Still a great value at just $7.99 a bottle. Revisiting this real deal Rioja Reserva aged 30 months in oak barrels, the Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva.
100% Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain. The wine is aged 30 months in oak barrels and another 6 months in bottle before release.
The Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva is available exclusively at Costco for $7.99 ($1 more than previous vintages). It is bottled by Bodegas Eguia and imported by Quintessential, LLC.
Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva is an elegant wine made from 100% Tempranillo grapes grown in the region of Rioja. Aged 30 months in oak barrels and cellared for six months in the bottle prior to release, this ruby-colored wine has intense, spicy aromas with a hint of licorice. Vanilla flavors on the palate leave a pleasant, lingering, well-balanced finish.
13.5% Alcohol
We’ve reviewed this wine a number of times here on Reverse Wine Snob and have found it to be consistently good, although some vintages are better than others. The producer this year is unchanged (Bodegas Eguia) although this 2015 spends a bit less time in oak (30 months versus 36 months for the 2013). Going back even farther; however, when the wine was made by Bodegas Muriel it only aged in barrel for 24 months (and one year in bottle).
Of course, in order to be labeled as a Reserva strict guidelines must be met including three years of aging with at least one of those in oak. 30 months in oak is pretty astounding to me given the cost of those barrels and that we’re talking about a $8 wine! (Granted these are likely very large barrels but still.)
The 2015 Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva begins with lots of cedar when first opened but a little time in the glass reveals a very pleasant aroma full of blackberry, vanilla and balsamic along with secondary notes of licorice, mint and more.
Tasting the medium-bodied wine reveals that classic Rioja character that can only come from being well aged and spending some significant time in oak barrels. This vintage is perhaps a bit more oaky and not quite as balanced as previous years but still offers very good value for the price. Smooth with soft tannins and lightly spicy, this wine is a pleasure to drink. It ends dry with more blackberry and vanilla plus some long-lasting cola and cinnamon notes.
It may not quite as good as year’s past but this wine is still a great value.
You can also find more of our favorite wines from Rioja here.
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