Our email really blew up this past week with readers talking about the new 2023 vintage of the Kirkland Stags Leap Cab hitting stores.
And a quick search in the Costco app correctly showed it in stock near us. We love the new warehouse search feature when it works properly.
The price stayed the same this year at $22.99; always love that considering that the high quality juice from the Stags Leap district is typically priced much higher.
Over the years, we've really enjoyed this wine, and many readers have told us that they have too. Here are our ratings going back to the 2013 vintage:
2013 90 points
2014 88 points
2016 89 points
2017 89 points
2018 91 points
2019 91 points
2021 91 points
2022 91 points
So it's been hanging pretty solid at 91 points the past few years. Could this be the vintage to crack that ceiling open?
Yes, indeed. In the glass, this wine is a medium to deep ruby with a nose of red and dark fruit with baking spice and herbs; full body with a silky mouthfeel that is big on flavor; a nice red and dark fruit combo; black cherry, plum, blackberry; mocha and vanilla notes towards a peppery finish that lingers on.
Lots to like here for Stags Leap district fans and readers who have enjoyed this one in the past. This is our favorite vintage of this wine to date, so we're bumping the score to 92.
CostcoWineBlog.com Rating: 92 points (a Costco Wine Blog Top Pick)
Costco item number: 505081
Availability: We buy our wine in Costco warehouses around the Atlanta area. The best way to locate wines near you is by using the new Costco mobile app and searching with the Costco item number we listed above.
Alc. 15%
Navin Shetty says
Would you consider the Kirkland Suscol Vineyard Cab that you rated 93 and priced at $17.99, a far better value than this Stags Leap Cab rated 92 but priced at $22.99? I have access to both of these currently at my local Costco, and was wondering which one to stock up on? Which one would age better? Thanks
Editor says
That’s a tough one and really might come down to personal preferences. These are two great vintages of those wines. Both super solid and would age well. I’d pick Suscol if I was forced to.
Gary L says
Isn't this a perfect highlight of how silly our wine rating system is? I know it's a much deeper conversation, but in reality, what good is the range of a 100-point system when you pretty much never see a wine rated lower than 85? And even an 85 rating would pretty much be a death-knell to any respectable wine that wasn't aimed at the grocery check out lanes.
What would it take to revamp the system to give range differentiation where the middle of the scale (50/100 with the current scale) represented the 'status quo' of solid buys in the wine market. I feel that's pretty much the 87-88 range right now. It would be nice to see an elimination of the 'grade inflation' that makes it quite hard to consider comparison ratings between the 'best' wines on the market...
Matthew Pearlman says
I ask that question to myself all the time. Between Staggs, rutherford, suscol and one more im forgetting. I must say the suscol valley is the best. It basically feels like a $50 cab from napa for half the price. The others are great but sus is the best!!! Id like to hear others opinions.
Ryan Shores says
I completely agree. I find the other choices (rutherford, Oakville, SL) to be too jammy and doesn't have enough to balance out the ripe fruit. I will say however that I am an old world guy. My palate does not match many others.
Janice says
Love your blog! Have you ever considered scheduling a meet up for your local followers? I'm in East Cobb.
Editor says
Thanks and yes, we have. There are a lot of local readers and it would be fun to all meet up.
Just have to figure out what that looks like. If you have any ideas let us know.
JP says
The 2023 KS Stag's Leap is rich and deep with velvety tannins, but should age well. My rating: 92-93 points. At $22.99 it is an incredible value! Drinking great now but I am going to cellaring a few bottles for 5-10 years. In short, it's the best KS wine I've tried this year, and I've tried all KS new arrivals since Feb 1 (except, ironically, the Suscol).
matthew Klein says
Not tried this. No longer possible to add comments to KS Suscol which is available in Mountain View CA but not in Santa Clara CA as of this weekend. KS Suscol is decent but nothing special. Ready to drink now. Not really age worthy. Lets not call it a great vintage guys. If it were I would go back and buy a case or two. hmmmm. I can do better with Spanish reds. Seems we are sufferring from point inflation recently.