I love Chianti this time of the year, maybe because there’s just so much great food around all the time to pair it with. It’s definitely one of those wines that is exponentially better with the right food pairing.

I usually tell people that if they’re going to buy a bottle of Chianti, they should look for a Chianti Classico. While the “Classico” region is generally accepted as producing the highest quality wines of Chianti, I tend to recommend these simply because they are easier to find than those from the other five areas within Chianti.

A wine that is simply labeled “Chianti” can be made from grapes that are from anywhere within the Chianti area, so Chianti Classicos are little more specified. Additionally, wines labeled “Riserva,” such as this one, must be aged for at least two years before release. Aging these wines softens their tannins and rounds out the palate.

Chianti Classicos are easy to spot if you look for the black rooster on the neck of the bottle. Costco is good about usually having a few different ones to choose from, and a fair price range for these wines is from about $15-$25.

The wine opens with a nose of black cherries, milk chocolate, and new leather. On the palate, the wine is dry and fruity with undertones of clove and dark plums. The finish is lingering. I really enjoyed the wine, and we paired it with spaghetti and meatballs.

Other acceptable pairings for Chianti include porcini risotto, pizza, lean grilled meats, and even salmon picatta. When you’re having a red-sauce based pasta dish, you really want to avoid big fruit-bombs like Zinfandel or even California Cabernet because tomatoes tend to mute the ripe fruit flavors of these wines and make them seem bland. Italian wine, especially Chianti, tends to have enough acidity and metallic-like-qualities that can stand up to marinara and bolognese.

James Suckling gives this wine 93 Points while Wine Enthusiast gives it 89. It doesn’t seem to be available in massive quantities like other wines that Costco carries, so I would recommend stocking up if you like Chianti Classico since this is an excellent example of what these wines should be and at a fair price.

CostcoWineBlog.com rating: 90 Points

Costco Item Number: 1264186

Alcohol:13.5%

Purchased in Buford, GA

The post 2013 Castello di Bibbione Chianti Classico Riserva appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

We reviewed this wine a while back, but since each new release of a Kirkland Signature label can essentially be a totally different wine, I feel that it’s relevant to review it again. Also, December 31st is fast-approaching and there is no better way to toast to the New Year than with a glass of bubbles.

Now, on special occasions I usually like to open a bottle of Champagne. But what about when that bottle has been poured out amongst multiple people in under an hour?

Sparkling wine goes down a little too fast in a crowd, and opening multiple bottles of a $20-$50 wine can add up fast. This is why I love to always have a few bottles of KS Prosecco on hand. Most people won’t even notice that they’ve moved on from Champagne to Prosecco, especially if you’re mixing it with orange juice. I always tell Costco members not to buy expensive sparkling wine for their mimosas because it’s a waste of money. KS Prosecco is perfect for this occasion.

The Kirkland Prosecco is a DOCG wine, the highest quality designation that a Prosecco can have because it’s both controlled (controllata) and guaranteed (guarantita). The difference between a DOC Prosecco and a DOCG Prosecco is that the latter has been approved by a tasting panel, and therefore the wine is guaranteed to taste as it should. The wine is also designated “superiore” which means that is has 0.5% higher alcohol content than it would otherwise.

Having only 11% ABV and being “extra dry” according to the back label, this wine is light, fruity, and with just a hint of sweetness. “Extra dry” sparking wines actually have a greater amount of residual sugar than “brut” wines, so if you’re looking for the driest possible Champagne, Cava, or Prosecco, reach for “brut” instead of “extra dry,” That being said, the additional sweetness in this Prosecco is very slight, and completely undetectable in a mimosa.

For my notes, I wrote “aggressive bubbling,” to describe the cyclone bubbling action that emerged from the bottom of my flute. It bubbled this way for at least five minutes.

Prosecco is made by the Charmat method, which is a fancy name for “steel tank fermentation.” Prior to bottling, the wine undergoes a second fermentation in these large tanks, unlike Champagne and Cava where this would occur in the bottle. Because of this, the mouse (bubbles) isn’t as fine.

There is a third way to produce sparkling wine as well, a method that I like to call the “Coke method,” which is simply pumping CO2 into still wine juice as it’s bottled, in the same way that soda pop is produced. The disadvantage of preparing sparkling wine in this way, apart from the abomination of respectable wine-making, is that the wine becomes flat very quickly.

