Wine shopping at Costco

[Sojourner]

Another vote for Kirkland Malbec. It’s the best of the Kirkland wines I’ve tried.

I heartily agree. For $7, it's hands down the best wine value I know of from any retail source. I always get 4 bottles, minimum, every 3-4 weeks when I shop there.

 

[copyright1997reloaded]

Older thread but still relevant.

Our Costco has changed things around a bit, so sometimes the selection is lacking. But we try new things.

Tried the Kirkland Mendoza Malbec 2022 and it was very nice - rich but smooth. We’re inexperienced with Argentina wines. Both Reverse Wine Snob and Costco Wine Blog rave about the value on this one -$6.99, ha ha. Went back for more.

A friend (now deceased) introduced me to Malbec's long ago after he brought some back from South America (he used to go there for a couple months in the winter). $2/bottle back then and they were awesome. I've liked them ever since. I'm not a super wine expert, but do like rich reds in general.

Anyway, the Kirkland Mendoza Malbec's have been great values. I don't have a Costco close to me that carries alcohol, but occasionally visit an area where they do. A few (?) years ago (well maybe 4 or 5?) I bought a case of the 2019 after trying a bottle. Those are almost gone (two left) so it is time to restock w/the latest.

ETA: I will be near a Costco that sells wine this weekend. Other than the above mentioned Malbec, what would y'all recommend?

 

[Winemaker]

1997, I wish I could help you, but I make most of my own; about 15 different varieties from grapes all over the world. I'm a food geek as well, and my wine choices vary as what we are having for dinner. So many variables.
As far as rich reds outside of Cabernet Sauvignon, I like Zinfandel, Tempranillo, Mouvedre (Monastrell, in Europe) and GSM blends (Grenache, Syrah, Mouverdre). Trying different wines is fun for me, and sometimes I find a bad one (or bad for me).

If you like a particular wine, say a 202x Malbec, buy a case from that vendor. If you buy a single bottle from a store, and the same bottle from a different store, you don't know how it has been stored, It may have sat on a loading dock in the sun for a few hours and that may improve or ruin a bottle of wine. And it's going to be different from a 202y Malbec. Many people enjoy a great bottle of wine with a steak with a special person and then try to drink the same wine with dish of spaghetti, with a friend, and the wine will taste different. That is what disappoints most people with wine drinking/enjoyment.

You will get somewhat consistent wine by buying non vintage wines that have a name instead of a variety. The is a red blend called Troublemaker from Paso Robles, VERY inexpensive and very versatile. It's made with 5 different grapes, may not be up your alley, but I hope you get my drift.

Some folks may not not enjoy wine as much as I do and may not tell the difference between varieties, aromas, flavors and cost. Some choose not to as well. There are over 1300 different wine grapes, different regions, climates and wine yeasts, so much to try!

One may learn to like certain varieties and certain areas and avoid others. I for one do not like French hybrid grapes, or red grapes that are grown in the eastern US that normally grow in warmer areas. Call me a snob, but the grapes can't get ripe enough to suit my palate and are more acidic to my taste buds.

Enjoy your journey!

 

[audreyh1]

ETA: I will be near a Costco that sells wine this weekend. Other than the above mentioned Malbec, what would y'all recommend?

The Costco here carries a lot of Bordeaux. They are generally very good. Very dry reds. You can also always check out current recommendations on the Costco Wine Blog The #1 source for independent Costco Wine Reviews .

 

[Aerides]

Picked up a bottle of that Malbec to try this weekend - it's noted as 91 points - for a $6.99 wine now my hopes are up too high!

I was interested to find out that the former owner of costco makes my favorite Cab Sauv - Sinegal. It's horribly expensive for me ($80 at total wine) but I was surprised Costco doesn't seem to carry it, yet they prominently feature Caymus which the Sinegal handily beats for me.
Oh well, maybe one day!

Eta: The Kirkland Sauv Blanc is a good Kim Crawford match, and not earthy like many of the recent vintages have turned out. Nice and crisp, a little sweeter than my ideal but again for $6.99....

 

[rembrandt]

I wish the BJ's near me sold wine and liquor.

 

[audreyh1]

I don’t know about the 91 points. Your hopes maybe too high.

 

[Fotodog]

My wife usually does the shopping, and although she doesn’t drink much she is my enabler . She buys wine based solely on the points rating, knowing my preferences. She only buys wines rated 90 points or more, and I have never had a bad one. Of course I prefer some more than others. She recently bought a 2022 True Grit Petite Sirah. I don’t normally drink Petite Sirahs, preferring Cabs and Merlots, but this one is excellent.

 

[Aerides]

I don’t know about the 91 points. Your hopes maybe too high.

Well it's right on the bottle lol!

But sure, last year I sampled a Pinot that was rated as best of the year, and I love a good Pinot, but it fell flat, so everyone's tastes vary. Meanwhile my sister raves about Meiomi, which tastes like cough syrup to me.

 

[audreyh1]

Well it's right on the bottle lol!

