This is a series of weekly bargain wine picks by the members of the Vintage Wine Tasting Club. We meet every other month for a formal tasting session but in between we communicate with each other whenever we discover a great wine bargain. We love the sport of bargain wine hunting. Here are our bargain wine picks from the past week.
Rodney Strong 2008 Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon – Costco $9.59 (Joe, Jim, Ray’s Pick)
This is one of those coupon deals that Costco occasionally has on particular wines. Costco wines have little markup, some say about 14% above cost, so with the added coupon discount, the consumer is getting this wine at a wholesale price. The coupon is good at the checkout counter until September 26. This wine is very enjoyable and drinkable now. It is a medium-bodied Cab with no rough edges. Nice flavors and certainly a crowd pleaser. We sampled this wine on CabernetDay along with eight other Cabs and the Rodney Strong was the second choice among 12 diners. See results of CabDay.
Faiveley Mercurey Blanc 2004 – Grocery Outlet $6.99 (Mike’s Pick)
Very rich and well structured, has aged very nicely. The wine is clean and round with full flavors of peach and apple. At 6+ years this wine is ready to drink and is at its peak, so it should be drunk soon. It was well stored at Wilson-Daniels warehouse in Napa. Faiveley, the producer, is an excellent source for quality Burgundy. A handful of bottles will do nicely with Indian summer meals. Redwood City Grocery Outlet has a floor stack of the wine at $6.99 a bottle. Well worth a few bottles.
Thunevin-Calvet “Cuvée Constance” Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes – K&L Wines – $12.99 (Bruce’s Pick)
This is a great bottle of wine. It is everything and more, described by Robert Parker (91 Points) on the K&L Website. The wine is a blend of Grenache 30%, Syrah and 10% Carignan. It has cherry and plum flavors along with a surprising finish. For $12.99 it is a steal. K&L Wines has plenty of this wine in stock at the Redwood City store.
Nothing to Write Home About
LaMadrid Cabernet Sauvignon
This wine is rather dull in character and the term “flat” pretty much describes this wine from Argentina. I purchased this wine at K&L Wines for $10.99. Rodney Strong at $9.59 is so much better.
The Kirkland Champagne is back in several Costco Stores for $19.99. Read about this fabulous bargain in Champagne made by Manual Janisson.
thanks, will check back sometime, have bookmarked you for now.