Costco has always been a great place to buy wine.  The prices are virtually unbeatable, and the selection is consistently pretty strong.  The price to value equation seems to always be in balance.  Still, every time I am there, I see several people combing the aisles, almost putting that great bottle in their cart, but then opting for something else they've had before that they know is safe, or nothing at all.  I've always wanted to create a resource for people to track what's at Costco, to identify what is a screaming buy and what can be passed up, and especially, when there are insane deals that should not be missed.

Mid way through 2009 we began playing around with a site called CostcoWineBlog.com, and it's been a success.  For BlogRoom.com readers, the format is very similar.  Please take the time to check it out, especially if you shop at Costco.  You can also follow us on Twitter @CostcoWine.  We still may periodically contribute to BlogRoom.com, but the bulk of our wine reviews will be posted on CostcoWineBlog.
- Radcliffe 

        

It's hard to go wrong with almost any Malbec from Mendoza.  And what's crazy is that this applies at the $50+ level as much as it does at the under $10 level.

The Tilia Malbec was only $7.99 at Costco, and at that price it's a real steal.  Signature Mendoza characteristics, but a little less earthy, more young fruit driven which is probably because this is an '08. Light in the mouth but not short on flavor, a little spice at the finish.  A very good bargain for $7.99 that will land on my Value Picks list.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 87 Points

BlogRoom.com *Value Pick*

        

I first sent out a Tweet about this bottle through my CostcoWineBlog Twitter, because after eying it at Costco for several months, the price suddenly went from $28 to $15.  I bought four bottles on the spot.  So I was obviously curious what I had purchased.  I knew it was a consistent Medoc Bordeaux name, and I turned out to be very happy with my purchase, probably more so at $15, then I would have been at $28.

This is a nice solid Bordeaux, medium to full bodied throughout with a lighter finish.  Retains that Bordeaux earthiness on the nose and flavor making it distinctly from this region.  Tannins were a little firm which will make this bottle a nice candidate for aging.  Overall, a very nice package and an enjoyable wine.  A good dependable name to remember.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 91 Points

BlogRoom.com *Silver Rated*

        

This is a nice Tuscan red for under $15.  The combination of Sangiovese and Syrah, 60/40 respectively, creates a huge berry driven undertone throughout that starts on the subtle side but finishes with a strong, and enjoyable, blueberry tartiness.  It's a unique blend and tastes very different than the Super Tuscans that tend to use Cab/Merlot with the Sangiovese. 

This is a very easy drinking wine.  Anyone not versed in Italian wines can easily get their feet wet with this one.   At $15, I think this is a good value, but not a great value.  I still like exploring the Nero D'Avola, Barbera D'Asti and Valpolicellas when I have a $20 burning in my pocket in the Italian wine aisle.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 86 Points

        

I enjoyed the 2006 vintage of this value priced Rhone bottle, and the 2007 followed suit, perhaps even bringing the quality up a notch.  It's a blend of the Rhone varietals that I personally enjoy very much: predominantly Grenache with lesser parts Syrah and Mourvedre.  Medium in body it delivers a powerhouse of dark berry fruit with a spicy dry finish.  It's an excellent value for only $9.99 at Costco and is a versatile wine that could be enjoyed with friends on its own or with a variety of red-friendly foods.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 88 Points

        

A nicely balanced Chardonnay; rich with just the right amount of butteriness so as to not take away from the flavor aromas.  The wine had a nice touch of oak, which again, was just enough to add interest without dampening the brightness of the fruit or the approachability of the wine.

I haven't had many Chardonnays in the past few months that I truly enjoyed, but this is one that stands out from the pack.  It was $16.99 at Costco, which I think is a great price for a very enjoyable bottle.  Chardonnay fans should really like this one, and I'll add it to my list of Bronze Rated wines.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 89 Points

*Bronze Rated*

        

I found this to be a very nice wine, and I enjoyed with a group of friends who all agreed.  It's very light in body and in the mouth, but delivers with abundant dark fruit and a remarkable smoothness, that I was surprised to find in an Oregon Pinot priced at only $14.99 (Costco of course).  This one definitely tastes like it's further upstream than it's price would suggest.

Erath has consistently delivered great wines at great prices.  I reviewed their Pinot Gris a few months back, and found that to be excellent as well.  For this Pinot Noir, I'll be putting it on my Value Picks list and giving it a Bronze rating.  This is a bottle that should not be passed up if you see it.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 89 Points

BlogRoom.com *Bronze Rated*

BlogRoom.com *Value Pick*

        

A nice bottle; young and fruity just gushing with big blackberry and blueberry flavors. Gets better with a little air.  I ran it through the Vinturi which I think helped bring it to life even faster. 

