Kirkland Signature Rutherford Meritage 2013 | Costco Wine

The Kirkland Signature Rutherford Meritage is one of the most popular offerings in the Kirkland Signature Wine Program, having developed it’s own sort of ‘cult following’. It has almost always over-delivered in a big way complete with Napa flair and real ‘Rutherford dust’ character. It also routinely sells out in a flash. Then you’re waiting another entire year to spot this little gem again, if you’re lucky that is.

The 2011 vintage of the Kirkland Signature Rutherford Meritage was slightly disappointing to me (it was a pretty challenging vintage) and I never even spotted the 2012, but today Costco had the 2013 in stock! While the price has gone up a few dollars (from $10.99 to $13.89), the 2013 vintage was a knockout for Napa Valley and I can’t wait to see if the 2013 Kirkland Signature Rutherford Meritage is as well.

Appearance: A brilliant dark reddish-purple

Nose: There are sweet, powerful aromas of dark-skinned cherries and currants laced with charcoal.

On the palate: The Kirkland Signature Rutherford Meritage 2013 is medium to full-bodied with copious ripe, liqueur-like black cherries and black currants accented by smoke, charcoal, bakers chocolate, allspice and sweet oak. It’s a relatively ripe and concentrated Kirkland Signature Meritage with dusty, drying tannin and good length.

Varietal Composition: 65% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc

Vintage: 2013

Origin: Rutherford AVA, Napa Valley, CA

Value Rating:  5 / 5

Where I got it: Costco (Arlington, VA)

Price: $13.89

Score: 91

Should you buy? Unequivocally one of the finest values I’ve tasted in a while. If like your $13 bottle of wine to taste like a $40 bottle of wine, here’s your chance. Ladies and Gentlemen, stock up on the Kirkland Signature Rutherford Meritage 2013 while it lasts!

**Update | I recently purchased the 2014 vintage of this wine and was disappointed. While it was still a decent wine for the money, it was no comparison to the complexity and structure that the 2013 vintage possessed.

Value Proposition  – Kirkland Signature Rutherford Meritage 2013 | Costco Wine

Wow. Not only is this the best Kirkland Signature Rutherford Meritage I’ve tasted to date, but it ranks up there as one of the finest bargains I’ve tasted from increasingly expensive Napa Valley. Seriously, it’s that good.I bought one bottle to try and potentially review and I will be returning to Costco ASAP to buy quite a bit more.

I guess this is what happens when you combine Costco’s purchasing power with fruit sourced from an incredible vintage vinified at the hands of a winemaker (Marco Digiulio) who forged his reputation at none other than mountain Cabernet superstar Lokoya. I’m happy to report that the Kirkland Signature Rutherford Meritage has returned to form and is worth every penny of the price hike.