These Super Tuscans that Costco carries are almost always good buys and that’s why I dropped this $12.99 bottle in the cart. It turned out to be exactly what I expected, maybe even a step up from expectations, as it’s a perfect, every day red to have on hand for almost any cuisine, any time of the week, to drink with pretty much anybody.

In this price range, I prefer this style over wines such as the Napa County Kirkland Cabernet that we just reviewed for the same price, but much of that can be personal preferences in old world vs new world.  I find the European wines from Italy, Spain and France to generally be more interesting and more complex than their US counterparts when you’re searching for wines under $15.  This bottle is a case in point.

The wine is comprised of 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Sangiovese, and 33% Merlot, a pretty standard Super Tuscan mix. Dusty, earthy, dried fruit on the nose, dark fruit flavor in the mouth, with plum, blackberry, cherry cola, a touch of leather and oak towards the finish. A rather elegant wine for the money actually, and one that developed quite nicely with a little air.  I’m going to add to our recommended wine list.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 points

Costco item number: 1127289

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

The post 2015 Bocelli Tenor Red Toscana IGT appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com .

Readers were asking about this wine for some time before it finally appeared back in the clubs.  This is another solid, good-value Kirkland Signature label wine.  $8.49 for a Chianti Classico Riserva is hard to find elsewhere.

There are eight sub-regions within Chianti, and the Classico region is considered by many to be the best area for Chianti production.  Wines designated “Riservas” must be aged for a minimum of 24 months at the winery before release.  This wine was aged for 24 months in oak barrels and an additional three months in the bottle, according to the label.

The label also denotes that this wine was created “exclusively together with the winemaking team of Villa Cafaggio Estate.”  I looked up the 2013 Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico Riserva on Vivino, and it came in at a user rating of 3.7 points with an average price of $30.49.  Interesting.

The nose of this wine brings Morello cherry, Earth, & leather.  The palate is rich in wood tannin and sour cherries.  This is a medium-bodied style of Chianti that would likely age quite well into the next 5-7 years.  Wines at this price point often aren’t that age-able.  The lingering finish confirms my suspicion that this is a decent quality Italian wine for less than $9.

Generally speaking, I feel that the KS wines are great values.  They aren’t going to blow your socks off, but you also aren’t going to be disappointed.  This wine is in the upper range of value, and if you regularly drink Chianti then I would definitely recommend giving this a try so that you can then come back for a case if you like it.  I give it an 88.

Purchased in Buford, GA

ABV: 13.5 %

CostcoWineBlog.com rating: 88 Points

Costco Item #: 944010

The post 2013 Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com .

I always get excited when new Italian wines appear in Costco. I love All Things Italian (what’s not to love!?) but the wines hold a special place in my heart because they remind me of my first restaurant job where I began learning about and becoming interested in wine.

Italian wine can get pretty confusing, and most wine professionals will tell you that it is the area where they struggle most in their studies. For starters, there are over 2000 grape varietals grown in Italy. Many wines are a blend of a few different grapes, and even the familiar All-Stars like Chianti include Sangiovese and Some-Grape-You’ve-Never-Heard-Of. To add to this, Italians often name their wines after regions, or instead by the varietal, or sometimes after the DOC which isn’t either one of these two. Montepulciano, which you’ve probably heard of, is a grape varietal but also a town. I think you understand what I’m getting at.

It comes as no surprise to me that the newest addition to the “Italian Whites” category at Costco is a Chardonnay. I have mentioned this before, but Costco members must love their Chardonnay because every club I’ve been to carries more of this varietal than any other. However, “Le Bruniche” from Tuscany stood out to me when the SKU description mentioned an “absence of oak” as well as a 91 point rating from Vinous.

The wine opens with a somewhat intense nose of ripe apple, white grape juice, and peach. The palate is less intense and less fruity with a slight effervescence. The wine is mineral-driven and flinty with a tart and almost sharp acidity. The finish is dry with a mild salinity. This wine screams for fresh oysters and sashimi. While I was expecting a more fruit-forward and riper style of Chardonnay, considering Tuscany’s warmer growing season, I would compare this wine more to a Vouvray or Chablis.

Wine Spectator gives “Le Bruniche” 83 Points and Vivino users give it a more friendly rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars at an average price of $14.89. I picked this wine up for $11.99 and I give it 87 points.

CostcoWineBlog.com rating: 87 Points

ABV: 12.5%

Price: $11.99

Costco Item Number: 1158143

The post 2015 Le Bruniche Tuscan Chardonnay IGT appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com .

