Fast Facts:
- 2014 Kirkland Signature Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain ($13.99 @Costco in California – Item #1169328)
The nice thing about featuring Kirkland Signature wines here is that they are distributed nationally within the chain. Branded wines that we choose to feature on this blog can be hit or miss depending on where you live and whether Costco is stocking it in your region and/or store. It also doesn’t hurt that some of the best wine values at Costco are their private label Kirkland Signature wines. This one from Spain is a good reminder of how good a value these wines are. If you see it at your local store, I strongly suggest you snag several bottles. Especially if you are a fan of big, dark, red wines.
Tasting Notes:
This wine was aged for 13 months in new French oak, then transferred to American oak for 25 months, before spending an additional 24 months in the bottle. Consider giving this wine some time to open up by decanting for 30-60 minutes. Your patience will be rewarded with emphatic baking spice aromas and flavors of blueberry, blackberry, and black plum. The wine is nice and grippy, but the tannins have softened given the wine’s age. It finishes with notes of black pepper and spice and mocha. The spices, dark fruit and smoky flavors will enhance anything off the grill, roasted meats, rich pastas and wild mushroom risotto.
A New Kind of Old World
Ribera del Duero wines are known for being strong, dark-colored affairs. They are comparable to Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley, with the same rich, bold style. But the influence of the “old world” is evidenced in wines that are more refined, more balanced and with less over-powering oak. Although Spain is indeed considered an “old world” wine producer, Ribera del Duero is actually fairly new to the world wine stage, having only achieved its D.O. status in 1982. Back then there were only nine wineries and 15,000 acres in the region. Fast forward to today, and it is now home to 270 wineries and 55,000 acres of vineyards.
This Kirkland Signature wine is 100% Tempranillo and carries the Gran Reserva aging designation, which is the highest in Spain. This means a government mandate requiring 3-5 years of aging in oak barrels and the bottle, hence the older vintage. It got here as fast as it could!
Can You Find it on a Map?
As shown on the map below, Ribera del Duero spans the upper valley of the River Duero (known as the Douro River once it crosses into Portugal, to the west) in north-west Spain. Since none of us will be traveling to Spain anytime soon, maybe take your taste for wine adventure to your local Costco and secure some of this extraordinarily high QPR wine for your personal collection.
Need More Wine Picks from Costco – or Trader Joe’s Even?
If you are headed to Costco, prepare by taking a gander at our most recent reviews of Costco wines here in our Lucky 13 list.
And if your shopping finds you at Trader Joe’s, you can find our Lucky 13 list of TJ’s wine here.
Cheers!