Costco Wine Tasting – Episode #345

November 6, 2007

Gary Vaynerchuk tastes and rates 3 wines from Costco. The Kirkland brand is on display. Watch and see how they show.

Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Quicktime version.

Comments on this episode(349) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD: the way of the pilgrim…” by ulu ulu ulu ulu
“Good episode. Nice to see my local “Kirkland” brand didnt totally dis…” by Dessert Wine Nerd
View all 349 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

Krikland Signature GSM 2004
Kirkland Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2005
Kirkland Signature Chateauneuf du Pape 2005

349 Responses

Pages: « 14 [13] 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 … 1 » Show All

November 9, 2007

Jeff Cleveland
QOTD: My out of control RSS feeds!!!
November 9, 2007

Stefano
reading: Assault on Reason by Al Gore. Very interesting. I’m getting very mad at people/institutions etc. that use FEAR to get at people.
November 9, 2007

Vegas Rob
One more lurker out of the Mix! I’ve been watching since day one, but I’m just a horrible typer… Great show, I bet I can swirl better than you!!! QotD: “Flood your body with Oxygen” by Ed McCabe
November 9, 2007

Adam
I’m re-watching the review of the GSM while drinking it and I gotta say – I think it’s more cranberries than raspberries (bottle has been opened for ~4hrs). I just tasted some raspberries to compare and I’m pretty certain here. Just my 2c.
November 8, 2007

Mike
Harry Potter!
November 8, 2007

Kevin
QOTD: Reading? Food blogs.
November 8, 2007

DARREL LAS VEGAS
LETS DO WHOLEFOOD WINES THEY ROCK!
November 8, 2007

Fco.
Thank you for this episode, I always wondered what you would make of those Costco wines. I do not think I have had those particular ones but I have had a couple of others and thought they were alright. It is always good to get your point of view.

QOTD: Just finished reading I Am Legend by Roberth Matheson and moving to non-fiction: See No Evil by Robert Baer.
November 8, 2007

Corky
I’m reading Richard Dawkin’s “The God Dilusion” – something to think about.
November 8, 2007

warhwk69
BTW – Jet’s lost again, I see you’re sporting the new “Clear” beard. I understand, I’m a Raider fan..
November 8, 2007

warhwk69
actually, the only thing that I’m reading is “Wine” comments
November 8, 2007

Jason S.
So, you shaved. Guess you thought the Jets had a shot against the Skins

QOTD: Just finished King Rat by China Meiville this morning. Fun little read.
November 8, 2007

stevo
Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

My dad gave me a copy last time he was here in an effort to make me save and invest more money, which makes me feel a little more guilty when I keep buying wine.
November 8, 2007

Dr. Frank
For those not familiar with the Costco culture, Jim Sinegal, one of the founders from, I beleive 1982, still runs the ship on the premise that “stockholders are fourth in line” after 1)employees, 2)customers,3)suppliers. He figures if you take care of folks in this order the investors will do ok.(See recent interview in the WSJ) The Kirkland name seems to use high quality producers throughout, not just for wine. For example, the extra virgin Tuscan olive oil is a great value, the California pistachios are fresh and very flavorful, etc.
Sometime try the Pinot Noir, that, for under $20 is pretty darn good. Not sure of this but it tastes like Russian River fruit to me. Anybody know? Thanks, Gary.
Just finished a book from 2001 about the Great Harvest Bread Company, BREAD AND BUTTER,by Tom McMakin. Good stuff(and good bread)
November 8, 2007

Bernie Bearnaise
I am always leery of buying wine from a sale bin. My mind wonders what is wrong with it that they have to mark it down? Costco also sells Cameron Hughes wines which come from all over the world and have had some critical acclaim. He buys odd lots from reputable producers and sells the whole shebang to Costco and online until its gone. His taste is the filter that determines the quality high enough to put his name on it. He just released Lot 25 which is a Carneros Pinot Noir/Chardonnay sparkler that was to be marketed in the $50 range but now $20 buys it in 3 bottle lots. Good things can be had at Costco after all.

My wife just did some tasting demos at Harris Teeter for Bordeaux wines and she came home with two bottles from the sale bin at 50% off. An Austrian Red from Leo Hillinger 2005 using the St. Laurent grape for 10 bones that tasted like a $45 pinot noir! That computes to a 4.5 on my QPR scale which is quite rare. The other find was a lightly colored Zinfandel from Renwood 2003 in Amador which was also excellent at 10 bones. If the store was not so far away I would go back and vacuum up the remaining Burgenlander from Austria but the gas spent would wipe away the value.

I’m reading “Peter, Paul and Mary Magdalene” and “The Wine Lover’s Guide to Auctions” by the goddess of the gavel Ursula Hermacinski.
November 8, 2007

fatdoi
Goals – Brian Tracy…… awesome!!!
November 8, 2007

mikemc
QOTD – “Wolves of the Calla” by Stephen King (5th book of 7 in Dark Tower series) …big King fan!
November 8, 2007

moonbot
QOTD – the unbearable lightness of being.
kinda not into the idea of supporting the giant mega industry that is Costco, but if their wine’s good, and cheap, i’ll drink it.
November 8, 2007

crystal
Gary, what are your thoughts on the way Costco stores their wine?

QOTD: The Alchemist
November 7, 2007

Vinsant
needed 1 more comment for #300, cheers
November 7, 2007

nachema
Hi Gary! I’m a lurker. I’ve been watching for a couple months now and I really appreciate your show. You’ve taught me to really pay attention to flavors and aromas not just in wine but everything. Thanks for waking up my tastebuds. By the way, you look better on my iPhone than on the billboard on the Turnpike. I’m reading “the Year of Living Biblically” by A.J. Jacobs and it’s great so far.
November 7, 2007

Adam
I bought the GSM for $10 and the Cab for $17 in Missouri. Didn’t see the other.

QOTD: The entire internet.
November 7, 2007

Cracking 300
Looking forward to hitting Costco soon. Never even seen these displayed there — do they hide them or something?

Listening to Alice Sebold’s Almost Moon, downloaded from audible.com. Does that count? My first audiobook. Gets real hard to focus on the subway, but I imagine it gets easier, as long as you don’t get mugged first. Kind of a chick read, but I loved Lovely Bones by her so I took a shot. Depressing, yet edifying. I’m sure there’s a wine analogy to be made, but it’s late, so no neurons are firing.
November 7, 2007

Sam Spencer
What are you reading is the real question. Sorry i missed you while in NJ last week. I just finished Into the Wild, which i figured I ought to rerad before i saw the movie. A fascinating story with Henry the IV similarities. Sad the Kid almost made it out of the Wild.
Just picked up The Razors edge by Somerset Maugham, I saw the movie 20 years ago and was intrigued by the Parisienne dens of iniquity… we’ll see if the book provides the same literary stimulation.
November 7, 2007

Clark
May have to join Costco just to try the wines.
Qotd: A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell and about to re-read a P. G. Wodehouse Blandings novel. Can’t go too long w/out poor old Lord Emsworth and the Empress of Blandings.