2010 Kirkland Signature Series Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon

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While shopping at our Maple Grove Costco recently I came across a rack of wine with the 2010 Kirkland Signature Series Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon.  I had an idea who the producer was so I grabbed the bottle and read the back.  As luck would have it the wine makers were Zach Long and Marco Digiulio.  Long is currently the winemaker for Kunde Estate and Marco has personal interests with Vintage Wine Estates, Bin to Bottle, Lookout Ridge, and Marco DiGiulio Wines.

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I saw two things going for this wine; The first were the winemakers and the final was the region in Napa.  The Oakville American Viticultural Area (AVA for short)  is renown for world-class Cabernet Sauvignons.  I can name numerous wineries in the Oakville.  Some of my favorites are Cosentino Winery, Girard, Cardinal, and Nickle and Nickle.  For a complete list of Oakville, AVA wineries click here.

More on the Oakville American Viticultural Area.
Located in the heart of Napa Valley, the Oakville AVA is an officially demarcated two-mile-wide swath of Napa Valley that extends to 600 feet in elevation up the base of the Vaca Mountains to the east and the Mayacamas Mountains to the west.  Within this small district, you will find the greatest concentration of Napa Valley’s preeminent producers of Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Oakville district of Napa Valley is so influential that a simple recitation of prominent Oakville winegrowers, from pioneers Robert Mondavi and Joseph Heitz to powerhouse brands Groth, Far Niente, Opus One and Joseph Phelps, through “cult Cabernet” producers Dalla Valle, Harlan Estate, and Screaming Eagle, tells the condensed story of Napa Valley wine.

Napa Valley’s diverse, well-drained soils, sun-drenched summers and cool, dry falls make much of Napa Valley a superior place to grow Cabernet Sauvignon.  All wine grapes are finicky in their own quirky ways, and minute differences can be the reason between good wines and great ones.  When it comes to growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville isn’t too hot; it isn’t too cold. It’s just right. That’s why Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville so perfectly expresses the essential qualities of Cabernet Sauvignon in deep, complex wines with the structural integrity of acid and tannin that preserves the best wines for decades.

So back to the bottle of wine.  Once I discovered the winemakers and the wine making region I knew I had to pick up a few bottles.

Once Chris and I were home I took a picture to post on the BillsWineWandering Facebook page because I wanted to share my finding with my friends right away, so they too could take advantage of this great value!  As soon as I posted, our friend Laura thanked me and I’m sure she was on her way to Costco to pick a few bottles!

I opened a bottle on Sunday so I could rate the wine.

Sight
Medium color depth.  Nice garnet color.
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Smell
Moderate to aromatic.  Very young.  Aromas of red fruit, blueberry, oak and caramel.  I was surprised how great it smelled.

Taste
Slightly dry.  It was full bodied and my initial taste was slightly tart.  The tannins were medium and were felt in my mid palate.  This Cabernet was flavorful with a long finish.  We noted blueberry, blackberry, and oak.

ABV: 14.9%

How much: $18.99.  Yes, that is right.  If you have room in your cellar, I recommend buying a case.  This wine can be shared with novice wine drinkers and friends with a more distinguished palate.  With a low price, you will not feel like you broke the bank opening a few bottles to share!

I rated the Kirkland Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon four glasses. This wine is good and for the price it is great!

Every time I am at Costco I look for wines from Zach Long or Marco DiGiuli.  If you see a Kirkland wine with no wine makers name look for the producer.  If the producer is D.C. FLYNT M.W. SELECTIONS the odds are pretty good that either of these men could be the wine makers so long as it is a California wine.  If not, the wines have been of good quality and are worth buying a bottle to at least check.

Life is too short to drink crappy wine.  Expand your palate and keep trying.

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