Costco Kirkland Brand Chardonnay Challenge! (Kirkland Signature Brand Chardonnay review, Costco Chardonnay tasting)

Show Notes

Episode 37: Costco Kirkland Brand Chardonnay Challenge (Kirkland Signature Brand Chardonnay review, Costco Chardonnay tasting)  00:00

Hello! And welcome to The Wine Pair Podcast. I’m Joe, your sommelier of reasonably priced wine, and this is my wife and my wine pairing partner in crime, Carmela. And we are The Wine Pair! 

Alright, Carmela. Let’s get right into it. Here are some facts. You know, facts? Facts matter, right?!? First, there are a lot of people out there who like Chardonnay - especially in the US. A lot. In fact, Chardonnay has the second highest sales in the US and the second highest volume of sales, just behind Cabernet Sauvignon. So, people drink a lot of Chard. Some of our friends and family, in fact, are big Chardonnay fans. 

Second, a lot of people in the US buy their wine at Costco. I know I love going to Costco to see what wine they have. And. Costco is recognized as the largest retailer of wine in the United States.

Is that mind blowing or what?

So because of those two things, we thought it would be fun to do an episode where we taste and review some Chardonnays from Costco, sold as Costco’s own Kirkland brand - and compare those in a taste challenge to another well known, easy to find, and well known Chardonnay that we also bought at Costco. What do you think?!?

And, as a quick orientation for those of you who may be new to the podcast, that is what we do - each episode we taste and review three wines that are reasonably priced - meaning under $20 - and that should be easy to find, all so that we can help you find some wines you might like. And, along the way we try to have some fun, learn something new, and not be too too serious while we nerd out on this beverage that we love. 

Alright, now back to the topic at hand. We have had a series on our podcast that we have called Costco FTW, or Costco For The Win, that we have not returned to in a while, so I thought it would be good for us to get back to it. People seem to be interested in Costco wine, so why not join the crowd?

And honestly, I am not sure we need to have a clever title for this series like Costco FTW. I think it is good enough just to get right to it in the title of our episodes and make it clear that we are reviewing some Costco wines. For this episode, I came up with what I think is a clever title playing with how we pronounce the consonants C and K - The Costco Kirkland Chardonnay Challenge. We’ll do a Cabernet one too some day. 

So, this should be fun. We just went to Costco last weekend where, as usual, I bought a lot more stuff that I needed to. Right?? But, of course when we were there, I perused the wine section to see what treasures we could find. And, honestly, I think I was more reserved in my wine purchases than usual, don’t you think?

Well, we have more to talk about related to Chardonnay and Costco and we have three wines to try, so we should jump into it  . . .

But first . . . we have to do our shameless plug, right Carmela? If you like what you are hearing, we would love for you to subscribe to our podcast, and we would also really appreciate it if you would leave us a nice a rating and review so that people who may stumble upon us will tune in to our podcast. 

If you want to reach out to us with ideas, or thoughts, or just to talk - you can DM us on Instagram at thewinepairpodcast or contact us on our website thewinepairpodcast.com.

And, as we do every week, we’ll tell you someone we think you should tell about The Wine Pair Podcast, and this week we would like you to tell your friends on Facebook that you have this super fun podcast that you listen to, because they might really like your post and think you are hip and cool.

ARTICLES

• https://today.yougov.com/topics/consumer/articles-reports/2019/11/05/most-popular-best-wine-poll-survey
• https://usawineratings.com/en/blog/insights-1/top-wine-varietals-of-the-usa-in-terms-of-sales-208.htm 
• https://lizthachmw.com/winestars/overview-of-2020-us-wine-market-stats-and-10-hot-wine-trends-for-2021/ 
• https://wineeconomist.com/2007/08/22/costco-and-global-wine/ 
• https://www.shankennewsdaily.com/index.php/2019/06/11/23217/costcos-beverage-alcohol-sales-top-4-billion/ 
• https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/things-you-need-to-know-before-buying-booze-at-costco/#:~:text=Costco%20is%20the%20largest%20wine%20retailer%20in%20the%20nation&text=In%202019%2C%20the%20company%20recorded,wine%20seller%20in%20the%20U.S. 

