Kirkland's $10 Cab: A Surprising Twist on California Wine

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Ever wondered if a $10 bottle of wine could truly impress your palate? The Kirkland Signature Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 might just change everything you thought you knew about budget wines.

After returning from a brief hiatus, I couldn't wait to share this remarkable Costco find with you. This isn't your typical value-priced Cabernet. Crafted by Allison Crowe, VP of winemaking for Plata Wine Partners, this wine showcases why Alexander Valley deserves recognition as a premier Cabernet region. The valley's unique climate—scorching days that rapidly cool to jacket weather at night—creates perfect conditions for developing complex Cabernet flavors while maintaining crucial acidity.

What truly sets this wine apart is its fascinating duality. Each sip reveals layers of pomegranate, blueberry, and plum, balanced by both exotic and sharp spice notes with hints of orange zest. There's an unexpected port-like intensity that adds depth without overwhelming. The tannins are remarkably well-integrated, allowing the flavors to unfold gracefully across your palate. At $9.99, this medium to full-bodied wine delivers complexity that defies its price tag, making it a standout in the crowded field of affordable Cabernets.

Whether you're a seasoned wine enthusiast looking for a reliable everyday option or a curious newcomer wanting to explore quality Cabernet without breaking the bank, this bottle deserves a place in your cart during your next Costco run. Take a chance on this unique expression that drinks more like an Old World offering than a typical California Cab—your taste buds and wallet will thank you.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey, it's domain day cheapwinefindercom.
Back after I've been gone for acouple of days.
I could have podcast, but Ididn't think anybody wanted to
hear me cough for six minutes.
So here I am back and we have avalue price wine from Kirkland
a signature Costco.
Of course it's $9.99.
It's the Kirkland signature.

(00:23):
Alexander Valley CabernetSauvignon 2022.
Alexander Valley is on thenorthern part of the Russian
River Valley.
Most of the good vineyards areon the benchland.
I've never been there, butthat's what I've been told.
Benchlands you know theflatlands above the slopes.

(00:48):
It's one of the warmer placesin Sonoma.
It's a Cabernet Sauvignon place.
Cabernet Sauvignon can get ripe.
It's okay.
Some wines need, or grapes need, cooler weather for a longer
growing season.
But what happens up here inAlexander Valley is it'll get

(01:10):
pretty hot during the day, butat night it gets cold.
I mean, it goes from beingT-shirt weather to jacket
weather every night and whatthat does is the grapes are all
during the day, the sunlightgets them all motivated and
they're all cooking away, andthen at night everything just
chills out and that kind ofexpands it.
Like I said, Cabernet Sauvignon, it's not like Pinot Noir,

(01:33):
where you need a really, reallylong time and you've got to hope
they do get ripe.
Cabernet Sauvignon will getripe for you, so I'm going to
take a sip of this one.
This is a um wine that they saidallison crowe made.
Allison crowe is, uh, the vp ofwinemaking for plata.
Uh, wine partners.

(01:54):
They're a large wine companyand, um, I don't know if this
one is with them too she's she'sa partner and the VP of wine.
This could be a side project,but I think it's Plata, because
they make wines for Trader Joe's.
Cotillion is one of the ones.
I didn't look it up how manythere are, but Plata's in there

(02:14):
a lot, and I think even Aldi.
So they're making wines foreverybody and they have their
own brands.
They're good and they actuallydo this well and they have a, if
it's something of interest toyou, their lead winemaking team
is all female.
Not that it shouldn't be,because why not?
You know it's.
I don't.

(02:34):
I can't tell the differencebetween a male or a female wine,
so I'm gonna take a sip.
This is interesting because it'sgot this half sweet, half
savory thing to it.
Plus there's some spice, acouple different spice, like an

(02:57):
exotic spice, and then a sharp,like pointy spice.
In the middle there'spomegranates and ripe plums and
blueberry I mean the dark, densefruit, and then there's maybe a
little bit of orange zest, thatbiting spice thing you get from

(03:18):
an orange skin.
I mean whiskey has it a lot.
I think it might come from thebarrel because they use both
French and American oak.
I mean whiskey has it a lot.
I think it might come from thebarrel because they use both
French and American oak and ithas this kind of port-like
quality which is a port, is fromPortugal and it's a fortified
wine.
This is not a fortified winebut it has that little intensity

(03:40):
to it that you get from ports.
You know it's there.
It's not like the main featuredpart of it, but it tastes
pretty good.
Yeah, this is not your typicalcookie cutter.
$10.
Cabernet Sauvignon this onemakes a statement on its own.

(04:00):
It is not necessarilyCalifornia where you're ripe and
juicy.
This one might hark back tosomething out of France.
Yeah, it's dark, the tanninsdon't bite, the acidity lets the

(04:26):
flavors unfold and they staybalanced.
For a value wine, this isreally nice For $10,.
This is a nice little bottle ofwine.
It's darker, it's a medium tofull wine.
It's not too full, but you'renot going to be sipping this out
in 95 degree temperature.

(04:48):
But if you're inside in the airconditioner because what are
you doing outside when it's 95?
This tastes really fine.
So for a bargain price wine,for a value price wine, heck,
take another sip.

(05:10):
Yeah, this is the Costco'sKirkland Signature Alexandra
Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022.
It is kind of unique wine.
It's got some interestingtextures and flavors going on
for it and at $10, it's worthtaking a chance.
It's from an interesting area.
Alexander Valley Wines is kindof closer to Napa, but it's way

(05:34):
warmer than Napa.
It's got some interestingthings going for it.
So if you're interested in adecent $10 cab, this is it.
I mean, put it on your list tocheck out.
So, adios, keep it cheap.
This is domain dave.
Didn't cough the whole time andI will be talking everybody in
a couple days because I gotta dosome making up, since I've.

(05:54):
I took almost uh, five, sixdays off, which we haven't done
in 17 years.
So well, maybe a little bit.
But, adios, keep it cheap andI'll be talking to everybody in
a couple days.
Bye-bye.