But sure, last year I sampled a Pinot that was rated as best of the year, and I love a good Pinot, but it fell flat, so everyone's tastes vary. Meanwhile my sister raves about Meiomi, which tastes like cough syrup to me.

I know. That’s why I said I didn’t know about the rating -what I meant was it didn’t taste like a 90+ to me, but still very good.

 

[Winemaker]

Well it's right on the bottle lol!

But sure, last year I sampled a Pinot that was rated as best of the year, and I love a good Pinot, but it fell flat, so everyone's tastes vary. Meanwhile my sister raves about Meiomi, which tastes like cough syrup to me.

Have you tried MacMurray Ranch Estate Central Coast Pinot Noir? Not a bad Pinot. MacMurray Ranch, founded by the actor, Fred MacMurray, makes many Pinots, at many price points. Try the mid priced ones first, then adjust up or down. Or buy all three/four price points and try 'em all, side by side. Just make sure you vacuum seal the bottles you don't finish.

 

[FIYes]

Okay, bit of a thread highjack here, but any recommendations for a vacuum seal? DH seldom drinks wine and a bottle last me a week and a half to two weeks. The quality goes down after 4 or 5 days. I’m by no means a wine connoisseur but right now I have a half of bottle in the pantry that is now strictly for deglazing a pan. It was good when first opened, but not now.

 

[Idnar7]

Vacu Vin. Been using them for years and no complaints.

 

[audreyh1]

We also use Vacu Vin and have for years. Even have a small set to take traveling.

 

[corn18]

I drank a lot of really expensive wine when I was in the corporate world. Never really drank wine before that. One thing I learned about me was that expensive wine does not mean good wine, at least for my taste. I also found that a Caesar salad will make an otherwise fantastic wine taste like poo. So now we buy wine we like and try to remember what wine goes with what food, the latter being way more important than we would have thought.

 

[audreyh1]

We only drink wine with meals. It’s a food enhancer! Or maybe the food is a wine enhancer!

 

[Winemaker]

I drank a lot of really expensive wine when I was in the corporate world. Never really drank wine before that. One thing I learned about me was that expensive wine does not mean good wine, at least for my taste. I also found that a Caesar salad will make an otherwise fantastic wine taste like poo. So now we buy wine we like and try to remember what wine goes with what food, the latter being way more important than we would have thought.

A crisp unoaked white would go with Caesar salad, and I would concur that the salad would kill any decent red.

Sometimes we will have a glass of white with our salad and a red for the entree. We're wine geeks.

 

[audreyh1]

Sparkling wine handles an amazing array of food. I particularly like it with Thai food as it pairs well with spicy.

 

[folivier]

I'm certainly not a wine snob. Although in earlier years I did like more expensive wines.
Now I drink a glass occasionally with dinner and it's usually a Moscato. Yes, I don't care for a dry wine or a red. I prefer a sweeter wine. But it's my palate and that's what I enjoy. Gimme a box of Moscato and I'm happy.

 

[corn18]

I'm certainly not a wine snob. Although in earlier years I did like more expensive wines.
Now I drink a glass occasionally with dinner and it's usually a Moscato. Yes, I don't care for a dry wine or a red. I prefer a sweeter wine. But it's my palate and that's what I enjoy. Gimme a box of Moscato and I'm happy.

That's how I feel about wine. I am not a wine snob but I have wine snob friends. I love going to dinner with them because they know what wine goes with what food and that is very valuable. We also use the sommelier if the restaurant has one. A $500 bottle of wine with the wrong food will taste worse than MadDog 20/20.

I tell folks that wine is like stereos. Buy what you like. If you like the TV speaker, no need to get a $50k Bang & Olufson stereo.

 

[FIYes]

Based on recommendations here, I purchased a Vacu Vin The glass of wine I had tonight was from a bottle that I opened on Sunday. Thumps up for Vacu Vin!

 

[audreyh1]

Found what looked like a bargain Bordeaux from Saint-Émilion at $16.99. It was delicious! Picked up another 6 bottles today. Usually wines from this area are more like $28+ at Costco.

CHÂTEAU DE SAINT-PEY
SAINT-ÉMILION GRAND CRU
2020

 

[brett]

Half way through our second case Kirkland Rioga Reserve 2019. Tried to get another case yesterday. Sold out. No wonder...an incredible buy. Manager says they may get more in. I hope so.

Ditto for their Malbec.

Not a white drinker but picked up a bottle of yesterday. Going back to pick up a few more bottles. About half goes in the glass, the other half ends up in DW's cooking.

Not a wine snob. I only know what I like. What I have learned over the years is that, for my tastes, price can be a rather poor indicator of my perception of quality.

 

[corn18]

Half way through our second case Kirkland Rioga Reserve 2019. Tried to get another case yesterday. Sold out. No wonder...an incredible buy. Manager says they may get more in. I hope so.

Ditto for their Malbec.

Not a white drinker but picked up a bottle of yesterday. Going back to pick up a few more bottles. About half goes in the glass, the other half ends up in DW's cooking.

Not a wine snob. I only know what I like. What I have learned over the years is that, for my tastes, price can be a rather poor indicator of my perception of quality.

Your last statement is spot on!