I recently reviewed an unoaked Chardonnay from Tuscany that I was at first excited about but then ultimately unimpressed with. Costco has been getting some interesting Italian red blends this year, mostly from Tuscany (Super Tuscans), and mostly good value wines. When I came across this 2014 blend from Umbria for $7.49, I knew I had to try one, and I didn’t expect much from it.

This blend is an IGP from Umbria. What does this mean? Well Umbria is just about smack dab in the middle of the calf of the Italian boot, quite close to Tuscany actually. There are only two DOCG wines that come from this area, and chances are you haven’t ever had either of them. Torgiano Rosso Riserva is a blend (shocker) of at least 50% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, 10% Trebbiano, and 15% of select other red grapes. Sound familiar? This is a similar blend to a Tuscan Chianti, which makes sense because the regions are right next to each other.

Now, the other Umbrian DOCG, Montefalco Sagrantino, is a little more interesting. It requires the wine to be made from 100% Sagrantino, a special red grape that is indigenous to Umbria. These wines are bold and high in tannins, with a deep & dark purple color and palate of black fruits and cocoa. If you ever come across one, get it.

Enough about Umbrian DOCG wines though. The wine I’m reviewing today is an Umbrian Rosso IGP. IGP stands for Indicazione Geografica Tipica and basically means “the grapes in this wine are grape varieties approved for the region of Umbria.” I suppose Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese are all approved varieties for Umbria because this wine is an equal blend of the three.

Since the IGP designation was, for the most part, created to classify Super Tuscans, you can essentially call Vitiano Rosso a Super Umbrian of sorts. If you want to.

The wine opens with a nose of dried cherries, vanilla, and parsley. Subtle and dusty tannins round out the tart, almost sweet mid-palate while the finish is simple and clean. The back of the bottle says this wine is “an ideal match for red meat and tomato-sauced dishes”. I would also pair this with a cheese board or BBQ pulled pork. The screw cap, deceivingly hidden under a foil, says “bring me to a picnic or on the boat” while the $7.49 price tag says “why not bring a few bottles?”

I really liked this wine. Like, really a lot. Enough so that I went back a few days later and purchased six more bottles. It will be my go-to Italian red table wine for the rest of this year. My significant other, who I am gradually turning into a wine snob, fully agreed with me. The price is super attractive, and the wine, while relatively simple with a clean finish, could fool me into thinking it costs twice as much. I will designate this wine a Great Value and give it an honest score of 89 points.

Purchased in Cumming, GA

Costcowineblog.com Score: 89 Points

ABV: 13%

Costco Item Number: 367267

The post 2014 Vitiano Rosso Umbria IGP appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com .

A little bird told me that this wine was coming to Costco before it ever even arrived. The wine appeared suddenly at a couple of stores and sold out almost immediately.

Then the following week, a few more cases were distributed, and then this week, seven cases to the Costco down the street from where I work.

I thought I had missed my chance with this wine, but there it was. This “pocket wine” legend was staring me in the face with its abnormally heavy and embossed bottle.

For $15.99, of course I had to try it. I knew nothing about it except that it was Italian, “hot,” and apparently not going to be re-ordered, indicated by the asterisk on the item sign.

When I Vivinoed this wine (yes, that’s a verb) it came up “Ca’ de’ Rocchi Vinum Italicum N3 Opera 2005.” This wine, however, is not a 2005.

It is non-vintage but has “Founded in 2005” written below the name, which must have confused more than one person. I always tell people to pay attention to wine labels. There is lots that you can learn about what’s inside the bottle by reading what the label includes, and by also noting what it doesn’t.

This “Vino Rosso” is a blend of grapes that have been “personally selected by Gian Andrea Tinazzi,” according to the back label. There is also a map of Italy with the regions outlined. Three of those regions, Sicilia, Puglia, & Veneto are filled in. Perhaps this is where the grapes come from? The tech sheet for the wine does not specify.

The nose jumps out at me with ripe red fruits- I’m thinking warm climate grapes. The palate is medium-bodied and fairly simplistic with subtle tannins and a decent amount of residual sugar for an Italian wine. I immediately thought “fruit punch.” The finish is somewhat lingering but a little hot.

I prefer not to rate this wine because I don’t know what pretty little box to put it in. If you happen to come across this and are as entranced by the bottle as I was, or if you’ve already purchased it, let me know what you think in the comments below. I’d love to hear your opinion.