The nose on this wine was interesting. I keep a mini dry erase board affixed to the side of our refrigerator so that I can jot tasting notes down while preparing dinner. I usually assign a score rather quickly and write down anything that jumps out at me.

For this wine, I wrote “green apple but the fake candy flavor. Green apple Jolly Rancher.” This was the predominant and overwhelming tasting note that I got. The wine is very lightly sweet and the bubbles are aggressive, as I mentioned before.

While it’s good on its own, the finish is kind of blah and unimpressive. I really think this wine is perfect for mixed drinks because fruit juices will tame the bubbles.

The KS Prosecco has always been a favorite of mine and I like to have a few bottles on hand for company. While there is no vintage designation for the wine, the current release is of a similar quality to those I’ve tasted in the past.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 Points

ABV: 11%

The post Kirkland Signature Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

This is a super interesting Costco wine find that was absolutely delicious. This is one of those wines you don’t go in looking for, you come up not sure what you have, and in the end, you’re pleasantly surprised you rolled the dice.

First off, it’s a 2011 vintage and it’s drinking really nice right now. It’s soft and elegant in the mouth, just in a perfect place.

Next, it’s a blend you don’t see everyday – 50% Primitivo and 50% Negroamaro. Primitivo is derived from the same Croatian grape (Crljenak) as Zinfandel. Negroamaro is a black grape that’s popular in Italy’s Puglia region. So we have quite the interesting combo here.

We also have a super heavy bottle, wrapped in an elaborate white label that proudly promotes the wine’s 91 point score from Wine Spectator. Price was $19. So consider me your guinea pig on this wine. I was intrigued to say the least.

In the glass the wine is a dark blood red with hints of a few years of age around the edges that are lightening up. Juicy aromas on the nose in the mouth; loads of red fruit, raspberry, strawberry, cranberry even that is a lot fresher than you might expect from a wine that is eight years old.

The finish is dry as can be, really nice; a little pepper, some chocolate towards the end; lingering taste of a chocolate covered cherry.

Like I said before, this isn’t the type of wine you run into every day. It’s a fun one for a change that’s super food friendly, and just really enjoyable every single drink. I gave it a decant and really liked how it evolved over the course of an hour. Glad we went out on a limb and tried this wine.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 points

Costco item number: 1262107

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 14.5%

We want to hear from you. We value your opinion and want to continue to grow our awesome community here so please leave your thoughts in the comments below; or jump over to the Forums and share your experience with this wine or any others you want to post about.

And remember, we wrote a book all about Italian wine including Primitivo and Negroamaro, and a bunch of other popular Italian wine varietals and regions. Check it out if this sounds up your alley. We intended for it to be a super fast, highly educational read.

The post 2011 Tenute Girolamo Conte Giangirolamo IGP Puglia appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

Ironically, the 2012 vintage of one of our favorite Chiantis is the last vintage that we’ve seen at Costco stores near us.  And that’s a really bummer because year after year this wine is a screaming buy for $20.

We last looked at this wine in January of 2017, at which time I mentioned I’d be cellaring one to see how it developed over the course of another couple of years.  And now that moment has come, and the wine is every bit of delicious as it was two years ago; with a little bit more silky mouthfeel and elegance, as two years in the bottle can help provide.

Flavor profile was very similar; cherry, strawberry; the body was more medium than the medium to full I noted before; this bottle is really drinking about in its prime right now; I wouldn’t let it go much longer.

Looking at scores from the critics on the vintages after this 2012, this wine consistently scores 90+.  The 2015 vintage in fact, received insane scores from Suckling (96 points) and Wine Spectator (94 points). 

Let’s hope that’s the next vintage to arrive in Costco stores.  I’ll be scooping a few bottles up right away.  If anyone sees this Monsanto in their Costco, please let us know, and note the vintage and the price.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 Points

Costco item number: 34484

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc 14%

The post Cellar Series: 2012 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

How ironic is this? Just a few days ago I posted a Cellar Series review of the 2012 Monsanto Chianti, a bottle I’d been cellaring for couple of years to see how it would taste later.

It was delicious and confirmed my feelings that the Monsanto Chianti is just a solid buy year to year, and one that can even get a little better with some age.

At the end of the review I noted that the 2012 was the last vintage of Monsanto that I’d seen in Costco, and it’d been two years. Until the other day, when much to my surprise, did I not only find Monsanto Chianti at my Costco, but I found two vintages along with a price drop down to $17.99, from $20.