Topic: Why is Chardonnay So Popular?  08:45

Ok, I want to spend some time in this episode exploring why Chardonnay is so popular, because, as those of you who listen to this podcast with some regularity know, it is not our favorite wine. 

However, the fact of the matter is (facts matter, remember) that again, Chardonnay is the most popular white wine in the whole wide world. And we didn’t make that up - check out our show notes to see some links to articles about it. And we all know the internet never lies!

Just note, too, that in France, where Chardonnay is from, it is known as White Burgundy or, if from the Chablis region it is known as Chablis - and so Chablis tends to be unoaked, which is why I like it better. 

Why do you think Chardonnay is so popular, Carmela?

I have broken down into a couple different reasons or categories. 

• Economic reasons
  • It is easy to grow, so they grow a lot of it. Like supply is helping to push demand
    • Chardonnay is evidently a relatively “low-maintenance” vine that adapts well to a variety of climates, and grows pretty profusely worldwide, and each year millions of bottles of ​Chardonnay wines are made. Millions. 
    • If you go into the average wine aisle in any store, at least in the US and Canada, you are going to find a TON of Chardonnay. At least 50% of the white wine section is likely to be Chardonnay in an average store. 
  • It is also generally not expensive
  • Because it is easy to grow and yields a lot of wine, prices for the wine can be among the lowest of all wines. You can find Chardonnay at almost any price point. In fact, we have a 1.5 liter bottle of Chardonnay from Costco that is $7.99 - so that is two bottles worth of wine for eight bucks.
• Taste reasons
  • Chardonnay has a broad range of flavors which can appeal to a wide range of palates
    • When oaked, it is buttery and vanilla-y
    • It is also a bigger bodied wine for a white, which gives it a bigger mouthfeel, which can make it a good choice as a sipping or cocktail hour wine, and maybe for people who prefer red wines. Unlike high acid wines, it can do ok on its own without food.
    • It has good fruit flavors like apple, pear, tropical fruits, citrus, and melon. 
  • Chardonnay pairs well with a wide variety of foods given its broad taste profile
    • Some of this depends on how oaked it is, but with a big body and medium acidity, it can stand up to a number of different foods.
    • Oaked Chard does well with creamy sauces or buttery foods.
    • Unoaked does well with shrimp and curry and spicy foods
    • All Chardonnay does well with cheese and seafood. In fact, I have a link to an article which describes different cheeses that go with different Chardonnay styles, and the list is long.

So, there are lots of good and valid reasons why Chardonnay is popular, and the number of producers and areas and styles really does mean there is probably a Chardonnay for everyone. 

For those of you who are wondering why I am down on Chardonnay, it usually has to do with the fact that I think it is overly oaked, something that I think is true of a lot of American wines, particularly California wines, whether they are white or red. I think California Cabs and Merlots are way over-oaked, too, and this to me means that they are produced in lazy ways that favor the flavors that oak brings over the flavors that the wine brings. I have said this before, but I compare it to the IPA craze which has sometimes favored the flavor of hops above the beer itself. 

I am finding, too, that I am seeing more and more unoaked or “naked” versions of Chardonnay. So, by the way, if you are wondering what a naked Chardonnay is, it means an unoaked Chardonnay. If you are someone like me who doesn’t really love the oaky-style of Chardonnay, look for a Chablis or unoaked Chardonnay, and I think your opinion may change. 

One other thing I will say about Chardonnay that we have learned, and we have mentioned it in other episodes is that Chardonnay should be a bit warmer than fridge cold. The oakiness really gets magnified and the fruit flavors tamped down when it is served too cold. Take it out of the fridge for 30 minutes before you serve it, and you may find you like the taste a little better.


ARTICLES

• https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-chardonnay-wine-3511259#:~:text=The%20chardonnay%20grape%20itself%20contributes,bottles%20of%20%E2%80%8BChardonnay%20wines. 
• https://www.winemag.com/2018/09/13/the-essential-guide-to-chardonnay/ 
• https://winecountrytable.com/eat-drink/wine-food-pairings/chardonnay-cheese-pairing 

Costco Chardonnay Wines We Chose for This Episode 18:29

So, let’s talk a little bit about the wines we chose for this episode. First, there is a Costco that we frequent that is just North of Seattle, and they had two Kirkland Brand Chardonnays, one of which is their standard Sonoma County Chardonnay that is really inexpensive. Like many of Costco’s Kirkland brand wines, they are linked to the large wine maker E & J Gallo, although it is not clear if Gallo makes the wine or just acts as a go-between between Costco and other winemakers. The bottle does indicate that it is cellared and bottled by DC Flynt MW Selections in Modesto, California.