Purchased in Cumming, GA

Costco Item Number: 1145565

ABV: 15%

The post NV Tinazzi Opera Rosso appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com .

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano bottles are ones that I’m always on the lookout for because they consistently deliver quality at a low price.  This one is a perfect example.

These wines are often made of a blend, predominantly Sangiovese (in this case it’s 90% Sangiovese and 10% Canaiolo), so you want to be sure not to confuse them with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo bottles, which are also great Italian red wines but ones that are made from the Montepulciano grape in a different area of Italy.

I found this wine at my Costco for $14.99, which is about $5 less than I saw it selling for online.  And the ratings are pretty high, a 92 from Wine Spectator (proudly stickered on the bottle) and a 91 from Wine Advocate.  And it has a few years of age in the bottle being a 2011, so I was anxious to dive in.

It started a little disjointed out of the bottle, so I threw it in a decanter and waited, sneaking a taste every time I walked by.  I’d say it was 45 minutes when it really came out of its shell.  And it was pizza night at our house, which paired perfectly with this wine.

The wine has a little of that old library smell you get on these Italian wines, combined with a touch of herbs and garden scents but once in the mouth it was very much alive and fresh.  Fruit is dark cherry driven, a little blackberry, some anise; medium in body and super clean throughout.

The only aspect I was hoping for a little more in would be the finish, which I felt wrapped up a little too soon.  But this is a very nice wine for $15, and one that is great for pizza night as we enjoyed it, but could also be paired with big hearty red meat dishes of any kind.  I’m adding this bottle to our recommended list.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 points

Costco item number: 1030008

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA (Cumberland)

Alc. 13.5%

The post 2011 Poggio Stella Vino Nobile di Montepulciano appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com .

I know everyone has been waiting for some comments from us on the new Kirkland Brunello, which is one of the most anticipated Kirkland bottles of the year.

The ’10 and ’11 vintages hit stores last year within almost 6 months of each other it seemed.  And they were vastly different wines; the ’10 was spectacular, a perfect Brunello at the insane price of $25.  The ’11 was on the opposite side of the spectrum, super light, lacking discernible flavor; it was an ok buy but nowhere near the ’10 in our opinion (and we tasted them side by side).

So where does the new ’12 vintage fall into the mix?  Well, sadly in the middle, and perhaps leaning a little more towards the ’11 than the ’10 in style, complexity and depth.

If you look at a vintage chart, all three years were pretty good with ’10 being a standout and ’12 not far behind.  So I guess according to the numbers that’s how they’re lining up for me too.

This is still not a bad wine for only $25.  It’s light like its predecessor, with spikes of fruit flavor and remains a little uninteresting throughout.

The nose on this wine is excellent, very much alive, particularly after a 1.5 hour decant.  Note: this wine needs a good decant as it was super closed out of the bottle as you might guess.

Light mouthfeel, medium in body, with flavors of cherry cola, sour cherry, some tobacco notes, and a little bell pepper even; it’s pretty acidic which throws the balance off a tad.  Dry finish, wraps up a little too fast.

You aren’t going to find too many other Brunellos for $25 so the price is right, but I’d prefer some of the other Chianti Classico bottles that you see at Costco occasionally hovering in that $20 range.  Chianti Classico remains a top value region for me, and when you’re looking for a quality Sangiovese at a great price and you don’t care about having the Brunello badge on the label, it’s not a bad way to go.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 points

Costco item number: 1001151

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA (Cumberland)

Alc. 14.5%

The post 2012 Kirkland Signature Series Brunello di Montalcino appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com .

Costco did us right by offering this superb 2010 Brunello for the awesome price of only $26.99.  They teased us with the ’10 Kirkland Signature Brunello which we thought was outstanding, only to follow it up with two mediocre Brunello offerings for the ’11 and ’12 vintages.

The main appeal of the Kirkland Brunello is the price, $25, which is pretty much unheard of in the land of decent Brunellos, until now.

The best thing they could do would be to bring in a Brunello offering from the 2010 vintage at the same price point as that 2010 Kirkland one that we loved so much (but that is long gone from warehouses).  Well, here is that bottle.

This 2010 Brunello landed right in that sweet spot, and I was really hoping I would find something memorable especially given the 92 point Robert Parker sticker attached to the bottle.  Usually not a huge factor for me, but it did give the bottle just a touch more street cred.