Boom, bought both vintages, the 2014 and the 2015, the latter of which received 96 points from James Suckling and 94 points from Wine Spectator. The 2014 scored some low 90 ratings too, but the 2015 is really looking like the killer buy. So I tried them both side by side to help guide you in which one to buy.

The short answer is they are both excellent wines. If you’ve enjoyed Monsanto Chianti in the past, then you will be very pleased with either one of these vintages.

Perhaps I’m a little jadded by the critic ratings because I did see them in advance, but the 2015 is a clear notch above, and definitely the bottle you want to buy. I’d hunt through the bin to grab the ’15s. And ’15 was a monster vintage in Italy.

Both wines look similar in the glass, dark and rich, and they are packed with spicy black cherry and black currant; savory and peppery, dry with a long finish; the 2015 vintage brings depth and layers that are noticeable when you taste them side by side; more elegance and softness to the tannins. Definitely deserving of a couple additional points.

I should have bought another 2015 for the cellar, as I think it will develop nicely. Based on our experience drinking the 2012 vintage after seven years, I would guess this 2015 would be really something special in 2022. But it’s drinking just fine today. Be sure to let us know what you think.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 2014 vintage, 90 points; 2015 vintage 93 points (a CostcoWineBlog Top Pick)

Costco item number: 34484

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc 14%

The post 2014-2015 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

Someone online posted a photo of a Costco wine bin that was labeled for this Barbera D’Asti but it contained bottles of Brunello.  When I saw it I remember thinking how much I’d like to try the Barbera if it did exist.   Well, that’s exactly what happened as I found it at my Costco on my latest visit.

Price was right too at $14.69. Online it can be found for pretty close to that if you really poke around, but most outlets seem to have it for around $20.

And it just so happens that we were preparing meatballs, using almost all Costco ingredients of course.  This wine just begs to be consumed with a red meat or red sauce dish so it was perfect timing.

The wine is comprised of at least 90% Barbera grapes as designated by its DOCG status (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), and the grapes originate from the famed Piedmont region of northwestern Italy.  We wrote a book that simplifies Italian wine regions and classifications if you’re interested in learning more.

Overall, I find Italian Barbera wines to deliver incredible value, and this one is a perfect example.  It pours super dark in the glass with ripe fruit, pepper and spice on the nose; delicious in the mouth with flavors of black cherry, raspberry, plum and spicy pepper; the wine has some good acidity with tannins that were pretty tight.  There’s no question this wine could age for a few years and soften up; in the meantime a good decant helped bring it alive. Finishes dry.

It was perfect with the meatballs, and would be great with many Italian dishes.  Perfect for pizza night too. Wine Advocate went 90 points, and I’m going to come in just a point below them.  This is a fun wine that’s a bit different than the usual Costco selection and one that I thought was pretty tasty.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 points

Costco item number: 689180

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 14.5%

The post 2017 Renato Ratti Barbera D’Asti appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

Here’s another inexpensive Italian white wine you might want to consider as the weather warms up.  It’s hard to go wrong with Gavi, and Costco’s price of $11.99 is pretty solid for this wine.  It retails around $18, and online it’s a few bucks cheaper than that.

Gavi comes from Italy’s Piedmont region, where many of Italy’s top red wines are produced.  Gavi is the town around which the wine appellation is centered, and the grape used in the wines is Cortese, which you don’t hear a lot of people discussing.  But they should, and we’ll get into our tasting notes in a second.

And I’d be remiss not mentioning our Italian wine book. I know, I know, we’ve been plugging the books a fair amount lately, so this will be the last of it.  But we have a whole section on Gavi (and many other awesome white wines of Italy) in the book if you’re interested in learning more.  Now, on to the wine…

On the pour it’s super light, almost clear with just the faintest hint of yellow.  Loads of peach and honey on the nose; more fruit in the mouth where the wine is medium in body; tarty, lemon cream, pineapple and green apple, with plenty of acidity; finishes nice, dry and almost reminded me of the lingering scent of an old school creamsicle purchased from the ice cream guy on a hot day.

Overall this wine is crisp, refreshing and keeps you coming back for more.  It’s perfect poolside or at the beach.  Similar in many ways to this Albarino we reviewed last and really enjoyed for the same price; both wines that you might want to stock up on at Costco if you see them.  I have a feeling these will sell through before the warm summer months when they will taste really good.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 87 points

Costco item number: 482736

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 12.5%

The post 2018 Banfi Principessa Gavia Gavi appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

Finding any bottle of Barolo for $20 is almost impossible and it’s even harder to find a good one, but that’s exactly what we have here. 

