The Definitive Guide To Costco’s Kirkland Signature Wines

[originally published 5/9/20; updated 3/8/21]
One thing about shopping at Costco, which is on one hand the greatest thing ever, but simultaneously one of the most frustrating, is the idea of the “Costco find.”
The term can apply to a couple different types of “finds” too. First, you have the item you’ve never seen before but it’s priced low and it’s something you instantly must have. How did you live so long without it? Love those.
Next is the surprise item; that one thing you found a year or so ago but it disappeared after a week so you only had one chance to buy it. But wait, now it’s back, it includes 20% more than last time and you’re pumped.
I always picture someone inside corporate Costco with Mr. Burns’ fingers (not sure why) sitting around pushing buttons on what’s available and whats not, rejoicing in controlling our obessions with the “Costco find.” And Costco wine falls right into this same game, especially Costco’s Kirkland wines.
Here’s how we’re going to do this. I’m going to look at all of our past reviews and ratings over more than ten years to determine the average score across all vintages we have tasted, calculate the average price and try to ballpark a target month when the wines seem to have appeared based on my historical data. And then we’ll put them in order, based on highest rating.
Note: I am only including wines where we have reviewed multiple vintages. My chart at the end of this post contains notes on wines that were single vintages. I am also not including the Kirkland Prosecco or Champagne, as those are non vintage, widely available, and pretty consistent in taste and price year to year. Also note, many of the wines scored similar average ratings, so there is no particular order to the ones with the same rating. I’m only listing wines that average 88 points and above. Again, full chart below for all of you who want to do a deep dive. Ready?
1. Kirkland Signature Pauillac Bordeaux

It’s a bummer that we haven’t seen a new vintage of this amazing wine appear in stores for more than two years. I hope it’s not gone for good. Please Costco, give us a surprise here. The Kirkland Pauillac Bordeaux is top notch for only $23 and it takes the cake at the top of our ratings with scores of 91 and 92. In the past it has appeared in stores in December-January. [our review]
2. Kirkland Signature Oakville Cabernet

We love this wine and its $20 price tag is hard to beat compared to other wines from this premier region of Napa Valley. Average score over the years is 90 points and you can expect this wine to hit in the March time frame. [2018 Oakville review]
2. Kirkland Signature Carneros Pinot Noir

We’ve reviewed three vintages so far of the Carneros Pinot and it is always impressive, resulting in 89, 90 and 89 point ratings. The price is just too good at $9.99 which is relatively unheard of for Carneros juice. Look for this one in May. [2018 Carneros]
2. Kirkland Signature Cotes de Provence Rose

This is one of the fastest selling Kirkland wines year in and year out. If you see it, stock up right away. This is not one of those “Costco surprises” that makes a reappearance later. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for the year. And it is an amazing rose for the price ($8.99); our average score is 90 points and look for this one in April. [2019 Kirkland Rose]
2. Kirkland Signature Ribera del Duero

There have been three vintages of this Kirkland wine and it’s a delicious one at a great price, currently $14. We’ve rated it 90 points each time, and timing is tough as it’s been released as early as September and as late as December. So keep an eye out in the fall/winter for it. [2014 Ribera Del Duero]
2. Kirkland Signature Chateauneuf-du-Pape

This is another Kirkland favorite that we’ve been tasting and tracking back to the 2011 vintage. For those interested in this wine, check out the chart below for our full breakdown of each vintage. We’ve rated it as high as 93 points with the 2013 vintage and as low as 88 points with the 2014 vintage. Once you average them out, this one comes in at a respectable 90 points. Look for it in July. [2018 Kirkland Chateauneuf]
3. Kirkland Signature Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon

This one is always a gem, from another prominent area of Napa that produces wines I really gravitate to. The price over the years has crept up from $20 to $24, average rating from us is 89 points and we expect this wine to reach stores in September. [2018 Kirkland Stags Leap]
4. Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico

This wine is always a classic at a very good price that stays consistent every year at $8.49. Average rating of 88 points and target release month is April. [2017 Kirkland Chianti]
4. Kirkland Signature Ti Point Sauvignon Blanc