Out of the bottle the wine is nowhere near ready to consume.  This wine requires an hour decant, after which it started to open up and come together into the delicious wine that it is.

It pours a light, almost see though, slightly rusty red in the glass; showing early signs of a little age; nose of red fruit, flowers and a touch of cherry cola.

A similar profile in the mouth, more red fruit, nice round cherry, red licorice, cola and then leather and earthy notes towards the finish; medium in body with sharp acidity and a dusty finish, this a food lover’s dream wine.

We paired this with some (Costco bought) ground bison meatballs which was outstanding.  But this wine is so good, and versatile it could go with about anything.  This is a bottle I’d stock up on if you see it as I think once word gets out, they will go fast.  A fun one for holiday parties too.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 92 points (a CostcoWineBlog Recommended Wine)

Costco item number:1203007

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA (Perimeter)

Alc. 13.5%

The post 2010 Bonacchi Molino del Piano Brunello di Montalcino appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com .

The Bosco Montepulciano is a Costco staple that seems to be readily available at many warehouses for the better part of the year.  It’s obviously attractive for only $8.99, a price that has remained consistent year to year, and the wine too has left us feeling about the same.

Our notes for this wine mirror the last vintage we reviewed almost exactly, and our sentiment about the wine does too.  This is a good mid week meal wine, to be enjoyed with almost any cuisine and any company.

We made pork tacos which worked pretty good, but almost anything will do.  So its versatility is a definite plus (and noted on the label).

Right out of the bottle this wine was pretty tight but only needed about 15 minutes in the glass to begin to open up.

Light aromas of pepper, floral and a touch of cinnamon even; medium plus in body, nice mouthfeel and pleasant throughout; flavors of red fruit and cherry; finishes on the quiet side but coats the mouth reasonably well (similar tasting note as year’s past regarding the finish).

I think you can do better under $10 at Costco, but if you like easy going Italian reds, this is a fair pick for the money.  I’m going to keep our rating consistent to year’s past at 86 points.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 points

Costco item number: 171929

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 13%

The post 2013 Bosco Montepulciano d’Abruzzo appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com .

We’ve all heard of Super Tuscan giants Sassicaia & Ornellaia. Costco even sells Sassicaia for the everyday low price of $197 per bottle. These wines became famous in the 70s when wine critics started to recognize that the quality rivaled that of high-end Bordeaux.

At the time, Bolgheri, merely just another area for Italian wine production, was producing mostly IGT and VdT wines based on typical Bordeaux varieties, which tend to grow well there.

In 1994, the Bolgheri DOC was created to finally give these quality wines the status designation they deserved. Today, even the least inexpensive Bolgheri DOC wines are going to cost you around $20 per bottle.

“Il Bruciato,” meaning “the burned” is the second wine of Antinori’s Tenuta Guado al Tasso. The flagship wine, known simply as “Guado al Tasso” is named after the large vineyard in Bolgheri in which the grapes are grown.

Il Bruciato is a more approachable and contemporary style of wine than the estate wine. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 15% Syrah. Aged for 8 months in barriques and an additional 4 in the bottle, this wine could very well lay down for a few years or be enjoyed with this evening’s meal.

What really stood out to me about this wine was the structure and length of the finish. You can really taste the quality of this juice, and the grape tannins left my teeth and tongue stained. I would recommend drinking this with a meal instead of on its own. It’s a fairly big wine, relatively speaking, and would benefit from a good decant.

Wine Spectator gives the 2015 vintage of this wine its highest rating thus far at 92 Points and a “Smart Buy” designation. The reviewer states that the wine “features grip and a lingering finish,” which is also the main selling point I took note of. A core of dark fruit and baking spice frame subtle notes of chocolate and licorice. Everything is well balanced.

Over 5,000 people have rated this wine on Vivino, and it currently sits at a solid 4.0 rating. While there is plenty of room for user error on apps such as this, which could ultimately lead to inaccurate ratings, I find that most wines with 4.0 stars and above are of substantial quality and value. This wine is no exception.

While Costco’s $24.99 price tag isn’t necessarily an amazing bargain (one can find it similarly priced online as well as at local wine shops), the wine itself is value-priced.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 Points

Purchased in Buford, GA

ABV: 13.5%

Costco Item Number: 369348

The post 2015 Il Bruciato Bolgheri DOC appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com .

I received a few notes from readers recently inquiring about the availability of the $7 Kirkland Prosecco which apparently disappeared from a few Costco stores (I’m not sure if that’s still the case because I saw new pallets arrive last week at the Costcos near me).

