Table of Contents
The Kirkland Signature Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is a $8.99 Costco exclusive. They do not offer much information on this wine, but the winemaker is Brandon Rice, the winemaker for Wakluke Slope Wine Company. Jerry Milbrandt owns them.
Jerry is also part of Milbrandt Family Vineyards, one of the Columbia Valley’s leading independent growers. Their vineyards have produced grapes that were featured in 100-point wines.
So, with no technical information available we can surmise that the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were of good quality. The label says this Cab Sauv was aged in oak barrels for 16 months.
Nine-dollar Cabernet wines are seldom aged for 16 months. Grapes that will benefit from extended oak aging have different tannin structures and acidity from the typical ten-buck Cabernet. A typical value-priced Cabernet in this price range will be in oak for 6 months or less and has less extraction and softer tannins. This allows the wine to come together quickly and be available for sale sooner.
A Cabernet Sauvignon that is oak-aged for 16 months has more in common with a $25 Cab than a $12 Cab. The alcohol content is 14.5%.
The Kirkland Signature Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Tasting Notes
The color is raspberry jam with serious black highlights. The nose is bright and juicy, there is blackberry, black pepper, light herbs, cherry, spice, and a little vanilla. The Kirkland Signature Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is lighter on the palate than I expected, but the flavors are intense.
This Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like blackberry, sharp spice, black licorice, and black pepper, with softer black cherry. The mid-palate brings strawberry, tart cranberry, and toasty vanilla. This is a wine that needs time to open up, do not pop the top and pour if you want the wine to show well.
The Summary
- The Kirkland Signature Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is tasty once it opens up, don’t worry it is worth the wait.
