For today’s video, I went to Costco in search of the best wines under $10 from the Kirkland Signature label. Four wines caught my attention; the wines happen to be from four different countries. Two of the wines I’ve tried in previous vintages, the other two I have not tasted before. All four are widely available through Costco clubs; that said, two of the wines are typically stocked year-round, and the other two are seasonally available.
The first wine up is the 2024 Kirkland Signature Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. This one and all of the wines in today’s video can be found in full pallet displays versus in the laydown wine bins. The Malbec is often available year-round. The price is at $6.99
The next wine is the 2023 Kirkland Signature Bordeaux rouge Supérieur. It’s typically available year-round. It’s a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. The price is the same as the previous vintage at $6.99.
Next up is the 2024 Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Old Vine Zinfandel. I’ve not seen this at my Costco for a couple of years. This one is typically not available year-round. The price is $9.99
Next is the 2021 Kirkland Signature JME Seleccion Rioja Reserva. Wines of this classification must spend at least 12 months in oak and a total minimum of 36 months aging before being released for sale. This one is seasonally available at $7.99.
#costco #kirklandsignature #costcowholesale #winetasting #wineenthusiast #bargain #winelover #argentina #malbec #bordeaux #sonoma #zinfandel #rioja #masterofwine #bobpaulinski
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – 00:29 Intro to Kirkland Wines
00:30 – 02:59 2024 Kirkland Malbec
03:00 – 05:22 2023 Kirkland Bordeaux
05:23 – 08:04 2024 Kirkland OV Zinfandel
08:05 – 10:14 2021 Kirkland Rioja Reserva
10:15 – 10:58 Kirkland Signature Wine Wrap Up
49 Comments
Is there an under $10 Kirkland Signature wine that you find to be a particularly good value? 🍷
Wow, a Sonoma County Zin for under $10? Not a Zin drinker, but that price makes the wine a steal. Years ago, Doug Meador owner of Ventana Vineyards, explained to me how the pricing for wine in a 3 tier system worked. Shelf pricing was based on a 1% rule. That meant that the cost of grapes for a $10 bottle of wine was $1,000 a ton. Under this pricing scenario, the producer, wholesaler, and retailer all walked away with 30 points of margin. The 1% rule went the way of the dinosaurs 30 years ago. Sonoma County Zin grapes at $1,000 a ton? Hard to believe, but somehow COSTCO pulled it off. Cheers Bob!
Excellent overview. Love shopping in the Costco wine area, never know what gems you will find. Need to track down the Zin, have been a fan of the Zin’s from Josh, most recently their reserve. Thanks!
Thnx Bob!
Great video as always.
Nice reviews. Thanks for making!
My local Costco had some KS "cru Bordeaux" recently, i.e. specifically labeled as "St. Julien", "Paulliac", etc. IIRC, they were around $20/bottle. I was underwhelmed, but admittedly some of this may be due to my prior experiences & consequent expectations. I'll give the KS Bordeaux Superior a try next time I'm shopping!
I love your videos, Bob. We liked the malbec very much. Another less expensive Kirkland brand that we liked was the pinot noir. We will look for the rioja next week. Hopefully it will be in stock.
Good on you Bob featuring these inexpensive wines!?! Given I only have one bottle per week, I tend to splurge a bit! 😂 Will be having a 2017 Bella Terra Cab Sav from my home (Canada), while watching the Masters today! Happy Sunday to all…
Bob, I did have a question for you. Do you ever review vermouths? We really like a vermouth on ice or an Americano in the lazy summer afternoons.
I can’t seem find the Kirkland Côtes du Rhône at Michigan Costcos anymore, that was a great wine for the price.
Love it when you share some gems in your "Wine Haul" videos. Time for another trip to Costco, although it is always with some trepidation as it is always packed! Picked up an Olarra Gran Rereva 2016 Rioja there for $11 and a Ruffino Chianti Classico for $15 about a month ago. I will have to pull the trigger on some of those low cost Costco Signature wines. Just put on some pants, gather a bit of courage and go!!
