CostcoWineBlog.com - Reviews of wines found at Costco

2009 Brazin Zinfandel Lodi

2012-02-10T16:01:00Z

A nice smooth Lodi Zin that has a good kick to it off the nose and through the finish. The body feels nice and light in the mouth and then the flavor just comes roaring in. Great spice and pepper make this an awesome food wine. The more the nose opens up, the better it smells. Definitely swirl this one a bit to bring it to its full potential.

For $11.99 at Costco this is a fun Zin as the label hints. And at 15% alcohol it's not just the flavor that packs a punch. It makes it a good choice to take the edge off.

I can get into it; it's hitting me right. See what you think. I'll throw it on the Value Picks list too, because it's a good buy at this price.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points
*Value Pick*

2006 Tenuta Monteti

2012-02-04T16:14:00Z

This is a lovely Tuscan red comprised of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, and the only reason I know that is because I had to look it up. I had to know what combination of grapes could deliver an elegant and refined taste like this. What a wine and it was only $20.99 at my Costco, which if you search online, is almost hard to believe.

It's big on flavor but has a nice, light feel in the mouth; medium bodied, nose just hints all around that this is a nice wine. Refined on the palate, cherry and dark fruit flavors, with a finish that leaves spice lingering in the mouth for a while.

With absolutely no description on the front or back of the bottle, I imagine many people will pass this one up. But that leaves an opportunity for you; if you see it at your Costco, I'd buy two or three because you may never see it at this price again. An easy addition to our Silver Rated wine list, and I'm going to buy more to hold on to as soon as possible. Love it.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 92 Points

*Silver Rated*

2006 Vinifera Vineyards Vitis Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

2012-01-31T16:38:00Z

This is a big, rich Napa Cab that I found to be very nice, but not exceptional for its $31.99 price tag. I reviewed the 2005 vintage a while back, and seem to have enjoyed that one a bit more. But my palate has changed and matured a bit since then, particularly with regards to Napa Cabs.

This bottle was signature Napa Cab, and I again was fortunate enough to pair it with grilled steak, which is perfect. Deep red in the glass, and full in body in the mouth. Nose was floral and earthy. Flavors of dark fruit, blackberry, spicy cherry; a little licorice and tobacco. Got better with a little air, started to open up some of those flavors a bit more.

It's certainly a nice Cab and for the price, not a bad buy at all. For me, though, I'd probably go a tad upstream for something real nice, or downstream for a little more bang for the buck. But this is not a bad wine at all.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points

2008 Sbragia Home Ranch Merlot Sonoma

2012-01-26T16:24:00Z

A good example of a quality, enjoyable California Merlot at a reasonable price ($21.99). I opened this at a dinner party after discussing the good values you can find in California Merlot since the Sideways effect still seems to have some legs. And this bottle is a pretty good example from Dry Creek.

It's a very approachable wine; floral nose, a little earth. Pleasant red and dark fruit flavors on the palate with really nice structure. The wine feels good in the mouth with soft tannis, medium body and finishes with a hint of spice and pepper.

A nice offering, good crowd pleaser and a solid choice to put into a discussion about California Merlot.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points

2006 Atlas Peak Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

2012-01-21T16:15:00Z

I've really been enjoying the high elevation Napa Cabs lately, particularly those from Howell Mountain, and this bottle, assembled from various moutain vineyeards, fits into the group quite nicely. It's taste is instantly recognizable and it benefits from a few extra years in the bottle. Costco's selling this for $21.99 and I think it's a spectacular deal on a great wine.

Nice deep color in the glass; the nose has that upper elevation slate, stone smell to it, and then the fruit is a dark berry and cherry with great balance. It's certainly going to get you thinking because it's not your standard Napa Cab.

At $21.99, I think this wine is a steal so I'm going to scoop up another one for the cellar as I think it could get even better with another few years in the bottle. Highly recommended.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points

*Bronze Rated*
*Value Pick*

2009 Vieux Chateau Landon Medoc

2012-01-18T18:29:00Z

This is a good one, tastes like a much more expensive Bordeaux. This bottle was only $12.99 at my Costco and from the moment I smelled it, I knew it would be on the Value Picks list.

Just what you expect from a good entry level Bordeaux, and it's Medoc so it's predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Merlot. Nose is Frenchy, earthy, kind of old viney, which I like. It's fairly light in the mouth, medium bodied, good spice, tobacco hints and plum flavors. Finishes great, long and smooth, and that's really where it excels.

This is a great inexpensive Bordeaux and the Cru Bourgeois designation seals the deal. (it's a designation that is just now returning after disappearing years ago. Usually indicates a wine that's a cut above the rest).

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 Points

*Value Pick*

2009 Ben Marco Malbec

2012-01-13T17:54:00Z

This is one of my favorite under $20 Malbecs and it was my first taste of the 2009 which once again hits it out of the park. What an amazing wine for $15.99.

Notes are similar to the 2008 that I reviewed a little over a year ago. Big red fruit, cherry flavor, feels great in the mouth, not too heavy; finish is smooth with some spice and a little oak. It's mostly Malbec grapes with a little Bonarda and the wine was aged in new French and American oak.

Really an attention grabbing wine from beginning to end. Costco's price is fantastic so I would scoop up a couple of these while you still can. I'm putting it on this year's Bronze Rated wine list.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points

*Bronze Rated*

2008 Bodegas Langa Calatayud Pi 3 1415 Concejon

2012-01-07T16:51:00Z

Well, you surely won't forget this label. It's covered in numbers with very little decipherable information, particularly the vintage, which I am almost guessing at. All I can tell you is that it's from Spain and it's 100% Concejon, which to me tastes similar to Spanish Tempranillo, more Navarra (young, ripe) than Ribera (refined).

An hour after I wrote that first paragraph, the wine is getting much better, and more refined - kind of a sleeper as many of these Spanish wines can be. I was a little bored with this one at first, but now it's getting a little more dpth as it opens up. Nose still retains that young ripeness, but the flavor has really gotten nice. Big round black cherry flavor, a little plum, lots of cherry carrying into the finish that's a touch dry but certainly full.

This is a nice Spanish wine. Price at my Costco was only $12.99 so it's a good bargain as well. Just give it an hour or so in the glass to open up.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points

2010 Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio

2012-01-02T18:07:00Z

Huge, puckery tropical fruit here that's lively, bright and really fresh. I knew I had reviewed a prior vintage of this a while back, and here's a link to that review. Much of the same this year, except it look like Costco's price went up a buck, to $8.60.

The wine is really big and forward with the fruit. Tons of lemon, green apple, almost grapefruity flavors with a lot of acidity that hangs in your cheeks. It's really exactly what I was expecting from this bottle. I'm just not in love this style of wine, but for those who are, there's a lot going on in a pretty inexpensive package.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 85 Points

Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne

2011-12-30T16:20:00Z

Here's my pick for a Costco bottle for New Year's. This is what I'll be drinking tomorrow so come midnight, it's highly likely a review will not be written. If you're interested, here's a good write up on the bottle from K&L, who are always on the mark. Price at my Costco was $26.99.

There have also been a few posts on Twitter and Facebook about the Kirkland Champagne. Sadly, we didn't get a review up prior to the New Year, but that bottle seems to be a consistent $20 at most stores around the county.

Whatever you choose, enjoy. And thanks again for supporting this site.

-- Radcliffe, editor