A Big Brooding 95 Point Red to Satisfy Cab Lovers

Costco store display of 2018 Château Bouscassé, Madiran France - 95 points from the reputable Wine Enthusiast y'all

Fast Facts: 2018 Château Bouscassé, Madiran, France ($14.99 @ Costco, California – Item #1053420)   With the exception of their ubiquitous Kirkland Signature Wines, the “wine sets” at Costco stores throughout the U.S. tend to differ based upon the region they are in.  One of the more noticeable differences is that here on the west … Read moreA Big Brooding 95 Point Red to Satisfy Cab Lovers

Our Lucky 13 Most Recent Reviews of Costco Wines – Updated!

Photo of front of a Costco store

  Going shopping for wine at your local Costco?  Well take along this list of the 13 most recent posts that included wines from Costco. In this “case” think of it as your lucky 13! Click on any of the links below for item numbers, tasting notes – and more…   2021 Valle de Inez … Read moreOur Lucky 13 Most Recent Reviews of Costco Wines – Updated!

Our WoW! A Trader Joe’s Triple Threat Delivers the Goods

Store display of 2021 Merlot, Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Lot #123

Fast Facts: 2021 Merlot, Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #123, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, California  ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s in California)   I was really excited to get this wine home and try it. The reason was it had three things going against it. Conversely, this meant this was a wine that had promise … Read moreOur WoW! A Trader Joe’s Triple Threat Delivers the Goods

Think You Don’t Like Pinot Grigio? Think Again!

Costco store display of 2022 Italo Cescon, Pinot Grigio.

Fast Facts: 2022 Italo Cescon, Pinot Grigio, Veneto, Italy ($12.99 @Costco in California – Item #717775)   Since 1957, Italo Cescon has been producing wines in the beautiful region of Veneto, Italy. Today, the family continues to cultivate in the same region to bring that same joy and great taste to the table. The Cescon … Read moreThink You Don’t Like Pinot Grigio? Think Again!

A KS Bordeaux that Doesn’t Know its Right (Bank) from its Left?

Store display of 2020 Kirkland Signature Saint-Julien

Fast Facts: 2020 Kirkland Signature Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France ($17.99 @Costco in California – Item #1494198)   We were excited to find this new (to us) Bordeaux wine under the Kirkland Signature label last week at our local Costco.  I was eager to get it home, rest it and –  taste it.  Not only because it … Read moreA KS Bordeaux that Doesn’t Know its Right (Bank) from its Left?

There’s Something New and Exciting in the Spanish Wine Section at Trader Joe’s

Front label of the 2015 Trader Joe's Gran Reserva Rioja Lot #120. It's rarity for two reasons. The price and its red label.

Fast Facts: 2015 Trader Joe’s Gran Reserva Rioja Lot #120,  Rioja, Spain ($12.99 @Trader Joe’s in California) A few months back, our Wine of the Week (hereinafter, WoW!) was a Crianza Rioja, also from Trader Joe’s. You have no doubt memorized that review, in case of a pop quiz.  But in case your memory is … Read moreThere’s Something New and Exciting in the Spanish Wine Section at Trader Joe’s

Never Heard of Monastrell? Maybe You Have.

Costco store display of the 2020 Goru Verde Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain - 90 Points for just $7.99

Fast Facts: 2020 Ego Bodegas Goru Verde Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain ($7.99 @Costco in California – Item #1258623)   Let’s start with the basics.  Monastrell is a grape variety.  It’s a deeply bold, smoky red wine found in abundance in Central Spain and Southern France (where it’s known as Mourvèdre) and where it is the “M” … Read moreNever Heard of Monastrell? Maybe You Have.

Kirkland Signature RRV Chardonnay – Bingo!

Display of bottles of Kirkland Signature 2019 Russian River Valley (Sonoma County) Chardonnay at Costco

Fast Facts: 2021 Kirkland Signature Chardonnay,  Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California ($12.99 @Costco in California – Item #789895)   In her encyclopedic The Oxford Companion to Wine, author Jancis Robinson refers to Sonoma’s Russian River Valley as a “high quality California wine region and AVA west of Healdsburg along that portion of river that meanders through … Read moreKirkland Signature RRV Chardonnay – Bingo!

Think You Can’t Find High QPR Pinot Noir Under $10? Think again…

Bottle and glass of the 2021 Pinot Noir, Trader Joe's Reserve Lot #241, Santa Barbara County, California

Fast Facts: 2021 Pinot Noir, Trader Joe’s Reserve Lot #241, Santa Barbara County, California   ($9.99 @Trader Joe’s in California)   Pinot Noir has a problem. It’s being loved to death. Its precise rank varies by which list you consult, but it remains securely in the top 5 of all wine grapes, and second only to … Read moreThink You Can’t Find High QPR Pinot Noir Under $10? Think again…

Rosé + Prosecco = Summer Genius!

Front label of the 2021 Kirkland Signature Prosecco Rosé

Fast Facts: 2021 Kirkland Signature Prosecco Rosé, Veneto, Italy ($7.99 @Costco in California – Item #1521870) We spill no small amount of “ink” talking about the “old world” rules and regs when it comes to wine and how they are generally more restrictive than in the US and the new world.  Think of it as … Read moreRosé + Prosecco = Summer Genius!