbearing. A solid Chardonnay for the money. Give this one a look. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 Points |
2009 Creta Roble Ribera Del Duero
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This has 'ridiculous value' written all over it. Anytime I see a Ribera Del Duero bottle under $15 I have to scoop it up. This one was $11.49 at my Costco and I swear I've had this before and paid more than that for it (and still thought it was a good value).
This bottle is 100% Tempranillo from a 70 year old vineyard. It has a fantastic feel to it immediately noticeable on the nose, but on the palate, the tannins are gentle and soft. Flavor band starts with more dark fruit but ends on cherry, red licorice notes. Finish is perhaps a little brisk. But this wine remains stellar at this price, and is super food friendly. I'll add it to our Value Picks, and highly recommend you give this one a try if you see it. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points |
2010 Apothic Red Blend
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A hodgepodge of different grapes come together to create this rather nice and super inexpensive red blend from California. This wine was recommended by a reader who mentioned it was his go-to everyday red. And at $8.49 at Costco, I can see why he would say that.
Comprised of Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (not sure on the blend percentages), the wine starts with a thick pour in the glass, and opens up into big red fruit flavor, with chocolate and vanilla, and then gets almost sweet on the finish from the ripe fruit. Nice one for the money. I can't think of another California red quite like this one. A good party wine too. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points |
2007 Vina Eguia Rioja Reserva
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This is a real stunner for only $10 at Costco. I casually threw this in my cart as I do with a lot of $10 Riojas because I know they will be good, but this one really caught me off guard. This tastes like a $25 Rioja. What a bargain.
Dark, but not too dark in the glass, the nose has a little earth and spice (distinctly Spanish); medium in body, this wine hits with intense red fruit and cherry flavors balanced perfectly with the oak aging. This leads to a nice dry finish, very clean and elegant throughout. It's hard to believe this is only $10. I plan on putting a few of these away. Definitely try this wine. I'm going to place it on our Value Picks and our Bronze Rated wines lists. When a wine makes two lists, it's almost always worthy seeking out. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points *ValuePick* |
2005 Chateau Pontet-Canet Pauillac
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Reader review. I would love to try this one...
Fantastic wine one of my favorite Bordeaux at this level ($100 in Florida). A great Nice deep and dark Cabernet fruit that flows perfectly to -- Raul Garza |
2007 Rockaway Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
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Rockaway is a lovely wine from Rodney Strong. This bottle marks the end of our month long series reviewing some of the higher end Costco wines, and it's a nice note to go out on. I usually prefer my $70-$100 Cabs to come from Napa when I have a choice, but this bottle turned a corner for me. It's delicious, marked by an awesome finish and reaffirms the strength and boldness of Alexander Valley Cabs.
The wine starts pleasant on the nose, lots of pepper and spice; delicate in the mouth with a flavor punch that starts soft and then hits pretty big (like bass fishing, first thing that came to mind because I've been fishing a lot lately); definitely a good spice, nutmeg component on the palate with dark fruit, some plum. But what's special about this wine is the finish. I love it. Big, deep, lasting, just won't go away. Really a lot of fun. This one opened my eyes to what Sonoma offers above $50. This bottle was $64.99 at my Costco and worth every penny. Enjoy with your favorite red meat or hearty dish. CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 93 Points |
2009 Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana
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A big Super Tuscan that's just delicious from start to finish and drinking surprisingly good for being so young.
Nice nose, picking up some spice and red fruit. In the glass, it's medium in body, feels good with soft tannins leading me to believe it would be slightly older and more mature than an '09. On the palate, it hits big with flavor, that Super Tuscan burst that you have to love. Flavors of red fruit, licorice, kind of perfumy at times and I chalk that up to the acidity and dryness to the finish. |
I'm a fan and at $84.99 at my Costco it's certainly not cheap. I enjoyed this with a spicy Vietnamese beef noodle dish (not what I had planned but I had to get the review in), but it was a nice complement. It's always amazing to me how much both wine and the meal can change when paired together.
I think that says a lot about this wine. It's big and strong, capable of holding up in almost any situation. The dryness to the finish slows the wine down just a hair more than I would prefer, but other than, it's a rock star from every angle. An easy addition to the Silver Rated wines.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 94 Points
*Silver Rated*
2009 Chateau Lagrange Saint Julien
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This is a nice mid-range Grand Cru from St. Julien (3rd growth Bordeaux). A very much go-to bordeaux in the under $100 range, and one you will see a lot of restaurant menus. I have a had a few other vintages and all have delivered that great smooth and refined Bordeaux taste.
I was pleased to see my local Costco with several cases of the 2009 vintage, and at $75 a great price point here in Tokyo, Japan. Chateau Lagrange consists primarily of cabernet sauvignon, as well as merlot, and petit verdot.
This 2009 Lagrange was what I hoped for from this renowned vintage. After some decanting, this really opened up into a nice smooth drinking wine. Great nose followed by a little vanillla, some blueberry flavors, and plum finish. Not too over the top, very subtle and refined wine. I have had some other 2009 Bordeaux in this price point that I prefer over this one, for example the Calon Segur, but this is a very nice wine overall. |
I would score this 91-92 points, and feel it is one worth cellaring for a few more years.
Their second wine called Les Fiefs de Lagrange is also quite nice, and priced at a good value.
-- Jun Chiba
-- Jun Chiba
This is a guest post from a reader. During Sept we are reviewing higher end wines from Costco and if you want to help out, here's how to do it.
New Kindle Book: Decoding French Wine
The wine world can be intimidating at first. It was for me just a handful of years ago. But by creating this site and continually trying a range of new wines, I've come to expand my palate and my tastes a fair amount. But it's a long journey and that's why I find it, as many […]
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