Oh brother...

Today I was in the Seattle Costco, cruising the wine section. For the
first time ever, I spotted two new wines with the Kirkland (Costco)
label. One was an Alexander Valley Cab, 2001 I think -- I didn't pay
that much attention to it after I noticed the second wine.

The second was a 2000 St. Emilion Grand Cru! For $16. All it says
about the producer on the back of the label is, "Mis en bouteille a la
propriete par L'Union des Producteurs de Saint Emilion a 33330
Saint-Emilion, France" Imported by Winery Exchange, Novato, Cal.

What is this, co-op grand cru? Has anybody tasted this? Anybody know
anything about it? I brought a bottle home, but I was laughing out
loud about it in the check-out line.

JJ

wrote in news:5isea1p80jmbks7dtrebqqcqtn4b4il7ho@
4ax.com:

> Oh brother...
>
> Today I was in the Seattle Costco, cruising the wine section. For the
> first time ever, I spotted two new wines with the Kirkland (Costco)
> label. One was an Alexander Valley Cab, 2001 I think -- I didn't pay
> that much attention to it after I noticed the second wine.
>
> The second was a 2000 St. Emilion Grand Cru! For $16. All it says
> about the producer on the back of the label is, "Mis en bouteille a la
> propriete par L'Union des Producteurs de Saint Emilion a 33330
> Saint-Emilion, France" Imported by Winery Exchange, Novato, Cal.
>
> What is this, co-op grand cru? Has anybody tasted this? Anybody know
> anything about it? I brought a bottle home, but I was laughing out
> loud about it in the check-out line.
>
> JJ
>

let us know about it, there are more than a few costco addicts out here
and I have had good luck with some of their imports. There was a nice
one last year Chateau Saulitis IIRC from Longuedoc (sp?)
--
Joseph Coulter
Cruises and Vacations
http://www.josephcoulter.com/

In article >,
says...
>
wrote in news:5isea1p80jmbks7dtrebqqcqtn4b4il7ho@
>4ax.com:
>
>> Oh brother...
>>
>> Today I was in the Seattle Costco, cruising the wine section. For the
>> first time ever, I spotted two new wines with the Kirkland (Costco)
>> label. One was an Alexander Valley Cab, 2001 I think -- I didn't pay
>> that much attention to it after I noticed the second wine.
>>
>> The second was a 2000 St. Emilion Grand Cru! For $16. All it says
>> about the producer on the back of the label is, "Mis en bouteille a la
>> propriete par L'Union des Producteurs de Saint Emilion a 33330
>> Saint-Emilion, France" Imported by Winery Exchange, Novato, Cal.
>>
>> What is this, co-op grand cru? Has anybody tasted this? Anybody know
>> anything about it? I brought a bottle home, but I was laughing out
>> loud about it in the check-out line.
>>
>> JJ
>>
>
>let us know about it, there are more than a few costco addicts out here
>and I have had good luck with some of their imports. There was a nice
>one last year Chateau Saulitis IIRC from Longuedoc (sp?)
>--
>Joseph Coulter
>Cruises and Vacations
>http://www.josephcoulter.com/

Yes, please let us all know about this wine. In Phoenix/Scottsdale (AZ/US), I
have not seen any Costco "brand" wines. So far (as I've shopped the racks),
all have been traditionally imported, either with the winery label, or the
negotiant's label, as would be expected. I've heard that they were doing some
wines under their own labels, but, so far, none seem to have made it to AZ.
OTOH, most of the wines that ARE available here, are good value, regardless of
their being First Growth, or cult Cabs, or even more cult Shirazs (is that the
correct pl?).

Looking forward to the reports,
Hunt

In message >
wrote:

> Oh brother...
>
> Today I was in the Seattle Costco, cruising the wine section. For the
> first time ever, I spotted two new wines with the Kirkland (Costco)
> label. One was an Alexander Valley Cab, 2001 I think -- I didn't pay
> that much attention to it after I noticed the second wine.
>
> The second was a 2000 St. Emilion Grand Cru! For $16. All it says
> about the producer on the back of the label is, "Mis en bouteille a la
> propriete par L'Union des Producteurs de Saint Emilion a 33330
> Saint-Emilion, France" Imported by Winery Exchange, Novato, Cal.
>
> What is this, co-op grand cru? Has anybody tasted this? Anybody know
> anything about it? I brought a bottle home, but I was laughing out
> loud about it in the check-out line.
>
> JJ
Does it not give a name — either brand or Chateau name as well?
The UDP — see www.udpse.com — is not a true co-op in the sense of
blending all its members‘ wines to make one or more generic wines of
the AOCs. Many of the members have their crops individually handled,
vinified and bottled and sell as individual St. Emilions - or St
Emilion Grand Crus if they have passed the necessary dual tasting
tests for the vintage in question. Examples of these are Ch. Grangey,
Ch. St. Elme, Ch. Haut-Nauve and many others. At one time Ch.
Berliquet was made in this way although since its promotion to Grand
Cru Classé it has been made at the Chateau. There are also some
blended wines — Cotes Rocheuses, Aurelius, Galius, Haut Quercus and
others. The range has recently been completely revised and some of
these are very good examples of St. Emilion which have been selected
by, for example, the Guide Hachette. Apart from saying that and that
2000 was, of course a great year, nearly as good as 1998 in my view,
it is difficult to give more help.



Tim Hartley

St. Emilion — Alleluia

On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 02:37:44 -0230, Rex > wrote:

>Why were you "laughing out loud about it in the check-out line. ?

Because I couldn't believe I was actually buying something that said
"St. Emilion Grand Cru" with a Kirkland label on it.

