Goats do Roam…

Store display of 2021 Richebois Côtes du Rhône Village, France ($7.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California)

Fast facts: 2021 Richebois Côtes du Rhône Village, France ($7.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California)   Coat do roan villahj. (That is how it’s pronounced.) While you’d be forgiven for thinking that wines labeled simply Côtes du Rhône are synonymous with Côtes du Rhône Village, there is actually a distinct step up in quality in the latter.  … Read moreGoats do Roam…

A Whole Lot of Red Wine Goodness for $5.99 from Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe's store display of 2019 The Originals Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington

Fast facts: 2019 Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington ($5.99 @ Trader Joe’s, California)   Before we start waxing about the grape, the vinification, the history…let’s say this: this is a great bottle of wine for $5.99!     I entered the wine business – at least as a professional, hehe – in the early nineties.  It … Read moreA Whole Lot of Red Wine Goodness for $5.99 from Trader Joe’s

Two Red Wines from Costco, and the Opposite Ends of the Rhone Price Spectrum

Bottle of 2019 Kirkland Signature Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France and 2020 Kirkland Signature Côtes Du Rhône Villages

Fast Facts: 2019 Kirkland Signature Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France ($22.99 @Costco in California – Item #777662) 2020 Kirkland Signature Côtes Du Rhône Villages ($6.99 @Costco in California – Item #887774)   And, just like that, we find ourselves on the other side of the Thanksgiving holiday and on the slippery slide down towards the December holidays and … Read moreTwo Red Wines from Costco, and the Opposite Ends of the Rhone Price Spectrum

Two Stunning Syrah/Shiraz from Trader Joe’s

Bottles and glasses of Trader Joe's Reserve 2018 Syrah from Paso Robles, California and 2018 Shiraz from Barossa, Australia - both $9.99 at TJ's

Fast facts: 2018 Trader Joe’s Reserve Shiraz, Lot 214, Barossa, Australia ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s,  California) 2018 Trader Joe’s Reserve Syrah, , Lot 209, Paso Robles, California ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s, California)   A Little Preamble: The Syrah grape is responsible for some of the most sought after bottlings in the world. In the Rhone Valley of … Read moreTwo Stunning Syrah/Shiraz from Trader Joe’s

French (Wine) Lessons from Costco – Très Bien at Under Ten!

Case stacked Kirkland Signature 2018 Bordeaux Superieur at Costco

Fast Facts: 2018 Kirkland Signature Bordeaux Supérieur, Bordeaux, France ($7.99 @Costco in California – Item #1184548) 2017 Gérard Bertrand Tautavel, Côtes du Rousillon Villages, France ($9.99 @Costco in California – Item #637442)   I think that it’s fair to say that most American wine consumers don’t understand French wine nearly as well as they do the wines … Read moreFrench (Wine) Lessons from Costco – Très Bien at Under Ten!

Three from Costco for this Thirsty Thursday – All Way Under $10!

Three Thirsty Thursday bottles of featured wines from Costco - all under $10!

Fast facts: 2018 Santa Rita Secret Reserve Pinot Noir, Leyda Valley, Chile $5.99* (@Costco, California, Item# 1154159) 2019 Kirkland Signature Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina $6.99 (@Costco, California, Item# 1239144) 2019 Kirkland Signature Côtes du Rhône Villages, Rhône Valley, France  $6.99 (@Costco; California – Item #: 887774) *net price after $5 in store discount If you’re like us, … Read moreThree from Costco for this Thirsty Thursday – All Way Under $10!

Two 90 Point Red Wines from Costco – both under $10. Nice!

Bottle and glass of both 2015 Flor de Campo Pinot Noir and Domaine de Carmignan red Rhone blend from Costco

Fast facts: 2015 Sanford Flor de Campo Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County, California $7.99* (@Costco, California, Item# 767331) 2017 Domaines de Carmignan Rouge, Côtes du Rhône, France $6.99 (@Costco, California, Item# 1353178) *net price after $12 (!) discount at register. Happy Thirsty Thursday! As I have opined here before, for all the many negatives about … Read moreTwo 90 Point Red Wines from Costco – both under $10. Nice!