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Kirkland Signature: 2009 Columbia Valley Merlot

Kirkland Signature from Costco
2009 Columbia Valley Merlot
Price: $7.99

Flavor: If you can get past the fact that the label clearly shows this is a Costco brand of wine, you are going to enjoy this bottle.  This is wonderful full bodied (in my opinion) merlot.  Hints of cherry and berries, with a spicy, dark woody background make this wine hearty and delicious.

A few days after having a glass of this wine, Ben and I went to dinner at Ruth's Chris.  I had one $12 glass of a common merlot that can purchased at the local grocery store.  I kept thinking how much more I would be enjoying that meal if I had a glass of this Costco merlot, not to mention I could have an entire bottle for a couple dollars less than I was paying for this one plain glass.

Aroma: Nice, deep with blended tannins.  It just smells hearty.

Complexity:  While not terribly complex, the berry flavors are held up by a dark almost chocolately base, which makes it a pleasant glass for the price.

Affordability:  Great price.  I will definitely be buying this wine again.

Enjoyability:  Absolutely enjoyable.  If you enjoy merlots, you will be surprised by the flavor and flexibility of this wine.  It can be paired with many dishes, but I especially enjoyed it with beef dishes and cheeses.

Kirkland Signature Wine Connection - 2008 Review

"It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy."

"The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters."

Whole Foods 365 - Trackers Crossing South Eastern Australia 2009 Shiraz

Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value
Trackers Crossing South Eastern Australia 2009 Shiraz
Price:  $6.99

Flavor: I wasn't impressed at all at first and actually considered tossing it out.  However, after having the bottle opened a few days, I found it to be pleasant.  I just wasn't able to distinguish any flavors at the beginning.  This is a wine that needs time to breathe (lots of time), so I don't think it will be a contender for serving at the wedding.

Aroma:  Not a wine that you smell and know it will taste great.

Complexity:  Overall, I found it generally flat.  It is supposed to have berry and pepper flavors that I love, but they just weren't that present for me.  Perhaps they were just too hidden.

Affordability:  Definitely a good price, but I don't think I will purchase this wine again.  If I buy this brand again, I will stick with the Cab.

Enjoyability:  Eh.  Like I said, with time to breathe, I found it to be pleasant, but not a winner right out of the gate.

I can't say I agree with Whole Foods' description of the wine either.

Trackers Crossing 365 2009 Shiraz, South Eastern Australia

An intriguing aroma of violets, smoke and black pepper slips into a balanced, smooth (almost sultry) palate with ripe-cherry and blackberry flavors along with subtle hints of oak. If you're looking for a wine to go with pizza, this could very well be it.

Whole Foods 365 - Trackers Crossing South Eastern Australia 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value
Trackers Crossing South Eastern Australia 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Price:  $6.99

Generally, I like it.  Good red table wine.  Not terribly complex, but pleasant and highly versatile. I might not take this with me to a dinner party, but I think it is a definite for cooking and a solid contender for an everyday table wine.  I would purchase it again for sure.

Flavor: A good mix of spicy and fruity/berry flavors.  Definitely great paired with Italian dishes, BBQ, steaks and cheeses (from my experience at least).

Aroma:  A little stout, but not too strong.

Complexity:  What it lacks in complexity, it makes up in versatility.

Affordability:  At $6.99, you can't beat the price.

Enjoyability:  Nice. 


I feel affirmed.  I found this review on the Slash Food blog.

Trackers Crossing 365 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Eastern Australia ($8)

Unlike some of the other wines we tasted, Trackers Crossing is clearly marked as a Whole Foods wine (each bottle depicts the 365 Everyday Value logo). This Cabernet Sauvignon is fruit-forward with a bouquet of spices and black cherries that evolves into a jammy palate before finishing with soft, silky tannins. Cranberry enters mid-palate, too, for a nice touch that also allows this wine to pair well with most any type of food, particularly roasted or barbecue meats. For a lighter alternative, Gouda or any smoked cheese is a good bet.

The beginning of The Austin Wine Beagle

I live in Austin, TX with my fiancé and my 2 beagles, and I like wine.  You could go as far as to say I love wine.  Now I have taken a few wine classes throughout the years, but I wouldn't say I have a terribly distinguished pallet.  I just like wine and learning wine.  I appreciate the expensive, complex vinos in addition to their more simplistic, less pricey cousins.

That is where this project begins.  As we are planning our wedding for October of this year, I am on a quest to find some great tasting, reasonably priced wines to serve at the reception.  Inspired by something I learned from a sales guy at Spec's about wine prices often being inflated simply due to the popularity of the brand, I am confident I will discover some delicious wines for $10 or less of some less well-known brands readily available in Austin.

Secondary benefit, I am just generally interested in tracking the wines I try so I don't mistakenly repeat a loser and also so that I have some easy go-to wines when I am in a pinch and haven't planned ahead.

So cute!  And you can purchase by clicking here.

Here's the plan....all wines priced around $10 are up for consideration.  I will not discriminate against screw tops, box wines, value brands, silly names or purchase location. 

I will discuss the following for each wine:

Price
Aroma
Complexity
Flavor
Enjoyability

And that's it.  Just a simple discussion of wines under $10 available in Austin, hoping to discover a few unkwown jewels out there.