This affordable and tasty blend from Napa hits the bullseye thanks to Costco's low prices!
36% Merlot, 21% Petite Sirah, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah, 9% Zinfandel and 8% Petit Verdot from Napa Valley, California. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged for 12 months in 30% new American oak barrels.
The Markham Vineyards Cellar 1879 Blend has an SRP of $27 and is available at Costco for just $15.99. 20,000 cases produced. Marketed by Terlato Wines International. Sample submitted for review.
From the winery:
As a pioneer in Napa winemaking and viticulture since 1879, Markham takes great pride in our history of producing wines of exceptional quality. It is our philosophy to allow each of our vineyards to shine, layering flavors that pair naturally with food. Our signature Cellar 1879 Blend was created to demonstrate that philosophy. Dark cherry and smoky oak aromas weave seamlessly around chocolate and blackberry jam flavors. This wine is wonderfully structured to create the perfect accompaniment to any meal with ripe tannins, juicy fruit and a silky, long finish.
14.5% Alcohol
It's been awhile since we featured a Costco pick, but no worries, we plan on rectifying that over the next few weeks. In the meantime you can check out all the recommended wines on our new page highlighting the best wines at Costco under $20! And now on to today's selection.
After a good decant, the 2012 Markham Vineyards Cellar 1879 Blend presents a very appealing aroma of blackberry, plum, some woodsy spice notes, a little mint and a touch of vanilla and cinnamon. The wine tastes smooth and a bit sweet, but it hits all the right notes: rich fruit, nice spice and a bit of an earthy understreak. This is definitely a step up from your average California red blend, but then again it should be at almost twice the price. The wine ends dry and quite long and even features a bit of minerality under the rich, sweet fruit and oaky spice.
Also, if you're curious about the "Cellar 1879 Blend" name, according to the winery it is a tribute to their original founder, Jean Laurent, who built their historic stone cellar in 1879.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
