Kirkland Signature Series Malbec - Costco's Top Of The Line Wine

86% Malbec and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza, Argentina.

Available for $19.99 exclusively at Costco. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

Our Signature Series wine from Kirkland Signature is selectively sourced from a single vineyard known to be among the highest in the world (4,000 feet above sea level), and the oldest vines at the base of the Andes Mountains. This 2011 Argentina Malbec has been fermented in traditional concrete tanks and aged in French oak to present the heritage of Mendoza. It is superior quality in fine wines brought directly to you for your enjoyment. Salud!
-- Alejandro Canovas, Winemaker

14.5% Alcohol

It's been awhile since we've featured a Costco pick so today we have one that comes from the Signature Series line, which is a step up from the normal Kirkland Signature wines and is Costco's top tier of private label wines. The branding on the Signature Series is very subtle so I don't blame you if you've walked by these in the store having no idea they were any different from the normal Kirkland Signature wines -- that's exactly what I did for months. This Signature Series brand also comes at a price very close to our limit, $19.99. Based on our unique rating system a wine at that cost has to score very high on our Taste scale in order to get a recommended buy rating. Let's find out if this one is up to that daunting task, shall we?

The 2011 Kirkland Signature Series Malbec comes from single vineyard, old vine grapes grown at 4,000 feet above sea level and spends 12 months in 100% new French oak. It has only 2.4 g/L of residual sugar which makes it a very dry (not sweet) wine. These are definitely the type of specs you would expect from a Malbec at this price point but of course the real proof is in the glass and this Signature Series wine excels there as well. It opens with very pleasant aromas of ripe plum, black cherry and dark berry fruit along with a little vanilla and spice. Tasting reveals a big, rich, smooth and tasty wine full of ripe juicy fruit and plenty of vanilla and caramel notes. Spice and black pepper notes come to the forefront on the long, dry, dusty finish. Excellent.