A Pair of Special Cabs from Costco

Fast Facts:

• 2018 Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Suscol Vineyard, Napa Valley, California ($16.99 @Costco in California – Item #1491800)
• 2018 Bound, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California ($9.99* @Costco in California – Item #1422019)

*net price after $6 discount

 

The Mayacamas mountain range in Northern California separates two of the most famous wine regions in the United States. We are talking of course about the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Sonoma lies to the west, Napa is on the eastern side. Within these two regions are areas that are synonymous with great Cabernet Sauvignon.  Napa itself has built a luxury brand out of the grape. The wines (and the climate) of Sonoma are much more diverse, but the Alexander Valley has also carved out a reputation for producing really high quality “Cabs.”

 

About the 2018 Kirkland Signature Suscol Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon:

It is not an exaggeration to state that seeing a $17 vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa is pretty darn rare.  But what makes this wine even more rare is the fact that it comes from the Suscol Vineyard, which sells its fruit to some of the most prestigious brands in Napa.

From the bottle:

The Suscol Vineyard, depicted in gold on the front of the bottle, is located in Napa Valley. It has a cool mountain climate that produces full rich cabernet sauvignon profiles, containing aromas of plum, blackberry and mocha coffee framed by vibrant acidity and length.

This one checks all the boxes…and delivers on the all-important taste test.

 

This wine pours a lovely dark ruby. You can tell it is relatively young as there is no browning that comes with aging.  Notes of baking spice, mocha and blackberry on the nose are joined by flavors of ripe blueberry, dark chocolate and – it must be said – green pepper, which I like in a young Cab. Not all do. It finishes dry and tannic with some flavors of what the French would call garrique.

 

About the 2018 Bound Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon:

 

 

Tasting Notes:

Sourced from a prime vineyard near Healdsburg (our favorite place in Sonoma!)  this wine was aged 10 months in 75% French Oak and 25% American Oak, an expensive aging regimen for a $10 bottle. This is good stuff. It pours a lovely dark ruby and shows that the winemaker took it easy on the filtration.  A soft, round, ripe wine with smooth tannins, it has a medium to heavy body with flavors of black cherry, blueberry, vanilla, and chocolate. It is nicely balanced and has a long smooth finish.

 

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!