This bottle was left at my house after Thanksgiving, and I was curious what I had on my hands.  Turns out I was sitting on a pretty good Napa Cab at a nice price (free for me as the leave behind), but in the $18-$20 range. 

BlogRoom.com Rating: 87 Points

        

I didn't know this was the best selling imported sparkling wine when I bought it, but after trying it, I can definitely see why.  For only $7.50 a bottle at Costco, it's a great value. 

It's a soft and subtle wine, overall very dry, making it a nice choice for a variety of occasions; or as I prefer, it's perfect to serve before a meal.  Its simplicity is really want makes it enjoyable, and safe to serve to just about anyone.  A great way to get a night started.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 86 Points

        

This is a rather nice Cru Bourgeois that caught my attention on two fronts.  First it is a Saint Estephe Bordeaux priced in the mid $20's, which makes it a rather rare find.  It was also interesting because the vineyard sits next to two other more well known establishments, Cos D'Estournel and Lafite-Rothschild.  This bottle had to be properly explored.

The wine turned out to be about what I expected.  Signature left bank Bordeaux on almost all accounts.  Being an '03 that was consumed in '09 it needed a little air to show it's true form, but after several hours, I was enjoying a nice, elegant Bordeaux that exuded it's old world charm with ripe fruit and a long mouth coating finish.  Didn't offer any memorable complexity but settles nicely into an easy drinking and overall, highly satisfying experience.

I'm going to give it a Silver Rating because it really is a great wine for a great value.  A good name to remember in one of my favorite areas of Bordeaux. 

BlogRoom.com Rating: 91 Points

BlogRoom.com *Silver Rated*

        

This is a gem of wine for only $9 at Costco.  I can't believe it's this cheap.  This blend of 60% Garnacha, 30% Carinena, and 10% Syrah is perfectly balanced, and creates a magnificent wine that will definitely have you believing it cost 3 times as much.

From the famed Priorat region on Spain, where most bottles start at $20-$30, this one is obviously a diamond in the rough, and one that I'll be dropping in the wine cooler to reacquaint myself with in a few years.  Just a clean, fresh and flavorful drink.  Beautiful long finish.  One of the better Spanish wines I've had in some time.  High alcohol at 14% but it's so well assembled that is has very little effect.

I'm going to give this one a Silver Rating and name it as a Value Pick.  For $9 it's an absolute must-buy bottle, particularly at Costco where it could disappear tomorrow if enough people find out.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 91 Points

BlogRoom.com *Silver Rated*

BlogRoom.com *Value Pick*

        

Hard to beat this bottle for $8.50 at Costco.  In the sub $10 range this is really an excellent find, especially from the US.  As is clear from my prior reviews, generally you have to go to the French, Spanish or South American aisles to find decent reds under $10, but this Grand Estates Columbia Crest is a surprisingly good find.

It's light, soft and flavorful, leaves a little spice in the mouth, and is super easy to drink.  This is a great bottle for those holiday parties you might be hosting.  It's a good bottle that people will enjoy and the price is right.  I'd stock up on a few just to have on hand.  This is a good mid-week bottle when you want to pour a glass or two with dinner.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 87 Points

        

This is an Eric Solomon custom cuvee, high elevation Garnacha off 100 year old vines.  Sounds like a nice combo, especially when you add in the $12 price tag.  For me though, this one rode pretty down the middle for the variety and the price. 

It's a huge fruit burst, which kind of calmed down as it aired a bit.  I like the touch of spice and it's an easy drinking endeavor that will likely please a lot of people.  I think you can bump a step up though in these Spanish wines and get something with a little more character and complexity, and still do it under $15.  The Las Rocas Garnacha is always a safe bet. 

BlogRoom.com Rating: 86 Points

        

I just saw this bottle was ranked #54 on Wine Spectactor's Top 100 Wines of 2009;  and deservingly so.  It's an excellent bottle, and the $13.99 price tag at Costco makes it truly a steal.

Dark, inky purple on the pour, it has a nice delicacy in the mouth that is both soft and robust, leading into a very pleasing finish.  One of the better finishing Shiraz I've had in a while, and certainly in this price range.  I found it to be a more enjoyable wine than the '07 Boarding Pass, that I thoroughly enjoyed just last month.

Another outstanding example of how great the 06 vintage was, I'll be scooping up a couple of these bottles to hold on to.   Buy this one next time you're at Costco.  In fact, you may want to think about buying more than one, since the Wine Spectator designation is sure to drive some interest.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 91 Points

BlogRoom.com *Bronze Rated*

BlogRoom.com *Value Pick*

*90 Point Series*

        

Here's a good what I will call "recession bottle," a decent red that can be scored at Costco for only $8.50 and is perfect for everyday drinking. In times like this, you need to have a couple of bottles like this available at all times. 