I've purchased and opened 3 of the 4 wines you reviewed today. The 2024 Kirkland Signature Sonoma County Old Vine Zinfandel is available at my local Costco, but not being a huge fan of Zinfandel I've skipped over it on my last couple visits. But based on your comments, I'll add one to the cart on my next visit. All in all the Kirkland wines have surprised me in respect to their quality verses cost (value) perspective. The only true fail of these wines was the 2024 Kirkland Bordeaux Blanc that I found completely unappealing and sent it down the drain.
I think you are doing a great service to the wine community by identifying everyday values that we can share with others.
I am a big fan of Zin. I would love it if you could do a video reviewing some of the zins from Turley.
Interesting that Tom Gilbey went to a Costco in England recently and among the wines he bought and tasted were bottles that looked like (but perhaps didn’t contain quite the same wine as) the Malbec and the Bordeaux Supérieur. He wasn’t too fond of either, which surprised me because I’d already tried the apparently same ones from my local Costco here in Florida and found them decent value for money. In the rare cases I can get a wine here that Tom can get in England and likes, I generally agree with him. He likes the Kirkland Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand (the bottle again looked the one I can get here).
Matter of taste?
Another fantastic video!
I love this malbec. Just let her breathe. 😊
Bob whats your opinion on Inglenook 2019 Cab??
🙂
Watched the video and then went to Costco and got a bottle of the Rioja. My wife and I loved it. Thanks!
in answer to your question, Bob, i like the Ti Point Sauvignon Blanc quite a bit. very fruit forward and tasty.from start to finish
Good informative review Bob.Thanks for that I made it all the way to the end! Since I`m a big fan of Zin will definitely look for it as well the Rioja next trip to Costco.Also tried the Malbec before but wasnt thrilled with it,sounds like I better air it out first and give it another go.You know me always looking for a good back yard burger wine!Keep up the good work.
Rioja only one out of this group I would buy after tasting all.
“Sweet” was probably a translation of “doux”, but intent was smooth rather than sweet. Not the translator’s fault, other than they should have asked which was meant.
I LOVE Zinfandel! It's my favorite grape, for the all the reasons you stated for this OVZ from Kirkland. My son is a Cab lover, but he will drink a Zin as well, it's probably the only grape we both agree on. Big and bold, full body, yet very soft and smooth. That's what I love about this grape. I do own a couple bottles of this Kirkland OVZ, but haven't tried it yet because of it being such a young wine (2024 vintage). You don't think this one needs to lay down for another year or 2 before consuming? It drinks well right now?
As for the other 3, I've tried all but the malbec. I have too many malbec's at home right now I need to drink first. I do like the Rioja and the Bordeaux wines! Good value for the money, for sure! AND the Rioja has a DIAM cork in it. A nice touch, for a cheap wine.
Thanks for another great Costco video, loved it!
I bought a case of the 2020 Rioja last year. Solid wine. I just bought a case of the Kirkland Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Very subtle sour component on the finish but overall great value for $11.
What do you recommend for beef stew? I always include a red wine as one of the ingredients in my stew
Are these US or Canadian prices?
Very good informative video. Hoping you will find and review a Sangiovese
I've had all these wines. The standout is the Rioja. First tried it last year and was floored by the value. I've had $20 bottles of Rioja Riserva I haven't enjoyed as much.
Another stellar video Bob! I like how you review these very affordable wines from Costco & Trader Joe's and you find them to be gems. With your credentials of Master of Wine, it is refreshing that you can connect with us wine hobbyists who are looking for great value. You deliver that! I refuse to buy into the hype & high prices from the "experts". I have you here on YT guiding me. Thank you!
Happily waiting for the white wine or Rosé or sparkling editions . Please continue your fine reviews.
80% of the Malbec. I feel this will be on the midterm.
