Reviews

We get a lot of pitches from wineries and PR folks to review wines from Costco, and accept them when we think it is going to be a wine that our readers will enjoy. This bottle was one of the more interesting ones that came our way. This is a proprietary Napa Valley red blend […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2023-priest-ranch-napa-valley-proprietary-red-blend/

Yet another Kirkland wine with the price actually going down. We’ve always said that access to good Napa Cabernet at $15 was a deal. Now it’s $14, and the wine hangs right there with past vintages. This is the base level Cabernet that Kirkland bottles, and as you can see from our scores over the […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2024-kirkland-signature-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon/

A monster vintage (2022) and one of our favorite areas of Bordeaux (Margaux) come together quite nicely here for $38.99 at Costco. We were a little surprised to see this one, especially in this vintage, and it marks the first time this wine has appeared at Costco that we’ve seen. Costco’s $38.99 price is pretty […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2022-chateau-siran-margaux-bordeaux/

“There’s something happenin’ here…” The “here” in this case is Oltrepò Pavese, in Lombardy’s western edge, in northern Italy. It happens to sit right on the 45th parallel, which as a wine nerd you will have at some point heard of (as it is roughly where you can also find Piedmont, Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the […] This article was originally …

It’s been a long time since we’ve reviewed the A to Z Pinot Noir, which is a fairly regular bottle at Costco, at least near us. So it was time to revisit it for a fresh review. The price ten years ago was $15.99 at Costco, and it’s nice to see it only increase $1 […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2023-a-to-z-pinot-noir-oregon/

Here’s an interesting find from Browne Family Vineyards who make a range of different, and very delicious wines, including their estate Cabernet Sauvignon which we’ve enjoyed on a number of occasions (Heritage Cab too). This time they’re giving us a Columbia Valley white blend comprised of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Pinot Gris delivered in […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/browne-family-vineyards-gigis-garden-sauvignon-blanc-pinot-gris/

Tasting Taittinger (credit drwinkler) Champagne is the ultimate festive drink whether it’s the Holidays or any other special occasion. We’ve recently had the opportunity to taste vintage Champagnes and our Associate Editor Joel Butler MW returned not long ago from a trip to Champagne.  We’ve pulled together our notes on some of the vintage Champagnes that we especially liked.  We’ve …

It is with greatest pleasure that I can report that my first piece for Tasting Panel magazine is now available in the May/June 2026 issue. The article highlights the recent work of Luigi Bosca, a South American producer whose forward thinking and keen business acumen has impressed me ever since I visited their operation in […] This article was originally …

The name is appropriate here as this wine definitely has a cult-like following online, and with good reason. We missed it on its last go around at Costco, but luckily caught it on our most recent trip. Costco’s $19.99 price is insane considering this bottle retails for $125, and online the best prices hover between […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2023-beau-vigne-cult-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon/

This big (400+ pages), beautiful (numerous full page color photos) book is an eclectic mix of everything one might want to know about America’s presidents and the wines they enjoyed, or at least served, since several did not touch alcohol, including our last two presidents.  The first president to be a true connoisseur of wine was also the most knowledgeable.  …

Remember when I kind of wanted to hate that big-ass Napa Cab from Del Dotto Vineyards? Well, there’s now a sequel to that story. Not too long ago, Shannon and I managed to escape the confines of our typical (yet blissful!) domestic scenario for a date night, and once again I decided to indulge her […] This article was originally …

A new Rias Baixas Albarino is always something we can behind at Costco. We’ve had a string of excellent ones arrive in warehouses over the past year, and here’s another winner to add to the list. This wine received a few 90-92 point ratings from the mainstream critics, and we feel they are right on. […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2024-bodegas-terras-gauda-abadia-de-san-campio-albarino/

Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen (credit: drwinkler) Sacramento native Steve MacRostie founded his eponymous winery in 1987.  He caught the wine bug while traveling in Italy and subsequently enrolled at UC Davis along with David Ramey, Merry Edwards, and other members of the first generation of skilled Russian River Valley winemakers.  He built the brand with wholesale distribution, but today 70 percent …

As I type this, I’m alone in a (relatively) large house west of Philadelphia. It’s my house, and it’s mostly empty, and getting emptier and emptier by what feels like the minute. That’s by design: I am in the process of clearing it out, which is almost equal parts cathartic, melancholy, wistful, and poignant. My […] This article was originally …

It’s always a pleasant sight when you see that yellow bar on the Costco placard indicating a special discount, especially when it’s on a wine you would probably buy anyway. This time we have a French Sauvignon Blanc with a regular Costco price of $14.99. With $6 off, it brings the price down to a […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2023-les-hemeris-sauvignon-blanc/

Peter & Johann de Wet (credit De Westshof) I first tasted the De Wetshof Chardonnays with founder Danie de Wet at the winery in 2011.  My conclusion then was that his Chardonnays were among South Africa’s very best. Today, after tasting the current releases, I am of the same opinion (see reviews below). With its limestone soils, hot days and …

I’ve been head-down and DEEEEEEEP in the rabbit hole of server configuration after redesigning 1WD nearly from the ground-up, and am finally peeking out my dirty little head to catch some daylight as I prep for a lighting-fast media jaunt to Languedoc (more to come on that latter part, well, later, I’m sure). Now that […] This article was originally …

We had a feeling this might be a good buy, but had no idea until we dug in, both to the wine and its price online, what a deal this bottle is at Costco right now. This wine is $70 at Total Wine and most online outlets are selling it for around $60. Costco is […] Source : https://costcowineblog.com/2021-marques-de-casa-concha-heritage-puente-alto-red-blend/

Bollinger’s Private Cellar (Credit JButlerMW) While Bollinger has been in existence since 1829, its most famous patron was none other than the well-known bon vivant super-agent James Bond, perhaps attributable to the strong, historical relationship between Bollinger and the British Crown. In addition to James Bond, Bollinger is renowned for its focus on Pinot Noir and its use of oak …

“It’s really an incredible place; it’s a fantasy land, really.” So sayeth Daniele Sassi, Export Manager for Tenuta di Castellaro, a produce that I’ve never visited in person but, after tasting through media samples virtually with them and seeing pics of their location, have instilled within me an intensely jealous rage for not having yet […] This article was originally …