Absolute beauty once again from this wine, and we are glad to see the newest release hit Costco shelves.
But one big downside, a big price hike at Costco. We were stunned to see the $79.99 price on the Costco placard. The last time we bought it at Costco the price was $54.99 and not long before that this wine was $48.99.
At those prices, it was a steal. Maybe this is a case of word getting out and demand going up. Costco's $79.99 price is exactly the same as Total Wine so there's no real upside to buying it at Costco anymore, which is a bummer.
Especially since we collect these bottles and have every vintage of this wine (it's only produced in select vintages) in our cellar since 2001 (2001, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011).
Regardless of the price, we scooped a few up to put away again because they age so gracefully. Readers continue to ask for age worthy bottles at Costco, and this is one we'd put towards the top of the list.
This is the first time tasting the 2015 vintage. Just a few months ago we pulled out a 2011 to see where it stood, and like we expected, still a baby, drinking great with plenty of room to run.
The wine is a medium ruby in color, vibrant nose of red of dark fruit, tobacco; subtle and elegant in the mouth, showing some early maturity that will likely only continue; robust fruit flavor of plum, black cherry; notes of leather and anise into the perfect finish.
The critics gave this 2015 vintage huge scores once again: 97 points from Suckling, 95 from Wine Advocate, and 92 from Wine Spectator. It is so good now, and we can't wait to revisit over the next 5-10 years.
We're going to bump our score up a slot this year from a previous 94, giving this wine a solid 95 points, with a thumbs up for one of our favorite wines, in perhaps our favorite vintage.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 95 points (a Costco Wine Top Pick)
Costco item number: 11321
Availability: We buy our wine in Costco warehouses around the Atlanta area. The best way to locate wines near you is by using the Costco mobile app and searching with the Costco item number we listed above.
Alc. 14.5%
Rick says
A lovely wine, we went to that winery on a trip to Spain 5 years ago and brought back a few of them to enjoy later. Price is definitely getting up there, I'll cross my fingers it goes on sale some time if the bottle ever shows up in So. Cal Costcos
Charles H Hensel says
could the steep rise in wine prices be at least partially attributed to the recent rist in tarrifs?
Editor says
Could be a combination of factors. I think a big one is that the cat is out of the bag on what a value buy this has been.
Bob says
All due respect, there are myriad examples of "value buys" over the years at Costco where pricing never came close to matching the price of a full margin retailer like Total Wine.
Nope, this price reeks of the tariff's, effect or in anticipation of them, IMO.
LAWRENCE D DUTRA says
Or tariffs
Robert says
This wine is $109.95 at the Total wine in Fort Myers
Lance Tolaio says
For sure it is tariffs . I am a wholesale buyer for a restaurant. I am already seeing an added 15% all European wine. It is directly added to the invoice and noted as tariff.
Tom says
Update. It is available at our Laguna Hills Total Wine for $76.50 with 6 or more purchase mix or match.
Max Weber says
This price of this wine has gone up 46%. Have the tariffs on Spanish products increased 46%? Have all Spanish wines increased 46%? If not, this appears to be more of a case of supply and demand pricing.
LL says
This wine (2015) is $114.99 in Cornelius, NC Total Wine...
Brunello Bill says
This is not due the tariffs. I agree with the editor when it was said that "the cat is out of the bag" on this wine. I bought a bottle of this wine in January for more than the $80 listed here. Well before the tariffs were in place. I remember when this wine was just $50 a few short years ago. I used to buy it by the case and has always been a favorite of mine.