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2007 Costco Napa Valley Chardonnay

I noticed recently that Costco has come out with more wines in their Kirkland Signature wines line and naturally, since I’m there once a month trolling the wine bins like the wine whore, er value seeker, that I am, I picked up a bunch more of ‘em.

This time I tried the 2007 Napa Valley Chardonnay from Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand line of house wines. In a different but happy way, I’m as impressed with this Chardonnay as I was with the Kirkland Signature Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

First, I’ve never had such a well-balanced Chardonnay under $20, much less under $10. California Chardonnays are often overly oaky, frequently too acidic, and sometimes taste like Sauvignon Blanc. Occasionally we come across Chards we love, but this one is a solid enjoyable player in a field of mediocre wines priced under $15.

What they say: 2007 Kirkland Signature Napa Valley Chardonnay is opulent and richly flavored. The succulent notes of apricot and fig are surrounded by intense bursts of apple and pear, finishing with bright, mouthwatering acidity; a distinctive, buttery edge; plus hints of cedar and oak. Chardonnay from Napa Valley is scarce, highly sought after, and the source for some of the finest California Chardonnay from the 2007 vintage. Drink now through 2010.

What Jess says: The bouquet is oaky, but don’t let it fool you, other wonderful flavors come out to play once you take a sip. At first I noticed a brightness at the front of my mouth, oakiness in the mid-palate, and a smoky finish. The wine lingered in my mouth to offer a mild green-fruit and buttery finish. This wine would be great with any of the traditional foods one pairs with a Chardonnay (cheese, salad, fish, chicken, etc.) but could also compliment a heartier meal.

It doesn’t seem to be on their website (I think because it’s only available in California), so if you live in California you’ll have to go to your local Costco to pick some up at the super bargain price of $7.99 a bottle. Here’s an article about Kirkland Signature wines at Costco.com.

2005 Chateau Souverain, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

Last night we ate a nice little fish restaurant on the Malibu Pier (the Beachcomber). We ordered the 2005 Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon which I had had before and remember enjoying quite a bit. Mitch, who usually doesn’t love a cabernet really enjoyed this and said, “We should keep a couple bottles of this around.” That’s quite a compliment from him and it reminded me that it’s good to have a few staples that are widely available and that are so food-friendly you can crack ‘em open whenever.

This cabernet sauvignon from the Alexander Valley in Sonoma, CA definitely fits the bill. And at $15-20 per bottle, it gets a strong thumbs up for being smooth, flavorful but not overwhelming, and definitely a good value.

Now go get some Cabernet Sauvignon!

For about a year now, I’ve been a happy member of Fiddlehead Winery’s Frequent Fiddle wine club. I joined the club after visiting 20 or so wineries and tasting rooms in the Santa Ynez Valley area… a favorite spot of mine.

After a full day of tasting at some great wineries, and some not-so-great wineries, we landed in the wine-ghetto of Lompoc, CA to find out if Fiddlehead was as good as its reputation. It was. And having tasted a lot of wine in the area, this was the first winery that had a wine club I wanted to join (and my husband Mitch agreed!).

Truth be told, I’m still a happy member, except that when my newest shipment arrived, it was no longer an exciting adventure. I’d already tried (and drank three bottles each of) both the Goosebury (Goosie) Sauvignon Blanc from Santa Rita Hills and the Oldsville Reserve Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley (pronounced Will-amm-it, dammit). I like both of these wines very much, and feel they’re a good value, but there are hundreds (maybe thousands?) of wineries in California alone and I have more wine adventures to partake of!

So now I’m going to figure out which wine club to join next, and if you’ll let me, I’ll take you along on the adventure. Hopefully you’ll be inspired to find the perfect wine club (and wines) for yourself!

If you want to try Fiddlehead, you can find places to buy it online.