Price dropped this year to only $6.99 (from $7.99); this remains a nice, fun summer pick, perfect for pools, beaches and hot days. Average score 88 points, target release month: April. [our review]
4. Kirkland Signature Sonoma Old Vine Zinfandel

A solid pick every year with a consistent $9.99 price tag, this is a fun versatile Zin we’ve always enjoyed. Average rating is 88 points and target release month is March. [our review]
4. Kirkland Signature Brunello

Wide range of scores for the Kirkland Brunello over the years, ranging from 92 points for the amazing 2010 vintage to a low of 86 the following vintage (2011). The price has been creeping up too from $25 to its current $27. Expect to see it in warehouses in November. [2015 Kirkland Brunello]
4. Kirkland Signature Cotes du Rhone Villages

We’ve tasted five vintages of this Kirkland wine and it consistently over delivers for only $6.99. Stock up when you can, likely around the October time frame. Our average rating is 88 points. [our review]
4. Kirkland Signature Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

We’ve only tasted two vintages of the Kirkland Columbia Valley Cab but rated both 88 points and this remains a strong buy for only $9. Look for this one to reach stores in August. [our review]
4. Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva

Similar to the Kirkland Cotes du Rhone Villages, this Kirkland Rioja has remained at the ridiculously low price of $6.99 every year since we started tracking it in 2010. Average score of 88 points during that time. Look for it in April. [2015 Kirkland Rioja]
4. Kirkland Signature Premier Cru Chablis