Originating from Italy’s premier Piedmont region, this wine is made with the Nebbiolo grape (which is also featured in Barbaresco) and while it’s deceivingly light on the pour, as Barolos tend to be, it packs some hefty flavor in the mouth.

In the glass the wine is light, transparent ruby in color; so light that you can see through it. It smells like a floral bouquet with a bit of baking spice; medium in body, this wine was acidic and tannic, signature Barolo all around.

Dominant flavors of spicy cherry, red licorice and a little cherry cola; a great big lasting finish.  This is a definitely a wine that I would recommend decanting as it really came alive on the second glass.

I’ve tasted Barolos that cost much more than this one, but I’d put this bottle right alongside many of them.  A nice buy for sure.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 89 points

Costco item number: 1332169

Alc. 14%

This wine was received as a sample for the purpose of writing this review. All reviews are written at the discretion of the individual reviewer. Opinions of the reviewer do not necessarily reflect those of CostcoWineBlog.com as a whole, and reviewers are not paid for their reviews by wineries or their affiliated distributors. We at CostcoWineBlog.com believe that wine preferences and opinions are often subjective and highly individualistic. Our scores are based on our individual perception of a wine and how well it reflects the area in which the grapes are grown, the expression of the grapes, and also the quality of the finished product. We remind readers that we are 100% independent of Costco Wholesale Corporation, and are simply of a group of Costco wine fans looking to try new wines and share our favorites with this community.

The post 2015 Legato Barolo appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

This is always an exciting one to see in the clubs, and this year it features a bold label change that I think is nice.  In previous years, the label has been beige with red print and an illustration of the Chianti countryside. 

Now, the label is royal blue with a gold foil print and crest featuring an animal along with grape vines.  Further investigation into what this animal could be was unsuccessful.

The back label features the same description as last year but “100% Sangiovese” has been omitted.  This does not necessarily mean the wine isn’t 100% Sangiovese, but it must comprise at least 80% of the principle grape, with small amounts of other grapes like Canaiolo or Merlot making up the remainder.  Villa Cafaggio Estate is once again responsible for this juice, which has aged for at least 24 months.    

The wine is clean and simple.  It benefits from a 30 minute decant, which accentuates the sour cherry character of the wine.  I got a lot of earthy, wet forest floor on the nose as well as mushrooms and cherry. 

The palate is balanced and features red currants and vanilla.  The alcohol content this year is slightly lower than the previous two vintages,

I would absolutely open this wine with pizza or a spaghetti-and-meatball dinner.  Mushroom risotto with rosemary would make an ideal pairing, as well as grilled chicken and flank steak. 

Costco has an excellent marinated flank steak that I like to grill and serve rice and Kirkland signature Caesar salad.  This wine would be a fine accompaniment to that.

This wine moves fairly quickly in the Costcos that I frequent, so I urge you to grab a bottle today so that you have time to decide if you want to come back for a case. 

The price is almost too-good-to-be-true for a Chianti Classico Riserva, making this yet another good value Costco product. 

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points   

Alcohol: 13%

Costco Item #: 944010

Purchased in Alpharetta, GA

The post 2015 Kirkland Signature Chianti Classico Riserva appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

We reviewed the previous vintage of this wine, so I was interested to try the 2016 release.  Once again, the empty bottle could double as a weapon, easily twice as large and four times as heavy as your standard 750ml.  This is a DOC wine, meaning that production follows the rules required in order to label the juice “Valpolicella Ripasso.”

I always explain Valpolicella wines in this way.  You have your standard Valpolicella DOC, which is a red wine composed of any combination of Corvina, Rondinella, and usually Molinara.  This is your first-tier wine in the series.  A step up from this would be the Valpolicella Ripassos, which is basically a regular Valpolicella wine that has been “passed over” leftover Amarone must. 

Amarone is the third and highest tier in the series, made exclusively from raisinated grapes; again, some combination of Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara.  Some producers also produce a wine made partially from semi-dried grapes, and I would place this wine above regular Valpolicella but below Valpolicella Ripasso.  Zenato’s Alanera (which I have recently seen at my local Costco) and Masi’s Campofiorin are examples of this unofficial 2^nd tier wine. 

Tenuta Valleselle’s Valpolicella Ripasso must be made from predominantly Corvina grapes, and according to the back label this is so.  Rondinella and Corvinone are also a part of the blend, and we can assume that the juice has soaked on Amarone must. 