But readers were asking if there were any other low cost, but tasty alternatives in the bubbly realm.  So I picked up this Prosecco on my last visit, which has served me well in the past, to see if it would fit the bill.

Price was $9.99, a few dollars more than its Kirkland counterpart, but there aren’t a lot of options under $10. Spanish Cava is another way to go here for low cost and dependable, but we opted to stay with Prosecco.

This wine is light and easy, similar to the Kirkland bottle.  It’s subtle on the nose and in flavor, but simple, refreshing and enjoyable overall.  The wine starts with light floral aromas, with flavors of green apple and melon; feels soft and gentle in the mouth with a light effervescence; finishes dry.

I think this a good buy and a fair alternative to the Kirkland Prosecco, although I’m going to hang at 86 points, a point lower that the Kirkland one that earned a little more for the extreme value.  There’s lots to like here for bubbly fans.  It’s simple, subtle and pure; perfect before or after meals, and especially ideal on a nice warm day.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 86 points

Costco item number: 236780

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 10.5%

The post Riondo Prosecco Spago Nero appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com .

The Kirkland Chianti Classico is always a popular bottle among readers so it’s nice to see the next vintage hit Costco stores.  The price has stayed the same as years past at only $8.49, which is rock bottom for a bottle from this area.

Erin reviewed the prior 2013 vintage, and offers some good information about the Riserva designation and Chianti Classico region in her review for those that are interested.  So that still applies here, as does the continued collaboration with the Villa Cafaggio Estate as noted on the back of the label.

The tasting notes between the two vintages are pretty similar.  Both vintages in Italy were pretty good, according to the Wine Spectator vintage chart.  In fact, scroll down on the list and you can see there hasn’t been a bad vintage in this part of Italy in a very long time, besides the 2002.  They’ve had a great run.

This wine is cherry, cherry and more cherry; a little bit of Nibs and red licorice, and a little sour cherry like a cough drop.   The wine has some old world dustiness on the close in a classic dry Italian style.

All in all, another winner on this one, especially at the super low $8.49 price.  This is an everyday drinker and easy weekday food wine to pair with about anything.  Lots to like as you’ve come to expect from most Kirkland wines.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 points (same as 2013 vintage)

Costco item number: 944010

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA (Cumberland)

Alc. 13.5%

[If you’re interested in learning more about Italian wine, check our book “Decoding Italian Wine: A Beginner’s Guide to Enjoying the Grapes, Regions, Practices and Culture of the ‘Land of Wine’“]

The post 2014 Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

This is the first we’ve seen of the Kirkland Toscana, a Super Tuscan blend that comes in at only $13.99.  Readers have been buzzing about this wine, and we’re happy to see it arrive in Costco stores near us in the Atlanta area.

Quick background on Super Tuscans; Italy has strict rules for the types of grapes that can be grown where and how varietals are presented and labeled.  So Tuscan wines were required to be predominantly Sangiovese.  And while most are still dominant in that varietal, a band of rebellious winemakers several decades ago began experimenting with blends that included non-indigenous grapes, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

The resulting wines, including the legendary and still amazing Sassicaia that kicked off the movement (super expensive wine that is actually totally worth the money), blazed the path forward for a new generation of winemakers who began to blend different varietals and create some amazing wines across all price spectrums.

Ok, that brings us very rapidly to the wine we are drinking now, which is comprised of 80% Sangiovese with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, placed in a slightly more than usual heavy bottle for some extra pop.

It’s exactly what you expect, that classic super tuscan flavor and style, dry and dusty, or as l like to say “library book.”

This wine is your perfect pizza wine.  It’s built for that, simple, fun fare with friends, just serving as a nice complement, not the focal part of the evening.  It’s fruity and a little sweet, and hints at its origins enough to be thoroughly enjoyed.  But it’s not the wine you’re going to seriously dig into and find a great deal of depth and comlexity.

But, it’s also priced at $14, so it’s not trying to be a Brunello for double that price.  It’s exactly what it is supposed to be and delivers substantial quality at a great price, as Kirkland wines often do.

The winemaker is listed as Alexander Van Beek, who on an initial Google search shows he’s the proprietor of two properties in Bordeaux.  But a little more poking around shows that he is also the general manager at Caiarossa, a prominent vineyard in Tuscany.

So it’s likely we’re getting some good juice here, and I think this wine is right in line with where it should be.