We’ve reviewed three vintages of this wine and scored them 87 (2014), 88 (2016) points and (2018) 89 points. Price jumped over the years to from $15 to $20, so this one is a little bit of a moving target and we are curious where future vintages will fall. This is still a great price for Premier Cru Chablis so fingers crossed. Look for it in February. [2018 Kirkland Chablis]
Here is the full historical data I pulled to base these calculations on. This will also show the price increase/decrease year to year as well as the Kirkland wines we rated below 88 points, many of which are still very good buys. I did my best to approximate the target month, erring on the side of early rather later when it wasn’t clear with the data.
Here’s a PDF download of the chart that some readers requested so they can save it to their phones.
Wine | Vintage | Rating | Price | Month | Av Rating | Av Release | |
Chianti Classico | 2017 | 86 | 8.49 | Oct | 88 | April? | |
2016 | 87 | 8.49 | April | ||||
2015 | 88 | 8.49 | June | ||||
2014 | 88 | 8.49 | April | ||||
2013 | 88 | 8.49 | March | ||||
Ti Point Sauv Blanc | 2019 | 87 | 6.99 | April | 88 | April | |
2014 | 88 | 7.99 | May | ||||
Sonoma Old Vine Zin | 2017 | 88 | 9.99 | April | 88 | March | |
2015 | 90 | 9.99 | January | ||||
2013 | 87 | 9.99 | March | ||||
Oakville Cabernet | 2018 | 91 | 19.99 | Feb | 90 | Feb | |
2017 | 90 | 19.99 | March | ||||
2016 | 90 | 18.99 | Feb | ||||
2015 | 91 | 18.99 | April | ||||
Barolo | 2015 | 92 | 19.99 | March | 92 | March | |
Mendoza Malbec | 2019 | 87 | 6.99 | Oct | 86 | Aug | |
2018 | 87 | 6.99 | Feb | ||||
2017 | 85 | 6.99 | Sept | ||||
2015 | 86 | 6.99 | Aug | ||||
Willamette Pinot | 2017 | 89 | 14.99 | Feb | |||
Gigondas | 2018 | 88 | 14.99 | Dec | 87 | Oct | |
2017 | 86 | 14.99 | Feb | ||||
2016 | 88 | 14.99 | Oct | ||||
2015 | 87 | 14.99 | Sept | ||||
Brunello | 2015 | 89 | 26.99 | Nov | 88 | Nov | |
2014 | 88 | 26.99 | Nov | ||||
2013 | 88 | 26.99 | Nov | ||||
2012 | 87 | 24.99 | Oct | ||||
2011 | 86 | 24.99 | Sept | ||||
2010 | 92 | 24.99 | Jan | ||||
Stags Leap Cabernet | 2018 | 91 | 23.99 | Sept | 90 | Sept | |
2017 | 89 | 23.99 | Oct | ||||
2016 | 89 | 21.99 | Sept | ||||
2014 | 88 | 19.99 | Aug | ||||
2013 | 90 | 19.99 | Sept | ||||
Cotes du Rhone Villages | 2019 | 89 | 6.99 | Nov | 88 | Oct | |
2018 | 89 | 6.99 | Oct | ||||
2017 | 88 | 6.99 | Oct | ||||
2016 | 87 | 6.99 | Sept | ||||
2015 | 87 | 6.99 | Sept | ||||
2013 | 88 | 6.99 | Aug | ||||
Napa Red Blend | 2018 | 86 | 10.99 | Oct | 86 | Oct | |
2016 | 86 | 10.99 | Sept | ||||
2015 | 86 | 10.99 | Nov | ||||
2014 | 86 | 10.99 | April | ||||
2012 | 87 | 10.99 | Dec | ||||
Pinot Grigio Friuli | 2018 | 88 | 5.99 | Sept | 86 | Aug | |
2017 | 85 | 5.99 | Aug | ||||
Columbia Valley Cabernet | 2018 | 88 | 8.99 | Dec | 88 | Aug? | |
2017 | 88 | 8.99 | Aug | ||||
2016 | 88 | 8.99 | Aug | ||||
Sancerre | 2019 | 90 | 15.99 | Mar | 90 | March | |
Russian River Chardonnay | 2018 | 87 | 12.99 | June | 87 | June | |
2017 | 87 | 12.99 | July | ||||
2016 | 86 | 12.99 | June | ||||
2015 | 87 | 12.99 | Dec | ||||
2014 | 88 | 12.99 | May | ||||
2013 | 87 | 12.99 | June | ||||
Kirkland Boxed Cabernet | 2017 | 84 | 12.99 | June | |||
Carneros Pinot Noir | 2018 | 89 | 9.99 | July | 89 | May | |
2017 | 90 | 9.99 | May | ||||
2016 | 89 | 9.99 | August | ||||
Cotes de Provence Rose | 2019 | 89 | 9.99 | May | 90 | April | |
2018 | 89 | 8.99 | May | ||||
2017 | 90 | 9.49 | April | ||||
2016 | 90 | 8.99 | April | ||||
Rioja Reserva | 2015 | 88 | 7.99 | July | 88 | April | |
2014 | 88 | 6.99 | April | ||||
2013 | 88 | 6.99 | May | ||||
2012 | 87 | 6.99 | Feb | ||||
2010 | 88 | 6.99 | Jan | ||||
Premier Cru Chablis | 2018 | 89 | 19.99 | Jan | 88 | Feb | |
2016 | 88 | 17.99 | Feb | ||||
2014 | 87 | 14.99 | May | ||||
Bordeaux Superior | 2018 | 85 | 7.99 | Jan | 86 | Jan | |
2016 | 87 | 7.99 | Jan | ||||
2015 | 87 | 7.99 | Dec | ||||
Rutherford Cabernet | 2018 | 92 | 18.99 | Dec | 91 | Dec | |
2016 | 89 | 17.99 | Jan | ||||
Ribera del Duero | 2014 | 90 | 13.99 | Dec | 90 | Dec | |
2012 | 90 | 13.99 | Dec | ||||
2011 | 90 | 12.99 | Sept | ||||
Chateauneuf-Du-Pape | 2018 | 90 | 20.99 | June | 90 | June | |
2016 | 90 | 17.99 | July | ||||
2015 | 89 | 19.99 | May | ||||
2014 | 88 | 19.99 | Sept | ||||
2013 | 93 | 19.99 | May | ||||
2012 | 91 | 19.99 | July | ||||
2011 | 92 | 19.99 | July | ||||
Alexander Valley Cabernet | 2015 | 87 | 9.99 | July | 86 | Oct | |
