Bargain Barolo from Costco

Fast facts:

• 2017 Kirkland Signature Barolo, Italy ($19.99 @ Costco, California – Item #1355183)

Most of us have been asked the question: “if you could only eat one country’s food for the rest of your life, which would it be?”  I never hesitate to quickly answer: “Italian!”  And the same goes for the wines of Italy – their variety and quality and compatibility with food is among the best in the world. But like with the rest of the old world, within Italy, different regions have styles of wine and different food specialities as well. Which stands to reason when you consider that in the good old days before global supply chains, the food you ate came from your immediate vicinity, as did the wine. Is it any wonder they pair so well?  Winemakers made wines that naturally paired with what was going to be on the dinner table.

James Suckling awarded this KS Barolo 91 points, and although I usually find myself deducting two points from his scores, I think he is spot on this time.  So although you are going to have to part with $20 to try this little beauty, you get a really high QPR in the bargain. And for less that most Barolos this good would cost you. You will be glad to have tossed a bottle or two in that massive Costco cart and subjected yourself to the strangely humiliating review of your store receipt before you are allowed to pass through the massive roll up doors to your waiting getaway car. Maybe grab a pizza slice before you do, then pull the cork on this Barolo when you get home?

Tasting Notes:

This wine is a lovely see-through garnet color in the glass.  Expansive aromas of plums, cedar, vanilla and juicy cherry.  (I thought I detected a faint whiff of white truffle, but it might just be wishful thinking and nostaglia for the truffle festival we attended in nearby Alba several years ago.) Abundant flavors of black cherry in the mouth along with notes of licorice, toast and vanilla into the finish. The wine is medium plus to full in body, and finishes dusty, dry with lingering spice notes.  It is smooth and has good tannic structure and acidity.  We enjoyed this with a wild mushroom risotto from the Judith Barrett cookbook shown below.

 

Barolo is the most powerful and dramatic expression of the Nebbiolo grape. It takes its name from the village of Barolo in the Alba region of Piedmont in north west Italy.  The core of Barolo has always been the townships of Barolo, La Morra, Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d’Alba, which is where this Costco bottling hails from. And where this photo was taken by yours truly:

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!