Fast facts: 2020 Trader Joe’s Reserve Zinfandel, Lot #233, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s, California) Just in time for barbecue season and the first days of summer. There are few red wine varietals that are as good a match for grilled food as Zinfandel is. It was born for the role! … Read moreGot ‘cue? Then get your hands on this Zin!
Fast facts: 2020 Trader Joe’s Reserve Pinot Noir Lot #229, Santa Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County, California ($9.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California) When not obsessing on finding crazy good wine values to feature here, I am doing deep dives into the music of rock and power pop. If you are similarly afflicted, you may … Read morePinotrama!
Fast Facts: 2019 Kirkland Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Suscol Vineyard, Napa Valley, California ($16.99 @Costco in California – Item #1491800) The march of Kirkland Signature wines continues unabated. The flood gates have opened and we are not complaining. This is one of our favorites and we were delighted to see this just show up in … Read moreA Costco CabSauv that Checks All the Boxes – Well, Almost All
Fast facts: 2020 Kirkland Signature Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($19.99 @ Costco, California – Item #777662) Here is yet another import carrying the Kirkland Signature label that suggests the log jam in the supply chain has eased some, for now. If it seems like we only recently reviewed the 2019 vintage of this wine, you would be … Read moreHigh QPR in a CdP 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 … Read moreBargain Barolo from Costco
Fast Facts: 2020 Kirkland Signature Sancerre, Loire Valley, France ($14.99 @Costco in California – Item #1476058) We have commented on the shrinking wine set (especially imports) at Costco in recent posts. Ditto for Trader Joe’s. Well the dam may have broken, and our ship has clearly come in because a recent visit to my … Read moreCostco Wine Shoppers, Our Ship Has Come In
Fast facts: 2020 Trader Joe’s Reserve Merlot Lot #236, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, California ($9.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California) Even though we recently reviewed another $9.99 Merlot bottled under the Trader Joe’s Reserve moniker, that one was from Sonoma Valley. This one hails from the other watershed of the Mayacamas Mountains, they one … Read moreYep, Red Wine with Fish
Fast facts: 2018 Boen Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, California ($17.99* @ Costco, California – Item #1641974) *Net price after $5.00 store discount Let’s start with the name, BÖEN. The owner/winemaker chose it because, in his words: “BÖEN is a translation of ‘The Farm’ and I chose it as a reminder to … Read moreFrom the Pinot Master
Fast facts: 2019 Umani Ronchi, Casal di Serra, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Italy ($11.99 @ Costco, California – Item #1148623) We talk frequently about the things to look for when choosing a wine. We often cite “the right grape, from the right place.” We could add to that list: the right importer. I have … Read moreA Great Spring Wine has Sprung at Costco
Fast facts: 2018 Santa Rita Secret Reserve Red Blend, Maipo Valley, Chile ($10.99 @ Costco, California – Item #623337) While technically a new world blend, I would have pegged this red wine (a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan and 10% Grenache) as an old world wine, possibly French if tasted … Read moreThe Secret’s Out About these Great Chilean Wines from Costco