2014 | 87 | 9.99 | Aug | ||||
2013 | 86 | 9.99 | Oct | ||||
2012 | 83 | 8.99 | Oct | ||||
Toscana | 2014 | 88 | 13.99 | April | |||
Pauillac Bordeaux | 2015 | 92 | 22.99 | Jan | 92 | Dec | |
2014 | 91 | 22.99 | Dec |
If you’re interested in even more Kirkland wine reviews, view our full archive.
And don’t forget to sign up for our emails (2X/week) so you can be the first in the know on new Costco wine reviews. We value you as a subscriber and won’t share or spam ever.
As usual for your blog another great article and recap of some amazing Costco bottles.
Having lived in many areas known for wine (Ca, Bordeaux, Porto and Montepulciano in southern Tuscany) I am always excited to see what new gems Costco has to offer – and I often reference your latest emails before heading out to shop. The expected In store month info is also very helpful.
Keep up the great writing!
Awesome. Glad to hear it.
Great review. Thanks. If you could post this in an index card format or some easy to print summary it would be great to carry when in Costco shopping.
Great idea. I could probably make the chart a downloadable PDF pretty easily. I created it in Excel for ease of use and could create the PDF from there. Give me a day or two and I’ll report back.
Just added a PDF download of the chart to the original story. Thanks for the suggestion. You can view it directly here. Nothing fancy as deign is a weak point for me, but it should work. https://costcowineblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Kirkland-Wines-CostcoWineBlog.pdf
If using an IPhone you can download app called Instapaper for free. Any articles you can “print” and keep on your iPhone to read anytime, offline too, searchable by keyword. Great for things you want to keep for later (this blog, recipe’s, etc).
Thank you for making the reviews clear and consice for a beginner like myself who has slowly started from only drinking white wine like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. After reading your reviews I finally wet my appetite on some beautiful reds. The Napa Red blend was wonderful. I also enjoy the Merlots so hopefully you’ll treat us to a review on Merlot in the future which is fruity and easy drinking. Someone recommended Stella and can honestly say not the fruit forward wine I was looking for.
Thanks again for treating us to such honest reviews of Costco’s great wines. Cheers!!
Cool. Here are our Merlot archives. You still can find a few of these. I like the Markham and Coppola at Costco for a reasonable price. https://costcowineblog.com/category/merlot/
Let us know if you come across any good Merlot buys in your Costco shopping.
Thanks for the summary of the reviews. Helpful hand tool.
I only wish the Costco in Charlotte,NC did a better job carrying and stocking many of these wines. Recently they carry very few.
Thanks. We’re not too far away from you in Atlanta. I hope so more turn up for you.
Thanks for some excellent information, and I, too, would be interested in something to take with me when I do go to Costco.
I use the Costco Hacks Cross, south, in Memphis. There is one other in Memphis, but we prefer this one. When I see one of your reviews that I might like, I take a screenshot, save it to the NOTES app on my mac, into a folder “Costco Wines”. Usually my wine friend there, can look at it and immediately tell me if it is available, but still miss a lot of your recommendations. I know all Costcos don’t have the same, but still love your newsletter. TY.
Is there a way to check which wines are in particular stores?
Unfortunately, there’s not really a good way. I know that some readers of the blog will use the item number that we list at the end of the reviews. They will either call the store and ask if they have that item number in stock. Or they will use the online chat at Costco.com to ask about the availability of the item numbers near them.
I have been looking how to chart these without creating my own spreadsheet to have available on my phone, and now have copied and paste into the spreadsheet, saved a tremendous amount of time and effort. Can you do this for your other reviews??
Hi Folks. I frequently look at the ratings of the wines and believe the gold standard is Wine Spectator. The others, i.e.. Wine Enthusiast, and others just don’t seem credible/accurate to me. I’d love to hear my fellow wine drinkers opinions.
Thank you
David