Head on over to our new Costco wine forums and share your opinion and see what others have to say about this wine.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 points

Costco item number: 1181768

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 13.5%

The post 2014 Kirkland Signature Toscana appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

In my opinion, Chianti Classico is one of the top places to go in the wine world now for consistent high quality wines at great prices.  This wine was $14.99 at my Costco, and it drinks like it cost twice as much.

A quick FYI – Chianti Classico is not just a classic version of a Chianti.  It’s actually it’s own 100 square mile sub region and is known for vineyards that produce some of the best wine in the area.  So if you’re buying Italian wine and you see Chianti Classico on the label, you know it came from this smaller region that many in the wine world, myself included, find to deliver a huge bang for the buck.

We wrote a whole book that covers this and many more tips for buying Italian wine, available here if you’re interested.

If you’re already a fan of Chianti Classico, then you know all of that already, so what do we have in this bottle?

I found this to be a great expression of Sangiovese; medium plus body, ripe berry fruit and pepper on the nose; flavors are signature Chianti; rustic and traditional in style, the wine has cherry and strawberry flavor, with earthy undertones, and some tart and tobacco towards the dry finish.

Exactly the wine you want with meatballs, or any other classic Italian cuisine.  We enjoyed it with some NY strips from the Green Egg.  Any red meat will do.  A great wine for $15, and one that Decanter gave a whopping 95 points.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 points

Costco item number: 1228927

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 13.5%

The post 2014 Villa Cerna Primocolle Chianti Classico appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

I know many of you are looking for good, low priced value buys, so that’s why I chose to sample this “Il Ducale” Super Tuscan from Ruffino that was only $12.99 at my Costco.

I too like to find good versatile mid week drinkers to enjoy with dinner that don’t break the bank, and this wine falls into that category.

It’s simple, and basic, with enough life to keep it interesting, and perfect for that mid-week meal that you want to pair a wine with.

Online this bottle is going for closer to $20, so the Costco price is hard to beat.  The wine inside is a blend, and in this case a little different than what I was expecting in terms of varietal composition.

I didn’t find the percentage breakdown per varietal, but this wine is comprised of Syrah, Sangiovese and Merlot.  It’s medium to full in body, with a spicy and earthy nose; flavors of cherry, raspberry, a little Nyquil, black licorice and dark chocolate with a dry finish.

It’s a nice wine for only $13, and you could pair with just about anything or drink it on its own which is what we ended up doing.   I could see these being a good second bottle too, to enjoy after you drink something else, and of course it’s a super safe party pick as I think it will appeal to a wide range of wine drinkers and palates.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 points

Costco item number: 143634

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 13.5%

The post 2016 Ruffino Il Ducale Toscana appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

I love a good Barbera. This thin-skinned grape produces wines that, at best, are floral, elegant, and lingering. A less-desirable example, usually one-dimensional and fruity, is still highly enjoyable to drink.

The best Barbera wines come from one of two areas in Piedmont. Wines from the Asti region tend to be the lighter, less tannic, and more delicate in flavor offering. Barbera D’Alba wines are usually bold, more full-bodied, and exhibit more structure than the former.

It is safe to compare Barbera to Pinot Noir. Both grapes are high in acidity, lend cherry fruit flavors, and have thinner skins than most. Wines made from either of these grapes tend to age well, especially if they’ve spent a substantial amount of time in oak.

Barbera is definitely more tannic than Pinot Noir, however, and the younger wines deviate from typical cherry profiles to a core of dark berries with a purple hue similar to that of Malbec.

Costco doesn’t sell a lot of Italian Barbera, at least not that I’ve seen in the last few years. In their defense, it’s not a highly sought-after wine, and for a few different reasons.

One, the average wine consumer doesn’t know much of anything about the wine. What is it like? What would you compare it to? These are common questions that I’ve gotten about Barbera in my experience.

Secondly, for those who have tried this wine and are familiar with the style, my guess is that roughly half would buy it again. It’s not “delicious” in the sense of an easy-drinking and smooth wine with decadent fruit flavors (i.e. the most popular and widely sold wines in the U.S.). Barbera is your typical Italian wine, in my opinion; food-friendly, enjoyable and interesting, but not necessarily crowd-pleasing.