This is the Chardonnay that comes in the gihugent 1.5 liter magnum bottle and sells for $7.99 - although as recently as 2021 it was actually a dollar cheaper. 

The next Costco Kirkland Brand wine is a Costco Exclusive called Kirkland Signature K Vine Chardonnay Evergreen Vineyard. Which is a really long name. This wine is from Washington State and is made by Charles Smith, who is a well known and well respected vintner. In fact, they make one of our favorite dry Rieslings called Kung Fu Girl which we have reviewed and which is reasonably priced (check out episode 4 called WTF is Riesling), so they are able to make high quality wines at really good prices. From what I gather from the interwebs, the Charles Smith K Vine series is a relatively new addition to the Kirkland Signature line - there is also a Cabernet Sauvignon and Rose’ made from Syrah, both of which are recommended by the Reverse Wine Snob website. FYI. 

This K Vine series comes reasonably priced at ~$10, and is in a normal sized bottle. So, we’ll see if it is worth twice the price of the regular old Kirkland brand Chardonnay - although again the double price is pretty darn cheap. 

The final Chardonnay we have, which we also got at Costco, and is also reasonably priced, is the Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay. Now, a critic I really like, Antonio Galloni from Vinous, gave the 2019 vintage 91 points, which is a lot, and Jeb Dunnuck gave the same vintage a 90. We have the 2020 version, so we are not sure what they think of these wines, and each vintage can vary a great deal. But, I will say, the Galloni gave the 2018 92 points! So this is a big, mass produced Chardonnay that has done well with critics that I like, so we will see what we think!

This wine is aged for 8 months in oak, 93% of which is French oak and the rest American, with 29% new oak. It also comes from the Santa Barbara County, which, though it is in Southern California, is actually one of the cooler growing areas in California. 

If you are curious about the differences between French oak and American oak and New oak and Old oak, we have some articles in the show notes. The basic difference is that French oak is considered mellower and more subtle with darker flavors than American oak which can be very powerful, sometimes overpowering, and tends to have a lot of vanilla and sweet spices. And newer oak has stronger flavors too. Oak is one of the things that gives wine tannins, so sometimes French oak is described as giving silky tannins and American oak can give rougher or more obvious tannins. So there is your nerd out for the day, and maybe some day we’ll do an episode where we discuss oak more. But not today, because today is all about the Costco Kirkland Chardonnay Challenge

Ok, enough with this jibber jabber - I think it’s time to drink some wine!

ARTICLES

• https://blacktailnyc.com/who-makes-kirkland-chardonnay-wine/ 
• https://apple.news/ANV1o4W7lQPCsB0Jn8aqvrQ
• https://owenbargreen.com/blog/2021/12/16/costco-kirkland-signature-wine-report 
• https://www.reversewinesnob.com/kirkland-signature-k-vine-chardonnay 
• https://www.kj.com/sites/default/files/wis/20_gr_chard_wis.pdf
• https://www.kj.com/blog/french-oak-versus-american-oak-how-do-barrels-affect-wines
• https://www.grandcata.com/blog/difference-between-american-and-french-oak#:~:text=French%20oak%20imparts%20firmer%2C%20but,tannin%20or%20oak%20tannin%20alone.

Costco Kirkland Brand Chardonnay Challenge wine pairing tasting and review 24:58

Wine: Kirkland Signature Chardonnay
Region: California, Sonoma
Producer: Costco, Dc Flynt MW Selections
Year: 2020
Price: $7.99, but for a 1.5 liter magnum, so $4 bottle equivalent
Retailer: Costco
Alcohol: 13.5%
Grapes: Chardonnay
Professional Rating: JS 90 2019 vintage

What we tasted and smelled in this Chardonnay: Citrus, pineapple, tropical fruit, guava, vanilla, oak, buttery, low acid, juicy, apple juice, peach, a little hot, tannic, black licorice. Easy drinker for Chardonnay lovers. Soft, not offensive.
Food to pair with this Chardonnay: Creamy cheese, chicken, creamy chicken alfredo, charcuterie board, fish taco, spicy foods.

