Wine Enthusiast said what?!?!?!?!?
 

I just opened the Wine Enthusiast best Buys 2009

I can't believe the following:

#13 of the top 100

89 Points
Kirkland Signature 2006 Merlot
(Columbia Valley); $9. This is the Costco
house brand, and the new Merlot comes through
with exceptional flavors for the price. It’s lush and
loaded with black cherry and mocha flavors.
Tannins are ripe and smooth, the concentration is
surprising, and there are no holes in this wine; it
plays out smoothly with a very satisfying richness.

From Costco!!!! They are kidding, right? Has anyone tried this wine?

These are some of the winemakers they've used for their Signature Collection: Bob Betz, Dan Phillips and Grant Burge of Australia, Nick Goldschmidt of California and Australia and Sacred Hills family of New Zealand.

Not sure why you're surprised. Those magazines make a living off of their advertisers. Most of them (maybe all of them?) aren't worth the paper they're printed on.

Costco does not advertise other than the occasional flyer....

OK, Costco may be perfect, I would not know. I want to know if anybody has actually tried this stuff and if it is wonderful. At $9 I'm ready to try it anyway, but it is rather a trek to the nearest Costco so I'd like to hear some opinions before I do that.

Costco has a very good track record of buying awesome products from around the world. They've wowed me with their Scotch and Beer in the past (sold under their own name).

I've never had a "wonderful" wine at $9. Wish I had. That being said, Kirkland does usually get positive notes on one of the wine boards I frequent. Also, not bad write-ups on cellartracker:

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=633265

I'm guessing they make a ton of this so there is likely some bottle variation. Also, I wonder why they're still trying to unload the '06 when the '07 and '08 is already out? Could have something to do with the growing wine inventories in the US...

Doesn't mean they're not greasing wine rags...

price does not equal quality.

That's just something people say but no one believes.

Funny this topic should come up. Just yesterday I heard about some people raving about Kirkland berry (?) flavoured vodkas. And these guys were not occasional drinkers ;)

goodo

Most things with the Kirkland name are of high quality and often made by the same manufacturers as something on a nearby shelf.

Kirkland champagne is also quite good for the money.

Guess we'll have to test this one out! :D

Would not be surprised myself ;)

Sounds like another wine tasting is in order at Casa de BOB W!

I think I can afford to bring the wine this time. :p

beckoa, bring some more Riojas in case this KS Merlot ends up being worthy of the sink... ;)