Flows wonderfully from the start, with an already accessible feel to the mix of cassis and dark blackberry notes inlaid with singed alder, warm paving stone, tobacco leaf and graphite accents that then carry the finish. In the end, there’s no rush at all here. A pretty gorgeous Pauillac. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2025 through 2038. Tasted twice, …
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Grayson Chardonnay California Lot 11 2021 $12 (87 points)
Features fresh pear, citrus and apple flavors that are appealing in their juiciness, with details of spices and lemon blossoms. Drink now. 26,000 cases made. Source : 5189e16700a3cd124df9230810bc8da7
Read More »The 2020 Chardonnays from Testarossa Winery
Bill Brosseau, the talented winemaker at Diana and Rob Jensen’s Testarossa Winery, crafts very flavorful Chardonnays sourced from some of the best vineyards along California’s Central Coast, especially the Santa Lucia Highlands. As with the 2019 Chardonnays we wrote about last year, these are well crafted wines harvested at optimal ripeness and made to balance rich flavors with fresh acidity …
Read More »Alain Voge Cornas Les Chailles 2020 $65 (94 points)
Dark and alluring yet also pretty, with expressive violet, dried lavender and blackberry paste built atop an underlying freshness. Concentrated on the palate, with balsamic, black pepper and subtle iodine building on the meaty, plump character. A beam of iron and firming tannins dry out the finish, though this is drinking great now. Drink now through 2032. 1,285 cases made, …
Read More »Gérard Bertrand Vin de France White Orange Gold 2021 $25 (89 points)
An outlier in style, but in a good way. Golden in color and more savory than fruit-driven, with crushed apple layered with herbal tea, salted brioche and mint. A subtle tug of tannins firms and dries the finish, which is marked by a bitter quinine bite. Chardonnay, Muscat, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne. Drink now through 2026. 10,000 …
Read More »Hazel Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2021 $30 (90 points)
Sleek and pretty, with delicate raspberry, cinnamon and savory spices that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2029. 2,000 cases made. Source : 0b56800e6b9e1fd173e39fa50958c4cb
Read More »Château de Beauregard-Ducourt Entre-Deux-Mers 2021 $14 (86 points)
Delivers mingling crunchy chive, thyme and savory notes set against a lemon peel backdrop. A light-bodied white that begs for fresh oysters. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Drink now. 4,400 cases made, 2,300 cases imported. Source : d75dbd5337818f00735d3a4d2f1a128f
Read More »Château L’Ermite d’Auzan Costières de Nîmes 2021 $25 (90 points)
This fun red, which is introduced with an expressive core of blue fruit, is all about fresh, unadorned fruit with a kiss of singed sandalwood. Stays pure and refreshing, thanks to juicy acidity, crushed stone and a dusting of black pepper. Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2026. 8,000 cases made, 1,200 cases imported. Source : 1011354315ae5ef3a94d99e072d22735
Read More »Castle Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2019 $11 (88 points)
Soft and juicy, with easygoing cherry and toasty spice flavors that finish with a crisp snap. Drink now through 2027. 12,908 cases made. Source : 9891da1fd9a1e74635909e0c733da0ea
Read More »Jumping (Back) Into the Wine Certification Debate for NVWA
(image: NVWA) Every so often, the idea of challenging the merit of earning wine certifications becomes de rigueur, and we start to see articles pop up meant to prod that debate. This is, I think, in part due (unfairly) to the ridiculous modern cultural war against expertise in general (there’s a very interesting book on the topic, if you’re looking …
Read More »Blue Rock Vineyards: New Releases from Sonoma County
Blue Rock Vineyard is a small artisanal winery in Alexander Valley that produces high quality, hand-crafted Bordeaux-inspired wines and Pinot Noir from Sonoma County grapes. The owner of the winery is Kenny Kahn, pictured here. Kenny is a passionate vigneron who is among the producers in Alexander Valley who are deeply committed to producing authentic high quality estate wines. Over …
Read More »Marchesi di Barolo Barbera del Monferrato Maraia 2020 $15 (88 points)
A rich version, with plum, blueberry, earth and spice flavors backed by vibrant acidity. Fruity and balanced, leaving a pleasantly astringent grip on the finish. Drink now. 10,000 cases made, 6,000 cases imported. Source : dec460e31beca32afd891053c231f9b0
Read More »Viña Cono Sur Pinot Noir Chile Organic 2021 $11 (85 points)
Juicy and direct, with cherry and berry flavors and subtle herb details. Drink now. 60,000 cases made, 4,000 cases imported. Source : 1f1b820fff5616ff368d359e3450db1c
Read More »2019 Bodegas Venta La Vega Adaras Calizo
These are the kind of interesting, affordable finds in the cheap seats that we love to come across. “Cheap seats” in Costco wine lingo refers to the stacks of wine boxes versus the bottles found in the wooden display cases. The cheap seats play host to all kinds of varietals and regions. Often you’ll find some nice French wine finds …
Read More »2020 Tenshen Red
Here’s a new one for us, but it’s a wine we’ve seen lingering in the Costco aisles around Atlanta stores that we were curious to taste. It’s a Rhone style red blend from Santa Barbara County, and we typically like this style of wine. This blend consists of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, and Merlot. The varietal breakdown wasn’t given …
Read More »2019 Conde de San Cristobal Ribera del Duero
We buy and review almost every Ribera del Duero bottle we find at Costco, as it’s a favorite in our household, and usually delivers a nice wine for the money. This bottle is a perfect example. Coming in at $15.99, it was a bottle we’ve never seen before, and the info was missing from the Costco placard; we were intrigued. …
Read More »Aldi Winking Owl House Brand Wine: How Does it Stack Up?
We at the wine blog obviously love Costco almost more than anywhere else. And that’s not just because of the wine. The entirety of the product offering, great prices and unique experience make it a one of a kind shopping experience. Aldi is similar in some ways but different in others. It’s a unique shopping experience with great prices on …
Read More »2019 Kirkland Signature Saint-Julien Bordeaux
In all the years of running this site, this might be the Costco bottle we’ve wanted to find the most. We love the Costco hunt, but when we first heard from readers this new Kirkland wine was out there, we were hitting our Costco stores left and right trying to find it. Finally, we found it at the Cumberland location …
Read More »2020 Kirkland Signature Series Premier Cru Chablis
This popular Kirkland bottle usually hits stores around this time of the year. It was a little late last year arriving in March, at least around the Atlanta area. The price actually went down with this latest vintage, just a few cents, but glad to see it not going the other way. Finding Premier Cru Chablis like this under $20 …
Read More »Pamplin JRG Columbia Valley 2018 $30 (92 points)
Supple and refined, this red has attractive black cherry, dusty herb and spice flavors that take on structure toward refined tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2028. 1,024 cases made. Source : 1505bb6f3282a60d493f56befd525ecb
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