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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

Read More about 2009 Palacios Remondo La Montesa Rioja

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

Read More about 2010 La Fleur de Haut-Bages Liberal Pauillac Bordeaux

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

Read More about 2011 Bula Montsant

 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
*SilverRated*

Read More about 2009 Flora Springs Trilogy

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
*KirklandWine*

Costco item number: 514007

Read More about 2011 Kirkland Signature Sonoma Chardonnay

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
*Value Pick*

Costco item number: 222230

Read More about 2011 Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc

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

Read More about 2010 Tranco Monastrell Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Read More about 2009 Chateau La Croix de Roche Bordeaux Superieur

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
*Value Pick*

Costco item number: 600967

Read More about 2010 Bodegas Castano Hecula Monastrell

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

Read More about 2011 Kirkland Signature Rutherford Meritage

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

Read More about 2009 Novelty Hill Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

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

Read More about 2009 Chateau Clement Saint-Jean Medoc Bordeaux

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

Read More about 2008 Villa Antinori Toscana

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

Read More about 2010 The Sum California Red Blend