Viberti’s “La Gamella” (the twin) Barbera D’Alba appeared at my local Costco club earlier this week. The $12.79 price tag and 91 Point Wine Spectator rating (but for the previous vintage) caught my attention. Also, I happen to be a Barbera fan. Hoping for something similar to some of the amazing and bold Barbera D’Alba’s that I’ve had in the past, I must say that I’m mildly disappointed.

This wine, while an accurate representation of a young and inexpensive Barbera, is fairly simple and uninteresting. The nose is pleasant with vanilla and dark berries while the palate is tart, too-tart almost, with a metallic quality that only works against the mildly mouth-numbing phenolic quality of the finish.

I would pair this wine with pork tenderloin, flank steak, or even grilled swordfish. The simplistic, fruit-driven flavors call for proteins that pair well with fruit. I would steer clear of drinking this wine with anything tomato-based. This is not a good compliment for pasta with red sauce or pizza. It would only exacerbate the acidity of the dish.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points

Costco Item Number: 1071362

Alcohol: 14.5%

Purchased in Buford, GA

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First off, a big shout out to one of our readers, Richard S, who wrote in to alert us to this wine, dropping at Costco for only $13.79, from a retail price that I see around $20 online.

After receiving his email I was heading for a little wine shopping and was pleasantly surprised to find the bottle at my Costco, and bring you this review.

Right away, you’ll notice the weight of the bottle on this one.  I actually weighed it, and the bottle and wine inside weighed in a little over four pounds.  Normally a full bottle of wine weighs less three pounds, so there’s a little extra heft to this package.

Ripasso is a wine that always interests me too, in that many are very good as they have that reputation and taste profile of being a baby Amarone.  That’s because they are a “re-pass” of the pressing of dried Amarone grape skins.  To that extent, you’re getting a lighter dose of the residual greatness of the more expensive and exclusive Amarone grapes at a much better price.

(We wrote a book all about this if you want to dive a little further into the wine-making)

2015 Tenuta Valleselle Rovertondo Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore

So let’s get into it and see what we’ve got.

The wine pours a light red, slightly see through in the glass; it kind of looks, and even smells like a Pinot; old world aromas with some spice; medium in body, nice mouthfeel, playful and light; flavors of Dr. Pepper, cola, sour cherry with a little bell pepper, vegetal components; finish is ok, on the dry side, maybe a little quick.

The wine is a blend of 75% Corvina, 15% Rondinella and 10% Corvinone.  Overall, this is a nice, versatile red wine at a great price.  Given the massive size and weight to the bottle, along with its good tastes, I could see this being an impressive wine to bring to a party; the presentation is great and you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg.

Thanks again to Richard for sharing this one with us.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 points

Costco item number: 1279672

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 14%

Share your opinion and see what others have to say about this and other wines we review in the Costco Wine Blog Forums.

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First and foremost, I’d like to issue an apology to our readers for not writing this review sooner. I tasted this wine a couple of weeks back and simply forgot the whole experience.

Luckily, I always take notes when I open a bottle that I plan to review, so I have more to share with you today than what I can pull from my memory, which is simply: “Pass.”

Because wine reviews are subjective, meaning that what you like, I may not necessarily like, and what I deduce from a wine you might totally disagree with, and so-forth, please do not read this review and assume that you will dislike this wine as much as I do.

I arrived at my opinion based on prior expectations and by using an expert panel consisting of myself and my husband during an average weeknight dinner. He did not care for the wine either. We poured it down the drain, in fact.

There was just something… metallic and blood-like about it, which I almost always expect from a full-bodied Italian wine, but in this case it was just too much. I fully take the blame for our time and money ill-spent seeing as I gambled on a grape that I’d never heard of.

A grape named Teroldego composes 90% of this blend with the other 10% being Syrah. Well, hey, I’ve heard of that! I love Syrah! This was my thought process when I purchased the wine. Here’s a pro-tip for you. If a wine is a blend of 90% of something with 10% of something else, you can basically disregard the lesser grape in terms of flavor expectations.

“La Cattura,” meaning “the capture” is a Super Tuscan IGT blend made from organically grown grapes. The label features a wild hare, and the name derives from an annual hunt, or capture, of these animals. The website mentions that the capture is “non-violent,” and that no animals are harmed or killed during the event.

The wine itself is full-bodied with dark berry flavors that are, quite-frankly, completely obliterated by the aforementioned rusted blood notes. There was notable tannin in the wine, and I probably should have frozen it to use later this winter for braising.

