Tag Archives: Red wine of the week

Red Wine of the Week | Red Wine Reviews, Weekly Bottles

Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Meritage

Cost: Average price $10.99

Where buy now: Costco

Grapes: 51% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc

Region: California

Vintage: 2012

Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Meritage
Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Meritage

I was recently asked, “Lush, what’s your go-to Costco red wine around $10?” Without hesitation, I said “the Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Meritage at $10.99”, and for a couple reasons. First, it’s one of the few wines I’m able to consistently find in every Costco, so it’s very accessible. Also, it’s quite good.

 

This is a “you’re new to wine and drink Apothic Red, now try this instead” wine (hey, that rhymed!). It’s plum-cherry juicy fruit love balanced with musty/dusty soft tannins. This is a “some of my girls like it dry, while some  of them like it sweet” girl-night wine. This is a “it’ll drink real easy but first make it swirl, swirl, swirl” wine. My oh my this Kirkland Napa Valley Meritage opens up showing off a softened structure of sour cherry and balanced peppery notes. All this without being too dry on the tongue.

 

Grab two glasses, pop the bottle and throw the cork away. Laugh, cry and double fist cheeseball smeared crackers while you dish dirt and regale stories with your bestie. If you see the Kirkland Signature Oakville Merlot, I do like that a wee-bit more, but that comes with a price tag of $17.99. With the $7 savings, I’m buying me some chocolate to join that cheeseball.

Red Wine of the Week | Red Wine Reviews, Weekly Bottles

Pertinace Barbera d’Alba

Cost: Average price $14.99

Where buy now: Costco

Grapes: Barbera

Region: Italy

Vintage: 2012

Pertinace Barbera d'Alba Costco
Pertinace Barbera d’Alba

But of course I kicked off 2016, with an Italian. Pertinace Barbera d’Alba is one of the more expensive wines I’ve bought at Costco ringing in at a *gasp* $14.99!

 

First whiff and taste = rip red fruit. It smelled almost sweet-like. At first this Barbera was tight on taste, begging to develop. Have patience my friends, let her get comfy and she loosens up a bit, balancing cherries, tobacco and tannins. Pertinace Barbera d’Alba is like a seductive burlesque dancer, subdued at first then exposing its talents, creating a memorable experience.

 

2016 New Year Resolution: exhibit more patience.

 

Who are we kidding? It’s to drink less wine in sweatpants.

Red Wine of the Week | Red Wine Reviews

The Renegade Wine Company Red Wine

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Cost: Average price $12

Where buy now: Zipp’s Liquors, South Lyndale Liquors

Grapes: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot

Region: Columbia Valley, WA

Vintage: 2012

The Renegade Wine Company Red Wine
The Renegade Wine Company Red Wine

Renegade Wine Company, a value brand produced by Sleight of Hand Cellars, is a label made for the savviest of all wine lushes. From their website, “Sleight of Hand Cellars has two basic goals in its vision statement: to make world class wines and to have fun while doing it.” Since I like world class wine, and having fun while doing it, how could I refuse?

A big time score for us cost-conscious drinkers, I first had Renegade Wine Company’s 2013 Rosé, which I adored! Sadly, it appears our market did not receive the 2014, which is a huge bummer. If you do happen to see it in a store, swipe it up — just don’t tell me about it (unless you’re planning to share… With no one else but ME!).

So, I’m moping around the store like a spoiled, First World, teenager who just cracked the screen on her Apple Watch. Since I couldn’t find the Rosé, I settled for their Renegade Wine Company’s Red Blend instead. I didn’t drink this bottle right away. In fact, since I thought it to be such a consolation prize, I just threw it in my wine rack figuring I’d run out of bottles at some point and try it.

Fast forward five days, a cooler than expected evening had me craving a red wine. Hmmmph, I _guess_ I’ll open this… red… blend.

What?!? This vino is delicious! Could it be that my low expectations going into it are skewing my perception? Perhaps, but there is only one scientific way to find out – back to the lab. And? Long story long: I bought the Renegade Wine Co.’s Red Wine again and it still drinks like a dream. A beautiful, splendid red blended wine dream.

Renegade Wine Co.’s Red Wine is Washington’s answer to a Bordeaux Blend. Let me explain. It is Cabernet dominated followed by Merlot. This one-two punch gives the wine it’s main structure: dark red fruit with hints of cocoa and tobacco. The depth of flavor is livened up by the addition of Cab Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. These aid in it’s deeper dark color, hints of blueberry and coffee along with it’s moderate acidity. All in all, it’s a palate pleaser for everyone.

My dear friends, I deem this another bargain gem, my red wine of the week. Coming in around $12, we’ll gladly have these folks make world class wine, and we’ll have fun while doing it.