Hmm, I wonder if the Bordeaux would make a good wine with Le Hamburger Entree et Sortie, (In N Out in French)
The Malbec is my go to cooking wine. Cheap enough to cook with but enjoyable enough to finish the rest of the bottle with my wife.
Thank you for reviewing these ultra affordable wines. One tip on your brief shopping cart image toward the end … please flip up the red flaps to cover the child leg slots! Take it from someone that forgot and a quick start resulted in a bottle disaster.
I'm definitely drinking more Euro wines these days….trying to avoid the phosphate and glycopsate sprayed crops as much as possible. Looking for those Organics. Miss my California reds!!!!
Tried the Rioja, the Bordeaux and the Malbec before, all really good for the price, the Rioja Reserve is my favorite of the trio.
Writing this from just outside of Montepulciano, wishing you were here!😊
I discovered both the Bordeaux and Malbec within the past year. As always, spot on with the review — nothing exotic, but for the price point, both punch above their weight class.
The Kirkland Malbec has been my go to everyday wine, but I thought that the 2023 was a lesser wine than the 2021 and 2022. I’ve yet to see the 2024 vintage. You think it is more compatible to the 2023?
how do you tell whether to age wine or not?
Why do Costco wine selections vary so much from store to store?
I opened a 2020 Kirkland Malbec a couple weeks ago and it was fantastic. Juicy, full, fruity, it was delicious!
Sorry, Bob; I found the OV Zin this year to be FLABBY compared to prior vintages – perhaps the acid was a little low, or it was the residual sugar masking it – but that's what makes a horse race.
I'm waiting for the JME to come in locally (Foster City).
Love my Rioja, my go to, when my Costco’s are out of it… the Kirkland Zinfandel suits me just fine 👍👍 thanks for confirming.
Nice video! Could you recommend any sub-$20-$25 Zinfandels or Pinot Noirs that are bold, powerful and less fruity? My favorite Zinfandel is Rombauer and I really like several of the Pinots from Fulcrum and Bella. Unfortunately, with a budget that is burdened by too many other expensive hobbies, those sorts of wines that I know I like are restricted to once or twice a year and I’m looking for something that would fall into the twice a month category budget-wise.
Several years back when we visited the Sonoma wine country, we stopped in a multi family winery tasting room, and the guy working there asked me some very good questions about what wines I had tasted on the trip, which ones I liked and which ones I found less impressive. I mentioned that I used to like Cline Ancient Vine Zinfandel quite a bit, but after visiting that winery, thought it had gone downhill. He specifically asked me what about it I had found disappointing and I told him that I thought it was a bit too fruity and not very substantial.
After some further questions, he told me that Cline was making much the same Zinfandel then as it had 15 years earlier, but he thought my tastes in wine had changed. He was right – I very much liked every wine he poured for me. Unfortunately, I lost track of the names of several of the excellent recommendations he had made, all of which were stronger, more complex wines with above-average alcohol content for the variety. And sadly, I cannot even find that tasting room anymore after doing a Google search.
Thank you for the info.
Bob, we just tried the rioja reserva – it is every bit as good as you said. We really loved it. Thank you for your recommendation.
Big fan of the Bordeaux in Beef Bourguignon.
Just picked up a case of the Rioja this week. Perfect weekday drinker and versatile with many food pairings. Would put it up against any $8 wine on the planet. Wasn’t as big of a fan of the most recent Bordeaux as in years past. Also picked up some Kirkland Chablis for 14.99 which I’ve never tried yet but heard a lot about.
I really enjoy your well balanced review.❤
Hi Bob! Regarding your comment about Zen grapes running the spectrum from raisin to green, I have seen winery workers sort grapes from a belt before pressing. I know it adds some cost, but wouldn't sorting makes the wine much better? It is a fast process. Secondly, which of the wines would you recommend as the most approachable to people who are not regular wine drinkers? I'll eliminate the Bordeaux right off the top as too dry. Thanks Bob. I never miss an episode.