Btw, gang, I've been out of town, so haven't had a chance to try the
wine yet. Will report back soon as I do.

JJ

On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 12:06:19 +0100, Timothy Hartley
> wrote:

>Does it not give a name — either brand or Chateau name as well?

Nope. Just what I wrote in my first post.

JJ

The June issue of Costco Connection magazine has a small story on the
two wines I mentioned. It's written by David Andrew, who was Costco's
wine buyer until a year or so ago. (And boy, do I miss him and his
excellent taste. Things have gotten pretty boring in the aisles since
his departure.)

The article (on page 67) goes big into explaining Alexander Valley,
and notes that the Kirkland 2001 Alex Cab "is a great example of the
mountain style...deeply colored, with intense, ripe fruit. Flavors of
black cherry and black currant (cassis) dominate, but it is
multi-layerd and complex, with hints of chocolate and cofee. The wine
is well-structured, with firm but elegant tannins and balanced
acidity. Ready to drink now, and has the potential to age for several
years."

It gives no hint as to which winery produced the juice. As for the St.
Emilion Grand Cru, Andrew says almost nothing.

"The Kirkland Signature St. Emilion comes from the much-heralded 200
vintage. This is a rich, voluptuous Merlot-based wine. Think liquid
velvet!"

Uh. okay. Like I said, pretty much says nothing.

JJ

> in :
| The June issue of Costco Connection magazine has a
| small story on the two wines I mentioned. It's written by
| David Andrew, who was Costco'swine buyer until a year
| or so ago. (And boy, do I miss him and his excellent taste. ...)

What does this mean? No more Tollot-Beaut?

In message >
wrote:

> On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 12:06:19 +0100, Timothy Hartley
> > wrote:
>
>>Does it not give a name — either brand or Chateau name as well?
>
> Nope. Just what I wrote in my first post.
>
> JJ
I would be somewhat wary of any wine which did not give its true
provenance. I take it that you bought some - what was it like? Was
anything written on the cork?

From early in the history of the Jurade, created in 1199, the Jurats
tasted and imposed quality controls and wine unworthy of the
Jurisdiction, or which was masquerading as wine from St. Emilion, had
the barrels in which it was kept emptied, smashed and burned.
I do hope this is not that sort of wine.
(All the good wine had the barrels impressed with the Seal of the
Jurade - the earliest form of agrément of which I am aware, though
others may know differently.)


Timothy Hartley

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 15:43:19 -0700, "Max Hauser"
> wrote:

> in :
>| The June issue of Costco Connection magazine has a
>| small story on the two wines I mentioned. It's written by
>| David Andrew, who was Costco'swine buyer until a year
>| or so ago. (And boy, do I miss him and his excellent taste. ...)
>
>What does this mean? No more Tollot-Beaut?

Heh. Yeah, I guess so.

What I've noticed is that, since David left, Costco's wine selection
has become rather boring and predictable. Acacia Pinot, Ste. Michelle
stuff, too much Coppola, et al. Been there, done that. There's so much
interesting wine out there these days, but not much of it at Costco.
It's getting to be more fun in the wine aisle of Trader Joe's than
Costco. TJ's has been offsetting their Two Buck Chuck mania with some
rather decent high end selections the last few months. Needless to
say, the prices are competitive.

JJ

> in ...
| On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 15:43:19 -0700, "Max Hauser" wrote:
| | What does this mean? No more Tollot-Beaut?
|
| Heh. Yeah, I guess so.
|
| What I've noticed is that, since David left, Costco's wine
| selection has become rather boring and predictable.
| Acacia Pinot, Ste. Michelle stuff, too much Coppola, et al.

_Horribile dictu._


M

They had 1 guy buying in 20 some od jurisdictions for 50 some odd
stores?

On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 18:59:27 GMT, wrote:

>The June issue of Costco Connection magazine has a small story on the
>two wines I mentioned. It's written by David Andrew, who was Costco's
>wine buyer until a year or so ago. (And boy, do I miss him and his
>excellent taste. Things have gotten pretty boring in the aisles since
>his departure.)
>
>The article (on page 67) goes big into explaining Alexander Valley,
>and notes that the Kirkland 2001 Alex Cab "is a great example of the
>mountain style...deeply colored, with intense, ripe fruit. Flavors of
>black cherry and black currant (cassis) dominate, but it is
>multi-layerd and complex, with hints of chocolate and cofee. The wine
>is well-structured, with firm but elegant tannins and balanced
>acidity. Ready to drink now, and has the potential to age for several
>years."
>
>It gives no hint as to which winery produced the juice. As for the St.
>Emilion Grand Cru, Andrew says almost nothing.
>
>"The Kirkland Signature St. Emilion comes from the much-heralded 200
>vintage. This is a rich, voluptuous Merlot-based wine. Think liquid
>velvet!"
>
>Uh. okay. Like I said, pretty much says nothing.
>
>JJ

David was their primary wine buyer. The individual store managers can
choose what they want to stock. Not that it always happens that way. A
couple years back there was an article on pre-arrivals of the 2000
Bordeaux that listed Ch. Angelus as one of the wines that would be
available. It even gave the SKU number. The wine never showed up, in
their stores or in the computer.

JJ


On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 06:55:25 -0400, gerald > wrote:

>They had 1 guy buying in 20 some od jurisdictions for 50 some odd
>stores?
>
>On Tue, 21 Jun 2005 18:59:27 GMT, wrote:
>
>>The June issue of Costco Connection magazine has a small story on the
>>two wines I mentioned. It's written by David Andrew, who was Costco's
>>wine buyer until a year or so ago. (And boy, do I miss him and his
>>excellent taste. Things have gotten pretty boring in the aisles since
>>his departure.)
>>