You can also assume that if a producer makes a Valpolicella Ripasso, they will have a more expensive Amarone in their portfolio as well.  This is true in the case of Tenuta Valleselle, and I’ve seen their Amarone at Costco in the past. 

Ripassos (not to be confused with Ripassa, which is a marketing term originated by Zenato) are what I like to call “baby Amarones.”  You get some of that concentrated raisin juice quality without paying the premium that goes along with using four times as many grapes for a single bottle of wine. 

These wines definitely need time to open.  A good way to ruin a Valpolicella Ripasso or Amarone experience is to open the wine and drink it immediately.  Air and time really lift the jammy fruit flavors out of these wines.  Allow at least one hour for a Ripasso to open and ideally, at least two hours for an Amarone. 

This wine has muted fruit flavors of stewed figs and rhubarb.  My pallet always picks up a metallic, blood-like quality to Italian wines, excellent for identifying regions in a blind tasting, but unfortunate to my own personal preference.  I definitely picked that up here.  I got sour cherries and cola before the moderate finish. 

The alcohol is right where it should be for a Ripasso, a solid 14%.  Amarones, in contrast, on account of being highly concentrated from juice with significant sugar content, can get up into 16-17% ABV.  This is why some say that there is a Port-like similarity to these wines.  

While not my favorite Ripasso that I’ve had (Zenato’s Valpolicella Ripasso is one of my top ten favorite wines of all time) this wine is a good value for the $13.99 price tag and comes in quite an impressive package.  Most Ripassos are at least twice this price.  When you decant this wine, be sure to display the bottle alongside the decanter for show. 

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 Points

Alcohol: 14%

Costco Item Number: 1279672

Purchased in Alpharetta, GA

The post 2016 Tenuta Valleselle Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

I love the shape of this bottle. It’s short and fat and looks like the top-half of a magnum. Perhaps not the best fit to store on a wine rack, but this type of wine can be stored upright for years without compromise. I don’t personally recommend storing this wine for years, however.

I usually head straight to the large display of purple-labeled Kirkland Prosecco for my everyday sparkling wine needs. I rarely drink Prosecco by itself because I love mimosas. For this reason, I don’t much care for the subtle nuances of these wines since I’m muting them with orange juice. That being said, I am glad that I picked up this wine because I thoroughly enjoyed it on its own.

The mark of a good Prosecco is one that is well-balanced in sweetness and acidity with a finish that is crisp and clean. This wine is “Extra Dry,” which is deceivingly not the most dry category of sparkling wine. Prosecco is made from the Glera grape, high in acidity, and needs a bit of residual sugar to keep everything balanced. If you want a bone-dry Prosecco, however, look for “Brut” on the label.

This wine is a step up from your everyday mimosa Prosecco. The Valdobbiadene province is touted for producing more concentrated wines than those simply labeled “Prosecco DOCG,” which can use grapes from any of a number of areas within Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

I got a lot of crisp green apple on the nose and palate with notes of white peach and fresh flowers. This wine is perfect for summer and would pair well with a variety of appetizers. In Italy, Prosecco is often consumed as an aperitivo (prior to the meal) with finger foods. The wine is often mixed with Aperol or Campari in order to make a spritz.

If you’ve never tried one of these cocktails, I recommend doing so this summer. You want to use about an ounce and half of either of the aforementioned bitter liquors and pour it over ice. Then you simply top with 3-4 oz. of Prosecco and garnish with an orange slice.

I will definitely pick up another bottle of this wine when I see it again. The price was more than fair at $10.99 per bottle, and I much prefer this to the next competing Prosecco mega-brand at the same price.

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

Alcohol: 11%
Purchased in Alpharetta GA
Costco Item Number: 798821   

The post NV Casa Farvive Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

I worked at a restaurant in New York that had an excellent Italian Sauvignon Blanc by the glass.  I remember people’s reactions when they would try it, a mixture of surprise and delight, and for this reason I would often recommend it. 

A lot of people tend to associate Sauvignon Blanc with either grapefruit, freshly-cut grass, or gooseberry if you actually know what a gooseberry tastes like (I don’t).  I also get a lot of bell or jalapeno pepper in these wines, especially those from New Zealand.

Italian Sauvignon Blanc, for the most part, is not like others.  I think it tastes like a New World Bordeaux blend or even just some other exotic white grape that I’m not familiar with.

