Recessionista Budget Wine Recommendation

For those of you who read this blog, you know that I became a fan of red wines after my trip to Buenos Aires. My every day drinking wine has been Norton Malbec Reserve, which I purchase at Costco for $12.99 a bottle. It is very smooth and rich with a wonderful slightly berry palate. To make it even better, I never get a hangover after drinking it.

I have know discovered another fabulous wine at Costco, Pillar Box Red from South Australia. It sells for $9.99 a bottle and is a blend of 65% shiraz, 25% cabernet sauvignon and 10% merlot. It is quite drinkable and delicious and as many Australian wines, comes with a no muss no fuss twist off top. The following are the notes from the winemaker:


"Displaying a dark color and a vibrant purple hue, the 2007 Pillar Box Red has bright aromas of blue and dark berry fruit entwined with licorice, spearmint and cigar box complexity. The palate is rich and fleshy, with flavors of fresh blackcurrant and blueberry fruit combined with orange rind, dark chocolate and spicy smoky oak characters. Whilst the tannins are full, the palate is round, soft and well balanced, leading into a lingering harmonious finish."

I highly recommend this wine......you will not be disappointed!

One of my new favorite bargain wines Costo Kirkland Meritage

I have been hooked on Norton Reserve Malbec ever since I returned from Argentina. It is smooth, flavorful and never gives you a headache. I now have an alternative. I decided to try one of the Costco private label wines "Kirkland Meritage" which is a blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. It is also quite smooth and flavorful at just $10 a bottle. Here is the skinny on this vintage"

"Napa Valley has emerged as one of the finest sites in the world for the production of the red Bordeaux varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The soft, sweet red fruit notes of the Merlot with supple tannins coupled with the deep colors, and black currant cassis notes of the firmly tannic Cabernet Sauvignon, are lifted by the higher acidity of Cabernet Franc with its sweet tobacco and earthy character. The combination and blending of the three varietals add a complexity to the wine that a single varietal rarely achieves."

If you are a Costcoaholic as am I, definitely give it a try. The other items on my Costco weekly list include the following:

• Rotisserie Chicken( Coco eats it with every meal and as an enticement to take all of her pills)


• Grand Parisian Salad


• Pineapple


• Watermelon


• London Broil(heat it on the grill for 10 minutes and it is cooked to perfection)


• Chicken Lettuce Wraps


• Coffee cake( only occasionally if I am feeling really sorry for myself)


• Shrimp


• And if I am really starved, a frozen yogurt on the way out.

One of my favorite Costco stories: About 3 years ago, when True Religion Jeans were initially in vogue, they sent a shipment to the Perimeter Costco. I bought over 150 pair of jeans and resold them on Ebay. CHA-CHING! Buy for $99..sell for $159.... you do the math. My profit went to my vacation fund. I was totally an Ebay whore. I went through my closet and sold alot of clothing with a designer label.....including a Chanel suit...sigh.....wish I didn't do that.