I guess it was bound to happen

[Guest]

Ok - many of you in the US may have already encountered this, but it was quite a site for me as I was walking through Costco and spotted "Kirkland" Brand "10 Year Old Tawny Port". (For those not in the US, see the explanation at the bottom of this post.

I pick up the bottle and looked at the back label: "The world renowned winemaking team from Fonseca Guimarens...".

So I picked up a bottle for $15.99 and figure I'll give it a go for a sipper while surfing the forum. Quite tasty, and probably the best $13.99 bottle of Port I've ever had :)

For those not familiar with Costco, they are a US west-coast retailer that are known for selling huge volume of products at extremely low prices. They frequently co-brand merchandise, that is they go out to manufacturers of products and have them produce it under Costco's "Kirkland" brand name, usually at a lower price.

In this case, they are labeling Fonseco 10-Year Tawny as Kirkland 10-year tawny. While I'm not sure if the is the exact same wine as a Fonseca 10-year (perhaps its a different blend or something), I did a quick search on winesearcher Pro and fonseca 10 year is $21-$24, so I'd call that a nice bargin :)

Wikipedia "Costco"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco

[Todd Pettinger]

The guys in the UK have enjoyed this privilege with their 'house brand' ports for years... (Marks & Spencer, Alda, etc.) I would welcome this. Especially if it IS something as good as Fonseca 10 year.

I'm waiting for that Kirkland Signature Vintage Port (made my the port-making geniuses of, say, Fonseca, Taylor or Niepoort) to hit the market!

Todd

[Guest]

How about a 2003 Kirkland Nacional?

:)

[Andy Velebil]

I've seen it in my local Costco too, but havn't tried it. Just may have to grab a bottle and give it a go to see how it is.

As for the Kirkland Nacional...as long as it is in a magnum from the 2006 vintage...I'll buy a case

[Roy Hersh]

I don't believe that the IVDP would allow the BOB (Buyer's Own Brand) to be an identical blend as the Fonseca 10 year old Tawny. However, I think that Vintage Ports that are BOB in other countries, CAN be the same. Anyway, I am not positive about this regulation.

As for another steal of a deal, Trader Joe's had their own "BOB" 10 year old Tawny, but at $9.99 in 2006, and it may still even be there.

[Andy Velebil]

If im not mistaken, LBV's are the same as the BOB's so I dont see why a VP would not be able too.

Anyone ever seen or heard of a BOB colheita?

[Roy Hersh]

Andy,

I apologize if I was not clear. I believe the VPs can be a BOB and of course we know of examples from BB&R and the LBVs are the most common BOBs around. That is what has led to the harm of the financial positions of some of the Port companies. It is one of the real political "hot buttons" in the Port industry at the moment.

With as little production as there is with Colheita and the fact that BOB is predominantly a UK thing compared to here (although popular in other parts of Europe too) and lastly, the TINY amount of Colheita that is sold in the UK to begin with ... I would very highly doubt that there is any BOB Colheita on the market.

Considering the value and rarity of Colheita, what would be the advantage to releasing it to a very large BOB player? There is not enough to go around as it is.

[Andy Velebil]

Rea the colheita's, I asked because I had never seen or heard of a BOB colheita before and was curious if anyone had ever done it. I've learned not to assume anymore, especially when it comes to port companies....and was thinking along the lines of a small amount that was not up to par for a producer to put their own main label on it, selling it off cheap to a BOB.

[Moses Botbol]

The Kirkland brand 10 year tawny is not the same as the Fonseca 10 year tawny. The part of the story is that Costco sells the Fonseca 10 year tawny as well! Actually, I find the Kirkland 10 year to be much richer, thicker, with a few more flavors going on. It’s been winter since I tried it, and I did post a little on it.

It certainly is the best 10 year tawny deal I have ever seen, and perhaps one of the best 10 year tawny I have tried. The Trader Joe’s “Porto Morgado” 10 year tawny is no where in the same league as this.

The Costco’s in our area are sold out on the Kirkland port. I do have a couple of bottles in my cellar. They only do one run of a product and when it’s gone, it’s gone. Their Champagne is a standout too for $20.00.

[Moses Botbol]

I've seen it in my local Costco too, but havn't tried it. Just may have to grab a bottle and give it a go to see how it is.

As for the Kirkland Nacional...as long as it is in a magnum from the 2006 vintage...I'll buy a case

That stuff is long gone from Costco's in my area

[Todd Pettinger]

How about a 2003 Kirkland Nacional?

:)

Yeah, it'll be available for only $400/bottle rather than $800 or $1000!

[Roy Hersh]

Rea the colheita's, I asked because I had never seen or heard of a BOB colheita before and was curious if anyone had ever done it. I've learned not to assume anymore, especially when it comes to port companies....and was thinking along the lines of a small amount that was not up to par for a producer to put their own main label on it, selling it off cheap to a BOB.

Now I am getting ahead of myself here. I do know of a "kind of" BOB Colheita, made by a producer with another name on the bottle as well. I believe there are only two bottles of it in the entire world, that have ever left Vila Nova de Gaia. Fascinating and delicious OLD stuff, but I have only had it while in Portugal.

[Andy Velebil]

Roy, so do tell.....

[Stewart T.]

I was in Costco yesterday, and they had a nice end-cap display of all of the "Kirkland" branded wines...one of which was a Kirkland chateauneuf de pape .... I've seen it all now...

:)

[Todd Pettinger]

Its funny Stewart, the Costco nearest me (the only one of four within the greater-Edmonton area with a liquor store at the moment) carries this particular selection, but not the Kirkland Port. I inquired, but they have no rhyme nor reason to their ordering practices from what I am able to understand...

So I dropped a note into their Comment Box that they should order a few flats of it!
Maybe one day!

Todd

[Moses Botbol]

I was in Costco yesterday, and they had a nice end-cap display of all of the "Kirkland" branded wines...one of which was a Kirkland chateauneuf de pape .... I've seen it all now...

:)

I tried one about two weeks ago and it was amazing. Certainly a wine that would cost 50% under another label. The Kirkland CdP was $20, and I could easily see paying $30-35 for same exact wine. All of their branded products mention the vineyard or producer on the bottle.

I could go on and on about the Rose Champagne for $30.00!!!

[Roy Hersh]

Moses,

Are you alluding to the Rose Champagne being good or otherwise?

[Moses Botbol]

Yes, most excellent for the money!!!