The proper name of the region from which these grapes are grown is Friuli Venezia Giulia, and it’s located in North-Easternmost Italy at what would be the top right of the boot bordering both Austria and Slovenia.  The DOC for this wine is Friuli Colli Orientali, famous for the white Friulano grape wines and popular for Pinot Grigio. 

The front label of this wine is very simple, with only the producer’s name, “wine of Friuli” in Italian, and “Sauvignon.”  Because there are other white grapes that begin with the name Sauvignon, I had to look the DOC up to make sure that it was in fact Sauvignon Blanc.

Italian wine as well as Italian wine labels are about as confusing as an investment account statement, so my advice is to just Google the DOC to find out what grapes are used for that particular designation. 

This wine pours a very light straw color in the glass and has aromas of ripe lemon, jasmine, and peach.  One the palate, crisp acidity is well-balanced and the wine finishes with a pithy quality that was off-putting at first.  There is a lot of herbaceousness and zest in the finish as well.  I really enjoyed this wine, and it was great on its own but would really shine with the right food pairing.

I’ve been told before that when it comes to Italian wine and food pairings that it’s best to match the wine to the food that is popular in that area.  Popular dishes from Friuli include white asparagus (very unlike the green asparagus that you are familiar with and a must-try if you ever have the fortune to find it in season), cherry gnocchi, Jamar cheese, and smoked trout. 

I would personally recommend pairing this wine with a variety of fresh shellfish and grilled fish dishes.  The lemon and zest of the wine will really compliment seafood dishes. 

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

Alcohol: 13%

Costco Item Number: 1349823

Purchased in Buford, GA

The post 2017 Zorzettig Sauvignon Blanc appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

We always love seeing some different white wine varietals hit Costco as it’s a pleasant change from the sea of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blancs that tend to dominate most store shelves.

We recently found some tasty Albarino that we recommend, and this Vermentino is another winner for only $12.99.  The retail price seems to be between $15-$19.

Vermentino is one of those varietals that you just don’t normally tend to seek out on its own, but when you encounter a bottle, it usually surprises and delights you.  Bang for the buck, they’re hard to beat, especially one like this that carries the discounted Costco price.

In Italy, most Vermentino is produced on the island of Sardinia, although you will find it elsewhere in the country, like this bottle from Tuscany.  It’s also worth noting that the wine is made from organic grapes.

This wine is light on the pour with just a tint of yellow.  On the nose, I got stone fruit and wet rock; there’s a mineral component throughout.  This wine is definitely on the sour side with pineapple, grapefruit and lemon/lime flavor; nice acidity and an excellent finish.

I could see fans of New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs enjoying this wine, but it might not find favor with fans of oaky and buttery Chardonnays.  It’s a perfect wine to pair with salad, white fish (thinking Halibut), or sushi.  It’s also perfectly good on its own on a hot day.  Lots to like here at a great Costco price.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 points

Costco item number: 582983

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 13%

The post 2018 Prelius Vermentino Maremma Toscana appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

It’s amazing how wines can hit you differently. We found the 2017 vintage of this Kirkland Pinot Grigio to be rather bland; drinkable sure, but not a lot going on. We scored it 85 points.

Either the producer stepped it up a notch, or we got the last one wrong, because this 2018 vintage was an enjoyable wine for only $5.99. Sure, there’s not a lot to compare to in the price range, and I’m glad Costco hasn’t raised it year to year.

We found this wine to have a bit more body and more flavor than the previous vintage. Otherwise, the notes are pretty consistent.

The wine pours clear almost see through in the glass. We picked up some fresh cut grass and herbs on the nose; flavors of lemon, citrus, apricot and green apple. Crisp acidity.

I would never guess this wine was only $6 if tasting it blind. As I mentioned previously, the grapes are from the Friuli region in northeast Italy which is known for the Pinot Grigio it produces (we wrote a book about Italian wine that includes a lot more info on the region and its wines if you’re interested).

I’m going to bump up the rating to 88 points, from a previous 85. We might have got this one wrong the first time around. Please let us know in the comments below or over on the Costco Wine forums if you agree/disagree.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 points

Costco item number: 652129

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Als. 12.5%

The post 2018 Kirkland Signature Pinot Grigio Friuli appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

I completely picked this wine out of the blue, figuring that a little something different from the Italian landscape would be fun. And not that I read too much into it, but it was hard not to notice the 93 point rating from James Suckling, for a bottle that was $11.79 at my Costco (online for $18, retail around $20).

