Some new wines have shown up at our local Costco and they are stunning. And cheap.

We had tried a delicious Rhône wine last February and regretted buying more. Patrick Lesec is a highly esteemed négociant producer of a range of wines from the southern Rhone. He is not a vigneron (grower) and does not own any vineyards but his specialty is sourcing the best possible fruit from a range of growers and then blending to achieve a consistent style each year. The wines are usually a blend of grapes, with each variety contributing its own individual characteristics. Grenache, the main grape of the area for red wines often forms the basis of the wines giving fruitiness, warmth and body. Syrah and Mourvèdre adds spice, colour and strength to the wine, allowing it to age well. Some are ready to drink soon after bottling, while others have the ability to age for a decade or more depending on the vintage. The finished wine should be a ruby red/purple colour with aromas of warm blackberry and cherry fruits and scents of dried herbs such as lavender, juniper, bay leaf, fennel, rosemary, sage or thyme.

Produced by Patrick Lesec for Costco and imported by DC Flynt Wine importers, the 2018 Kirkland Cotes du Rhone Villages ($12) is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, which is a traditional blend for the southern Rhone. Incredibly dense with a purple/black colour, the intense blackberry, raspberry, black cherry, cassis and kirsch liqueur-like fruit, is followed by gorgeous aromas of licorice, smoke, incense, leather and a hint of oak. The texture on the palate is pure hedonism with its full-bodied character of black and red fruit, herbs, incense, and spice. This wine literally tastes more like a Rhone Cru ($40+ per bottle) than a Cotes du Rhone Villages. The finish is full-bodied, and opulent with soft, velvety acidity and very firm tannins, which is in keeping with this top-notch vintage. Cellar and drink this marvellous wine over the next decade.

Another great find and a new wine is the 2015 Bodega Ignacio Marín Old Vines Garnacha ($12). Rated 90/100 by Wine Enthusiast saying…”Ripe, dark blackberry aromas border on prune. A fleshy, full palate offers layering and tannic structure, while this old vines Garnacha tastes toasty and heavily oaked, with blackberry flavors resting comfortably under a woody blanket. Coffee, chocolate and tobacco flavors are ramped up on a hot finish.”

Well worth a $20+ price tag, this is one of the finest values in red wine on the market. Moreover, at under $20 a bottle, it is a steal. Rich, deep purple/black colour with an approachable nose of juicy black cherry liqueur, spicy raspberries and black pepper mixed with melted licorice, rose petals and an earthy, forest floor mushroom character . The wine is NOT heavy oaked as Wine Enthusiast says having spent only 4 months in barrel but that time rounds out the wine quite nicely. Rich, full-bodied palate, amazingly elegant with a luxurious texture, soft acidity and firm tannins for a 4 year old wine. Pop the cork, let it breathe for an hour then enjoy. Cellar over the next 1-3 years.

At these prices, we plan on buying a case of each to have around.