Fast Facts:
- 2016 Stasis Pinot Noir, Murmur Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley, California ($13.99* @Costco in California – Item #826896)
- 2018 Four Virtues Pinot Noir, Monterey County, California ($9.99* @Costco in California – Item #1556414)
*net price after $10 (Stasis) and $7 (Four Virtues) discounts
I do hope you appreciate all that alliteration we packed into that subject line. That’s 4 – count ’em – four P’s a popping!
We are big fans of the Stasis Chardonnay from Costco. I do recall having to overcome my reluctance to try it given its age. It was a 2015 and some five-plus years old when we discovered it. Costco’s generous $10 discount was all the incentive we needed to put a few bottles in our cart. We are glad we did.
The Stasis Pinot Noir is like history repeating itself. It’s from the same producer, and the same vineyard even. Despite long time reader Moshe encouraging me to try this wine, I had similar reservations given the 2016 vintage. But once again, a $10 discount did the trick…
Tasting Notes:
Aged for six months in oak barrels, there is a noticeable taste of oak in the mix. The nose has notes of herbs, plums, and strawberries. It has bright acidity and a smooth taste of cloves, vanilla, cherry and strawberry. It finishes long with flavors of plum, black cherry and allspice.
Now, about the Four Virtues 2018 Pinot Noir:
Tasting Notes:
Pours a nice burgundy color. Aromas of black plum, blackberry and baking spices. Flavors of tart black plum, lilac and violet flavors are framed by toast and wood on the palate. Notes of bing cherry and a white pepper on the finish.
We often emphasize the important of “the right grapes from the right place” in our posts. And the Santa Maria Valley in northern Santa Barbara county is certainly “a right place.” It is home to the acclaimed Bien Nacido Vineyard. Thanks to these chunky Costco discounts, you can add “the right price” to the purchase equation. You can’t go wrong with these two renditions of Pinot Noir.
Need More Wine Picks from Costco – or Trader Joe’s Even?
If your wine shopping excursions land you in Costco, prepare by grazing 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.
Happy hunting.
Cheers!