One Bottle Each, Episode 16, with my Guest Melanie Ofelnloch

On Episode 16 of One Bottle Each I’m joined by my friend Melanie Ofenloch, aka Dallas Wine Chick. In addition to writing the extremely popular blog of the same name, Melanie contributes to a number of other outlets, My guest and I each pre-arrange a bottle each for us to taste. This time out we selected wines from Armenia and Spain. Melanie and I dive into a number of topics, including Zinfandel, a grape important to both of our wine stories.

On Episode 16 We Tasted:

Keush Blanc De Blancs 2013 ($25.99)

Beronia 2010 Gran Reserva ($30)

Watch our chat and tasting here

On Episode 16 of One Bottle Each, Melanie Ofenloch AKA Dallas Wine Chick joins me. We taste wines from Armenia and Spain's Rioja.

"One Bottle Each," Episode 04 with Guest Matt Landy

On Episode 04 of “One Bottle Each,” I’m joined by my friend Matt Landy. Matt is a wine lover who works in the Hospitality Business. He runs “The Fiesta” in Wood-Ridge, NJ, a Banquet and Catering Hall with a a Family history dating back more than 60 years.

Matt and I discuss his first Aha moment with wine, our shared love of more esoteric offerings and more.

In every episode of “One Bottle Each",” my guest and I each select and introduce a wine for us to taste and talk about.

In Episode 04 Matt and I sample and discuss:

KOBAL BAJTA 2016 Bajta Haloze Belo ($21)

A Skin Contact wine from Slovenia composed of Pinot Gris, Welschriesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Traminer.

R. Lopez de Heredia 2007 Rioja Vina Tondonia Reserva ($43)

A blend of Tempranillo 75% , Garnacha 15%, Graciano and Manzuelo 10%

On Episode 04 of One Bottle Each, Gabe is joined by his friend Matt Landy, Manager of The Fiesta, a Banquet & Catering Hall in Wood-Ridge, NJ. They sample wi...

Tasting Kirkland Signature Reserva Tempranillo

To be honest I had not given a lot of thought to Kirkland Signature labeled wines from Costco. I' knew they existed and I’ve even seen people at parties walking around with bottles of Kirkland Signature wines, but I never got past “that’s interesting” in my thought process. Too many wines, too little time. Then a bottle showed up on my doorstep, looked me in the eye and essentially dared me to deal with it.

Kirkland Signature Reserva, 100% Tempranillo, Rioja D.O.C.a, ($6.99)

Rioja has long been a region known for value; still $6.99 seemed a but dubious to me. I read a bit about it and found that it had been barrel aged for 30 months in a 50/50 split of French and American oak, 30% of the barrels new. It then spent 6 months aging in bottle prior to release. Three months of total aging time is the requirement in Rioja to label a wine a Reserva.

It’s got red raspberry, leather and a bit of cherry on the nose. Those red fruits carry through the palate along with plenty of spice. Earth and fairly firm tannins show up on the finish. This is a really terrific value for $6.99. It should definitely be a contender as a case purchase it you’re looking for a house wine.

Costco branded wine, who knew?

Watch me taste it below.

Gabe tastes a 2015 Rioja from Costco's House Label Kirkland Signature #Rioja #Spain #Value #Tempranillo #Costco #PriceClub #CasePurchase