As a reminder on our rating scale, we rate on a scale of 1-10, where 7 and above means that we would buy it, and 4 and below means that we are likely to pour it down the sink, and in-between we are likely to drink it and finish it, but we are probably not going to buy it.

Rating:
Joe: 5/10
Carmela: 6/10


Wine: Kirkland Signature K Vine Chardonnay Evergreen Vineyard
Region: Washington, Mattawa
Producer: K Brands, Charles Smith Winemaker
Year: 2020
Price: $9.99
Retailer: Costco
Alcohol: 14%
Grapes: Chardonnay
Professional Rating: JS 90

What we tasted and smelled in this Chardonnay: Tropical fruit, pineapple, spicy, apple pie, pie dough, peach, sugary, vanilla extract, alcohol, grapefruit. Complex. A lot going on. Fruit forward. Very interesting and intriguing and fun to drink.
Food to pair with this Chardonnay:  Charcuterie board, spicy foods, Chinese food, Indian food, fried food, can cut through fat and cream, cured meats, salty cheese, cheeseburger.

Rating:
Joe: 6/10
Carmela:  4/10

Wine: Kendall Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay
Region: California, Santa Barbara County
Producer: Kendall Jackson
Year: 2020
Price: $12.89
Retailer: Costco
Alcohol: 14.5%
Grapes: Chardonnay
Professional Rating: JD 90, V 91 for the 2019 vintage

What we tasted and smelled in this Chardonnay: Asparagus, urine, matchstick, sulfur, wood, apple, herbs, dirt, salt water, ocean, pineapple, harsh, strong, punch you in the face, rubbing alcohol, kerosene, cinnamon, very little fruit, one note. Not buttery. No nuance. Very oaky. Unpleasant.
Food to pair with this Chardonnay: Nothing. May eat food to hide the taste of this terrible wine.

Rating:
Joe: 2/10
Carmela: 2/10


Which one of these are you finishing tonight?
Carmela: Kirkland Sonoma Chardonnay
Joe: Kirkland K Vine Chardonnay

Did this change your mind at all about Chardonnay, Carmela?


Taste profiles expected from Chardonnay:  50:25

• Chardonnay taste profile
  • Yellow apple, starfruit, pineapple, vanilla, butter
  • Also quince (tart apple), lime peel, white blossom, chalk, lemon zest, pie crust, nutmeg, white peach, tangerine, honeysuckle, lemon curd
    • Can also taste like dried fig, mango, honeydew melon, saline, smoke, almond, burnt caramel, baking spices
• Kirkland: The aroma is of microwave popcorn, apples, and citrus, and it’s easy to There are some buttery citrus notes at the end of the drink. (https://blacktailnyc.com/who-makes-kirkland-chardonnay-wine/)
• Kirkland K Vine: The 2020 Kirkland Signature K Vine Chardonnay opens with plenty of lemon, lime, tropical fruit and even a bit of an oily note on the bright nose. It's a bit Sauvignon Blanc like. Tropical fruit plus some apple pie notes and baking spice in this smooth, medium-bodied wine. It ends dry with good length, a touch of toasty oak and lingering lemon notes.(https://www.reversewinesnob.com/kirkland-signature-k-vine-chardonnay)
• Kendal Jackson: Hints of tropical fruit, ginger, spice and flowers make for an airy, mid-weight Chardonnay that offers lovely exoticism and tons of character. (https://www.kj.com/wine/grand-reserve/chardonnay#:~:text=Lush%20tropical%20fruit%2C%20lemon%2C%20lime,out%20the%20rich%2C%20long%20finish. 

Costco Kirkland Brand won the Costco Kirkland Chardonnay Challenge!

Outro and how to find The Wine Pair Podcast 52:12

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Thanks for listening to the Wine Pair podcast, and we will see you next time. And, as we say, life is short, so stop drinking shitty wine