New Costco, Kirkland wines

It's bottled wine from different locales (France, Oregon, Australia). Not all bad, certainly not in the same category as Charles Shaw. See:

"eNo" wrote in news:BHonf.7$dV2.3@dfw- service2.ext.ray.com:

read the reports, nothing to write home about it sems, I am not likely to go $14 for Pinot from unknown sources when I can buy 2003 Marsannay from Louis Latour for $12.

I'm with you. I really don't understand why Costco/Kirkland feels the need to bottle their own wines when they can't beat wines from bonafide wine-makers -- some of which they carry -- on price point. And that label... it's hideous, ain't it? As for unknown sources, if you read through the links, they are anything but. People have been able to identify where these wines originate.

"eNo" wrote in news:AvCnf.1$ snipped-for-privacy@dfw-service2.ext.ray.com:

Ok not so much unknown as unfamiliar versus a known quantity that is darn good for price in the case of the Burgundy. On some of the other stuff, I don't really have a lot of interest again at the price point.

I don't know what Costco does, and can't be sure I'm right, but I doubt if they bottle anything. My guess is that the stuff is bottled for them at the winery, and all Costco does is supply the labels.

Now here is the really interesting question: why would a winery want someone else's label on their wine? One guess? To get rid of "surplus" wine so that their label can come out in smaller numbers (lower supply) and thus command a higher price. And to make some "in-the-bag" money on volume, I suppose.

It could also be guaranteed sales for a small winery, whereas selling their wines through distributors (or at the winery itself) might be iffy at best. Costco may very well be coming in and making an offer on the entire lot. It doesn't mean the wine is bad or sub-standard. In fact, it may be a really good wine purchased early in the processing/aging/bottling stages before much is known about what the final product will be like. It's a gamble for Costco that can go either way. The winery has sold all their product at a guaranteed price which is a win for the winery, and an opportunity for them to produce better wines in years to come.

Then again, perhaps Costco has a bunch of employee in the back room dancing in barrels of grapes. Check out the vintage, if it says "Thursday" I would be cautious.

Personally, I think I'd rather buy from known wineries, although I've been burned a few times doing that as well.

Ed

We buy a lot of things from Costco, but wine is not one of them. We usually buy from large volume wine and spirits stores. I am not convinced that Costco has the best choice of wines for good value. If it is the same person choosing the wine to put on their own labels as the person who chooses the wines to be sold, I probably won't be buying many Kirkland brands. The last time I bought a bottle there was for my birthday for more than I usually spend. What a disappointment. Yes, I know, it could've this, it could've been that -- but 'twerent. But it was my choice to buy it -- wrong! Dee Dee