Rioja Reserva from Sam’s Club for less than $10, but can it compete with the Costco Kirkland Signature bottling? We review the Member’s Mark Rioja Reserva.
Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain. The wine was aged a total of 36 months with at least 12 months in oak.
The Member’s Mark Rioja Reserva is made by Marques de Carrion, a very large producer in Rioja. Like all Rioja Reserva it is required to age a minimum of 3 years (36 months) with at least one of those years in oak barrels.
Sam’s Club doesn’t specify how much of the 3 years of aging was in oak but at this point, this 2017 vintage has definitely had a lot of time in the bottle.
The natural comparison for this wine is of course the Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva from Costco which is currently on the 2021 vintage. That wine is made by Bodegas Eguia and spends 30 of the required 36 months of aging in oak barrels. It retails for right around $8.
The Member’s Mark Rioja Reserva is available exclusively at Sam’s Club for just $8.47, so it’s right in the same ballpark as the Costco version.
In doing a little research, the other interesting thing we found about the Member’s Mark Rioja Reserva is the extremely wide range in ratings – the 2017 we are reviewing today has scores from 84 to 93 points!
Let’s check it out.
From Sam’s Club:
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Member’s Mark Rioja Reserva is aged for a minimum of 3 years. Discover flavors of plum, red fruits and dried herbs that finishes with well-balanced acidity and polished tannins. Pairs with grilled red meat or hard cheeses.
13.5% Alcohol
The 2017 Member’s Mark Rioja Reserva is a bit shy on the nose when first opened but with a little time it reveals dark fruit, leather, spice, touches of tobacco and cocoa and a hint of balsamic. It’s a nice start.
Tasting the wine reveals similar flavors to the nose with good juicy acidity and well integrated spice. Just give it some time to breathe to be at its best.
It ends dry, long, juicy and a bit grippy and savory and was similar on day 2. This one definitely has some good components but I can understand the discrepancy in scores as it just doesn’t seem to totally gel.
And while it is certainly older than the current Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva, it is also not quite as good (although still good enough to be recommended).
2017 Member’s Mark Rioja Reserva
Looking for more of the best wine selections at Sam’s Club? Browse our growing guide along with more info about the store!
You can also find all of our favorite wines from Rioja plus much more info on the region here!
Review Summary
Member's Mark Rioja Reserva From Sam's Club • Reverse Wine Snob
Rioja Reserva from Sam's Club for less than $10, but can it compete with the Costco Kirkland Signature bottling? We review the Member's Mark Rioja Reserva.
7
Pros
- Rioja Reserva with a lot of bottle age for less than $9
- 87-88 points
Cons
- Not as good as the Costco Kirkland Signature Rioja Reserva at the same price