I was just hoping for a good buy, but this wine turned out to deliver a lot more than that. Not a 93 pointer for me, but not too far off, and this is an amazing price for an elegant and super enjoyable wine.

This wine comes from Italy’s Valpolicella region and while I couldn’t confirm the exact varietal makeup, it appears to be dominated by Corvina, likely with smaller parts of Rondinella, Corvinone, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is light and elegant in the mouth, but packs a nice punch and drinks way above its pay grade.

It has that signature Italian dusty library book on the nose with a bit of dried fruit. Super juicy and alive in the mouth with flavors of black cherry, dark berry fruit and pomegranate; finishes up dry and dusty.

My first reaction was that this is the ultimate every day food and pizza wine, and it could definitely fit that bill. But there’s more going on here. This is a well structured, rather elegant wine that still leaves me guessing how it’s only $12.

I’d be ready to stock up on this bottle if you find it at your local Costco, especially fans of Italian wines like Amarone, Chianti and Super Tuscans. I think you’d be hard pressed to find an Italian wine of comparable quality at the same price point. I intend to stock up for the winter if I see this one again.

Definitely a Top Pick for the site, and likely one of the least expensive Top Picks we’ve discovered.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 points (a CostcoWineBlog Top Pick)

Costco item number: 1165712

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 13.5%

The post 2015 Zenato Alanera Rosso Veronese appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

Here’s one of the most anticipated Kirkland wines of the year, that generally comes out in the November time frame every year.  We’ve followed this one for every vintage since it’s incredible 2010 vintage debut, and each year since, we haven’t found the wine to be as good as that first vintage.

Here’s how we’ve graded the Kirkland Brunello over the years.
2010 – 92-93 points

2011 – 86 points

2012 – 87 points

2013 – 88 points

So we’ve been steadily climbing over the last few years, but still have a ways to go to get to that 92-93 point range we awarded the 2010 vintage.

And so what happens this year with the 2014?  Well, we’re going to flatline a bit.  The good news is the price has stayed consistent at $26.99.  But the wine is still just ok at that price tag, leaving me desiring a bit more, just like I felt after tasting the 2013 vintage.  

My tasting notes for this 2014 vintage are very similar to year’s past.  The wine starts with some dusty, earthy notes that my drinking companion called “Grandma’s old encyclopedia.”  I frequently use dusty old library book, but you get the idea.  A bit of herb on the nose too, leading into black cherry fruit, a touch of leather, nice acidity; the wine is medium in body so it’s fairly light in the mouth.

The finish is super dry.  All in all, not a bad wine, and one that tastes to me like a mid tier Chianti Classico.  That’s my hangup here.  I want more depth and complexity as you expect from a good Brunello.  It would be fun to taste this bottle side by side with another low end Brunello to see how they compare.

If you love Brunellos and have a little cushion in the wine budget, I’d give this one a shot to see what you think.  If you enjoyed last year’s this one is right in line.  If you are like me and ended up a bit on the fence with the 2013 vintage, than I might spend my $27 elsewhere.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 points

Costco item number: 1001151

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 14%

The post 2014 Kirkland Signature Series Brunello di Montalcino appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

Here’s a very nice bottle of white wine that people might not naturally gravitate too, but they should.

Gavi originates from Italy’s famed Piedmont area in the northwestern part of the country, and the wine is made from the Cortese grape, which is kind of an old school variety that’s been grown in the area forever. (yes, shameless plug, we have a book all about this.)

This bottle was really enjoyable, particularly at Costco’s price that was only $12.99, compared to a retail price that seems closer to $18-$20. And you can see in the Costco card above that Suckling went 92 points on this one.

The wine pours a nice golden, straw yellow; sweet citrus flavor on the nose but dry on the palate; green apple, lemon and melon flavors with tart and a touch of minerality; nice body and intensity throughout; this is a wine with a foot in both the new world and the old world.

I find a lot to like in this style of wine, and always find these somewhat offbeat varietals a lot of fun to try at Costco. It’s too easy to stay within the bounds of Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, and you miss out on really fun wines like this, or another Costco Italian white we enjoyed recently, this Vermentino.

If you’re in the mood to explore, this is a safe pick that is balanced enough to not give you too much of any one element. I’m a fan.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 88 points

Costco item number: 1372090

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 13%

The post 2017 Ottosoldi Gavi appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

Here’s a wine that a reader alerted me to, and on my next Costco visit…bam, there it was. This is a Tuscan blend that Costco is offering for $19.99. That compares to a retail that appears to be $30+ and an online price of around $25.