It's combination of Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon comes together rather well in a fruit forward, Merlot dominated, flavor blast.  Nice dry finish that comes to an end a little fast.  But all in all, the Menage is a very easy drinking, safe to serve to almost anyone, versatile winter red that's not only very California in style, but very reasonably priced.

A definite addition to the Value Picks, I would recommend buying a few bottles of this, and the $8.50 Costco price seems pretty hard to beat (I've seen it for much more in grocery stores).

BlogRoom.com Rating: 87 Points

BlogRoom.com *Value Pick*

        

A pretty nice, well priced Garnacha for $15.  About what you would expect from this variety and region: the $15 Spanish Garnacha delivering the quality you would expect from a $20-$25 bottle from almost anywhere else except South America.  I do love my Spanish wines.

Dark inky purple in color, the boldness carries on to the deep blackberry fruit that kicks off a touch of spice.  Rather soft tannins and a touch of subtleness throughout makes this a very easy sipper. The high alcohol content (14.5%) isn't that noticeable.  A smooth, easy drinking wine shines through. 

I will recommend this one, and since it was only $15 and received a 90 point rating from Wine Advocate, it will fall into my section on highly rated value priced wines as well.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 89 Points

BlogRoom.com *Bronze Rated*

*90 Point Series*

        

All in all, not a bad Tuscan red for everyday drinking.  At $9 a bottle, it delivers it's money's worth.  I can't reasonably expect much more, and much less would lump this bottle into the wasteland of "never to buy again" sub $10 bottles.  But I'll be fair; this one held in there, and is pretty middle of the road as far as the "Super Tuscans" go.

It's 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot, which combine for a heavy dose of fruit, but it hits rather flat.  We drank this one with a pasta and red sauce meal, and while it worked fairly well together, the wine was perhaps a tad overpowering.  Finish was a little flat too. 

I won't recommend this bottle.  I think the Banfi Centine I reviewed a while back was a stronger value, and almost any montepulciano or Nero D'Avola will do the trick among $10-$15 Italian bottles.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 86 Points

        

From the Arroyo Grande Valley which vaulted to popularity when Sideways was released, this is an excellent Chardonnay for the price, and one of the better I've had from this region. 

I found this bottle at Costco for $14.99 which is a steal not only compared to other prices I've seen for it, but also for a wine of this caliber.  Flavors of pear and lemon are balanced nicely with a hint of oak; has a lot more earthiness to it than I expected; minus the smoky scents that have turned me off from some Central Coast bottles.   Offers more complexity than you would expect at this price.
  
I should also note that this is one of the WSJ 2009 wine picks, a list that has helped me turn up other excellent wines.  This could fit in the Value Picks but I think I'll designate it with a stand alone Bronze Rating instead, because the focus for me was on the quality vs the price.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 89 Points

BlogRoom.com *Bronze Rated*

        

This was a reader's recommendation on my call for a nice Merlot under $20, and I thought it fit the bill quite nicely.  I found it at my local wine shop for $18.00, and while it didn't land on my Value Picks list, it wasn't that far from making it.

I've had a handful of very enjoyable Merlots in the past couple months (the 2005 Haven's Merlot, and the 2005 Sebastiani come instantly to my mind).  I rated both of those highly, and this bottle will follow right along.  Lots of plum and dark fruit, a slightly spicy touch, smooth and rather dry into the finish.  Overall, a nice showing and another reminder that the Merlot aisle should always be properly explored.

I'm definitely going to recommend this bottle, just as it was recommended to me, and it will pull down a Bronze Rating for its quality to price ratio.  Enjoy.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 89 Points

        

Typically when the "reserve" wine is priced under $10, you are walking on shaky ground, and this Santa Ema bottle is really no exception.  It's hard to ding a bottle too hard that's priced so ridiculously low so I'll start by saying, I thought this one was good, not great, but I would pass it up for one of the many other sub-$10ers you can find at Costco.

I'd prefer to try the straight varieties particularly since I know they've pulled down good ratings on their own, but this 60/40 Cab dominated blend is just not my favorite.  Even though the grapes are from Chile's Maipo Valley which I typically dig, I could tell on the nose that this was going to be just a mediocre wine.  It's got some heft and some earth too it, but just lacks any finesse or finish, and ended up a touch too bland for my tastes.

Again though for $10 I can't be too hard on it.  It's still better than most of the California Cabs in this price range.  I just expected a bit more from this region.

BlogRoom.com Rating: 85 Points