2020 Kirkland K Vine Rosé

 

2020 Kirkland K Vine Rosé 


Vintage: 2020
Region: Washington, USA (Buckshot Vineyard)
Winery: Charles Smith in collaboration with Kirkland Signature
Varieties: Syrah
Price: $9.99 (at Costco)
My Rating: 89 Points

The Review: I came up with my New Year's Resolution about 5 minutes ago, and it's to drink more rosé once it gets warmer out. It's the perfect summer bevvie, and I just feel like people don't drink enough of it. Don't get me wrong, I'll be the first to tell you that it can be super underwhelming at times, but there are also times where it just works perfectly. Think about a cookout... burgers, mac and cheese, and rosé? Dang, I'm hungry.

As you all probably know by now, this is an unofficial Charles Smith and Kirkland fan page. So, when I heard about this collab between two of my favorite things, I just had to have it. I'm also proud to say that I've taught my mom well enough that she spotted the label and immediately knew that Charles Smith was involved. Thanks for telling me about your find mom! After doing some digging, it turns out that Charles Smith and Kirkland have in fact partnered to put out co-branded wines. Right now on shelves, there is a Rosé and a Chardonnay (will drink soon), and there are rumors of a Cab coming soon. Both of the wines on the shelves now are expressions of single vineyard sites (with the rosé coming from Buckshot Vineyard in Washington)- a trend that we can only assume will continue. This allows for interesting reflections and studies of various microclimates... and if that makes you excited, you might also be a nerd.

I'm happy to report that the 2020 Kirkland Signature K Vine Rosé is a very solid rosé! It's made from Syrah exclusively, which results in a bigger punch of red fruits and the tiniest bit of structure. You see Syrah rosés a lot in the most renowned region for rosé- Provence in France. You can read about both Provence rosé and how rosé is made in my previous post about that cool box of rosé I wrote about a while ago. I'm too lazy to write it all out again, and it's past my bedtime.

Enough chit-chat, let's talk about what really matters. As expected the aromas of this wine are punchy and crisp, with predominantly tart red fruits. Think strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and maybe like a cherry Twizzler thing. There's also a nice riper side of this nose- yellow peaches and even watermelon, as well as some delicate citrus blossom. See? Summer in a glass. The taste comes out of the gate with a burst of fresh acidity and notes of strawberry and cherry. I immediately drank it and thought about grilling... There's some watermelon candy, as well as some riper mango and peach. Some of the more delicate tastes include lime zest, white pepper, and a sleek minerality that adds a nice extra dimension. As I think I've mentioned in passing, most rosés aren't sweet, and this one is no exception. So, look out for a lean and punchy acid bomb that'll quench all your thirst!

I'm not exactly surprised that this was good (I mean, Charles Smith and Costco are a power couple), but this was right on par with what I wanted and weighs in at a cool $10. You're really gonna struggle to find really good rosés at this price point because most cheap rosé tends to venture into sugary madness. So, next time you find yourself craving that pink drink, run to Costco and pray that they still have this bottle on hand.

drink what you like,

db

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