While poking around the Web about this wine, I found a few different breakdowns of the varietals, but I’m not sure how they netted out exactly for this vintage. I made few guesses but then a commentor let us know that the wine this year is comprised of Sangiovese and Merlot.

On the pour the wine is a light ruby red and you can faintly see a finger through it; aromatic, floral nose with dried fruit and spice; in the mouth is loads of spicy black cherry (reminiscent of NyQuil but tasty), a bit of leather and anise; it’s soft and light in the mouth; very elegant all around with a delicate finish. This wine is drinking perfectly right now.

This is a really nice buy at a fair price; it’s a perfect food wine, a perfect winter weather wine, and very crowd friendly. I think readers will find the elegance to be rather impressive for a wine under $20. I’m going to add it to our Top Picks list.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 points (a CostcoWineBlog Top Pick)

Costco item number: 518683

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 14%

The post 2015 Redi Orbaio Toscana Rosso appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

This bottle is an absolute steal at Costco. Not only is it a delicious wine, but Costco’s price is unbeatable. Online this one runs as high as $25, and at best around $17-$18. Costco’s price is $12.99. Run don’t walk to pick these up.

It’s also the perfect winter red, just pleasant throughout, great fruit, a nice dry finish; this wine can pair with so much and is excellent just on it’s own.

The blend is 40% Corvina Veronese, 30% Corvinone, 25% Rondinella, and 5% Sangiovese. Every critic I could find gave this a 90+point rating, including James Suckling who went as high as 94 points, which is pretty insane for a bottle that you can score for $13.

So what does this blend taste like? The wine pours a nice medium dark, ruby red; nose of spicy black cherry, black licorice and little musty scent; Juicy and full bodied in the mouth with loads of black cherry and blackberry; as I said before, the finish is bone dry.

Overall, this is a nicely balanced and unbelievably elegant wine at this price point. When tasting, I hadn’t done any research on the ratings and actually thought I paid $20 for the bottle, and I was still super impressed even then. At $13, it’s just that much better.

If you’re looking for value reds under $15, put this one at the top of your list. On the other side of the spectrum, I continue to see the Wines of Substance CS Cabernet still lingering for the same price. This is another top pick of ours under $15, and was on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines of 2019.

CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 90 points (a CostcoWineBlog Top Pick)

Costco item number: 38325

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 13.5%

The post 2015 Allegrini Palazzo Della Torre appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.

This is an interesting vintage of a perennial favorite Costco wine. Also, one that tends to see a wide distribution, so hopefully readers will be able to find it in their local warehouse.

Historically, this wine has been at Costco for under $20. The last vintage was $17.89, but this year we’re seeing a price increase to $20.89. I never like to see price increases on our favorite wines obviously, but this one still remains lower than most places. Wine.com for instance, sells it for $28.99. Other outlets are closer to the low $20s range.

We’re also coming off a huge year for this wine as the 2015 vintage was a beast. We loved it. The critics went gaga for it. I still have a couple bottles because I think it will be really fun to open in a few years.

The 2014 vintage was also strong, and we went 90 points on that one. Dig around your bins though and make sure there are not any 2015 vintages still hanging around. That’s the one to buy.

I actually didn’t like this new 2016 vintage right out of the bottle. The acidity was through the roof. Granted, I like the lively nature of this wine but it was a bit much to start with. After some air time though it chilled out a bit and I was able to taste its true character.

It has a lovely nose that is earthy and perfumy. Excellent mouthfeel; loads of cherry, spicy black cherry, anise with a hint of peppermint (nice touch during the holidays), tangy acidity throughout into a bone bone dry finish.

This remains an excellent wine and fantastic Chianti buy but I think it’s too early to drink this vintage. It needs another year, maybe two and at a minimum, it needs a good decant.

I think all the elements are there for this to be another fantastic vintage. On that accord, it’s a 90 point wine once again but perhaps not the 93-94 pointer that the critics awarded it. I’m going a solid 91 and I bet if I tasted it again in 2-3 years it would be 92-93. It kind of falls in between the ’14 and ’15 vintages for me.

Buy a couple if this sounds like your kind of wine, and if you’ve enjoyed it before.  Drink one now for fun and throw a couple away for a few years and see what happens. I think you will be rewarded in just another 2-3 years.

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

Costco item number: 34484

Purchased at Costco in: Atlanta, GA

Alc. 14%

The post 2016 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva appeared first on CostcoWineBlog.com.