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March 15, 2022

Three More Costco Wines To Try

One of my early pandemic discoveries was Costco. I don’t recall what drove me to get a membership, but I just strolled in one day and signed up. I’m in a household of two people, so I wasn’t sure if I’d get to take full advantage of things. Boy was I wrong! Our favorites now are the proteins, big hunks of cheese, and fun snacks (the Korean BBQ jerky is a hit). Every time I go, I seem to discover something new. And Aaron hates going, so it’s shopping alone time that I love. Sometimes I stroll the aisles fantasizing about the big ‘ol house I’ll own one day, where I can store all 36 cans of tomato sauce in the pantry! That is not happening now in my 1-bedroom apartment situation!

The Unknown of Costco Wines

In case you didn’t know, Costco is the largest retailer of wine IN THE WORLD. Crazy, right? People always ask me about Costco brand wines, and I never had a meaningful reply, as I had never tried them. Once I got my membership, I decided to change that! In previous blog posts I reviewed 20 different Costco wines (the Kirkland brand). I actually blind tasted them with a group of friends to find out which were the Costco Crowd Pleasers and Costco Brand Wine Values. To date, these have been my two most popular posts in the history of my blog!

Today I review three more Costco Wines. The Three C’s, I’m calling them. We’ve got a: Champagne, Chablis, and Côtes du Rhône. 

Review of Costco Wines

 

Brut Champagne NV $19.99

This is THE elusive Costco Champagne. One of the most lauded Costco wines, if only for its value. Finding any other bottle of true Champagne at $20 (or less) would be a futile effort. I’m gonna cut to the chase here. If you are looking for a bone-dry Champagne with yeast autolysis (bready, toasty) notes, this is not that. If you are looking for an inexpensive Champagne and don’t mind a lighter and fresher style, this is that. The older I’ve gotten, the more I have realized I need those bready, yeasty, toasty notes in my life. If I want a lighter, fresher style of traditional method sparkling, personally I’m reaching for Cava or Cremant. There is nothing wrong with this Costco wine at all; it just doesn’t check my boxes. But I presume for many people who love their Champs and want to save a buck, they will be very happy with this purchase.

Costco Wine Kirkland Signature Champagne Brut

 

Chablis Premier Cru $17.79

I’m sure this Costco wine was vintaged. It just must have been on the back label, which I did not capture. Nobody’s perfect:/ In contrast to the Costco wine above, this one checked all the boxes. Chablis is made from the Chardonnay grape and tends to be made in a style with little (or no) oak influence. The Chardonnay grape really sings with Chablis, and this was no exception, This Costco wine is austere and has bracing acid. Everything you could want in a Chablis. Chablis Cha-blam!

Costco Wine Kirkland Signature Chablis Premier Cru

 

Côtes du Rhône Villages 2020 $6.99

Another SOLID Costco wine for you to add to the list. And the price, I mean, come on. If you compare this to pretty much ANY grocery store red at this price, this one will win. I bet you $100! Côtes du Rhône is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and really is the “original red blend”. Somewhere along the way in the last few years, consumers have fallen in love with red blends. Not sure why, but I think it’s the advertising and endcaps of crappy, commercial grocery store wines like Apothic, Menage a Trois, and others. Try this wine against any of those grocery store red blends and you’ll instantly taste that this is a superior wine. It’s dry, fruity, and balanced, which is more than I can say for that cheap grocery store glug. This should be your go to under $10 bottle of house red. 

Costco Wine Kirkland Signature Côtes du Rhône Villages 2020

Have you tried any Costco wines lately that you’ve loved? Drop me a note. I’d love to hear. One thing is for sure: Costco wine prices cannot be beat.

Check out my article on Decanter:  Decanter Best: Costco Kirkland Signature Wines: Top Buys from the US

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you’re looking to Up Your Wine Game and Drink Better, consider booking a private in-person or virtual wine tasting experience.
Brianne Cohen Wine Educator
Brianne Cohen is a certified sommelier, wine educator, consultant, and writer based out of Los Angeles.

Since March 2020, Brianne has educated and entertained over 5,000 people through her “Virtual Vino” online wine tastings.

Brianne holds the WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) Diploma certificate, one of the most coveted wine certifications in the world. When she’s not helping others Up Their Wine Game, she can be found judging at international wine competitions.

Brianne aims to make wine approachable and conversational, to surprise and delight with unexpected, distinctive wine finds, and to give people knowledge (and confidence) about wine in their everyday lives.

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Sample Policy

As a wine writer, I frequently accept samples for review on my  website and on my social media channels. Please contact me at brianne@briannecohen.com to discuss sending samples for review. I promise to always be honorable with the samples. I will evaluate all wines in good tasting settings and with no distractions.

All reviews are my opinions, and mine only. Because of the volume of samples I receive, I cannot promise that all samples received will be reviewed, but I will do my best.

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