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The Kirkland Champagne Brut-2022 is a $19.99 Costco exclusive produced for them by Manuel Janisson of the Verzenay region in Champagne, France. This Champagne House has roots dating back to the 1920s.
This is real Champagne do not let the low price fool you. There are over 2,100 Champagne Houses making Bubbly in the Champagne region. If you know your wines you may be able to name 25 or 30 of them the rest may know 10 or 12 and you know them mostly through advertisements and movies. Not knowing a producer simply means they sell most of their wines outside the US.
The Kirkland Champagne Brut-2022 is a blend of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Pinot Meunier is a major grape in Champagne but is seldom made into still wine. While Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as just as famous for still wines as for Champagne.
Why is it less expensive than the retail store brand Champagne? Costco only marks up their products from 14% to 15% while retail wine is marked up to a far greater extent. The Kirkland Champagne Brut-2022 may not use first-press juice.
High-end wines will typically only use first-press or first-run juice which is said to be the elite juice from the grapes. The grapes are usually pressed several times to extract all the juice. Using 2nd or 3rd press juice can be a cost-cutting technique, though there is no indication that is the case here.
Can the average wine drinker tell the difference between 1st and 2nd press? Probably not. The Champagne region has strict rules and regulations on how the grapes are grown and the wine is produced, so the Kirkland Champagne Brut-2022 is made to exact specifications. The alcohol content is 12%.
The Kirkland Champagne Brut-2022 Tasting Notes
The color is rose gold. The nose is red berries, faint brioche bread, green apple, lemon, soft spice, lemon, and black cherry. The Kirkland Champagne Brut-2022 is fruit driven with citrus on the mid-palate.
This Champagne tastes like rounded, tart cherry, with a hint of licorice, vanilla, spice, and stone fruit. The mid-palate brings that salty/nutty on-lees sensation, sharp grapefruit, soft lime, and a salp of minerality. The acidity is very well-balanced, which gives this Bubbly excellent length.
The Summary
- The Kirkland Champagne Brut-2022…Real deal Champagne for $19.99 is a steal.
- Pinot Meunier as the main grape in the blend will give this Bubbly a different taste profile than Chardonnay or Pinot Noir focused Bubbly.
- This is a nice, chewy Sparkling wine that should offer a satisfying drink for a special occasion.