I was curious what the Vivino world thought of this wine. My one-star rating was harsh but justified considering I poured the wine out without drinking it. Did others feel the same way? Not really. The wine has a solid 3.7 average star rating out of a possible 5 for the 126 ratings it received.

Perhaps I got a bad bottle? Perhaps my biochemistry, and my husband’s, picked up on something offensive in the wine? It’s not a stretch to assume that, like cilantro, there are some people who will love it and others who will absolutely abhor it. I do think its relevant to add that I am no stranger to wine faults and I did not detect any of the obvious ones. While the wine did have an oxidized quality to it, it did not taste scorched or like it was overexposed to heat.

James Suckling gives this wine 93 points, which probably explains why I don’t give much weight to James Suckling ratings as an accurate measure of a wine that I will like. I cannot in good faith recommend this wine to anyone, but if you have had the fortune or misfortune of purchasing this already, let me know in the comments or on our forum what you thought.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 75 Points

Costco Item Number: 1264208, price: $14.99

Alcohol: 12.5%

The post 2015 Poggio al Casone La Cattura Toscana IGT appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

The Kirkland Brunello is always an interesting wine ever since we saw the first vintage of it, the 2010, arrive in Costco stores.

That 2010 vintage was incredible and I thought we were setting the course for an amazing new addition to the Kirkland family…until the following year when the 2011 came out.  It was a vastly inferior wine and when I tasted the two vintages side by side, it didn’t even seem like the same wine.

Last year’s 2012 vintage was kind of in the middle, and that’s where I’m finding this brand new 2013 vintage; maybe just a hair more enjoyable than last year, but when you enter that $20-$30 range, particularly at Costco, you can find some truly beautiful wines.  A Spanish Ribera, Rioja or Toro will suit your needs quite nicely.

This wine is 100% Sangiovese, and it benefited from some age; on the pour you can see a slight maroon, rust color, indicating this wine wasn’t made yesterday.

It’s light enough in the glass that you can see through it; the nose is full of cherry scents with what smelled to me like a hint of cinnamon along with some herbs.  In the mouth it is medium in body with flavors of red fruit, predominantly cherry, a little sourness; the wine was soft with mellow tannins and improved as it aired out a bit.

The finish is a strong point to the wine; it is dry, dusty and lasting.  And that’s why I’m going to go a point higher this year, compared to last year’s wine which I felt was weaker towards the end.

It’s also worth noting that the price seems to have risen slightly with this new 2013 vintage; this wine used to be priced at $25, instead of $27.

Overall, there’s plenty to like in this wine, but it does leave you wanting a little bit more; for that reason, if you’re a Brunello fan, I’d say try one and see what you think.  But like we said before, $27 at Costco can score you some tasty wines, so you may decide to shop around.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 points

Costco item number: 1001151, price: $26.99

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 14%

Be sure to let us know what you think by sharing your opinion in the Costco Wine Blog forums.

The post 2013 Kirkland Signature Series Brunello di Montalcino appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

When browsing the wine aisles at Costco, you have to keep an eye out for wines like this Casa E di Mirafiore Barolo that are sometimes easy to miss alongside the Chianti and Brunello bottles they are frequently placed next to.

Costco’s price was $28.99, which is fantastic for any Barolo, and even better for a tasty one like this.  Bounce over to Wine.com and you can see this wine would go for $38.

It’s also worth noting the high scores for this wine across the board, highlighted by a 96 point rating from Decanter.  Indeed, once I got into this one, it really is a beautiful wine at a price that’s hard to beat.

In the glass, the wine is light and see through; Barolo is made from the Nebbiolo grape which looks similar to Pinot Noir in the glass, but it’s a grape that packs a ton of punch in the mouth.  (if you want to take a deeper dive into the grapes and wines of Italy, feel free to check out our book, Decoding Italian Wine).

Really vibrant aromas, perfume and cherry on the nose; big as expected in the mouth with soft tannins and a good dose of acidity; flavors of sour cherry, plum, and strawberry rounded out by mocha and white chocolate notes towards the finish, which is bone dry.

This is a delicious wine that paired perfectly with meatballs we prepared.  It’s one of those ultra-versatile wines that really could pair with about anything.  Improves with a little air; this is a nice buy on an elegant wine that feels (and tastes) like it should cost a bit more.

We’ll be adding to our Top Picks list, and if we get the chance, might try to pop a couple in the cellar as I think they would really develop further in the years to come.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 91 points (a CostcoWineBlog Top Pick)

Costco item number: 948330, $28.99

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 14%

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