The Homa Files

Excerpted from WSJ, “Costco Cabernets”, Nov. 15, 2008

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10% of all the money that Americans spend on wine at stores in the U.S.  is spent at warehouse club stores.

Costco has become America’s wine store.  In the U.S., Costco warehouse-club stores sold more than 75 million bottles of wine for$1.1 billion, making it the nation’s top retailer of wine.

After a slow start, Wal-Mart is trying to catch up. More than 2,000 of its stores now have beer and wine licenses and of the 594 Sam’s Club stores, 453 sell wine.  

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Some Cabernets — carried at the clubs — recommended by the authors:

J. Lohr Winery Estates “Seven Oaks” 2006 (Paso Robles). $11.52. Good/Very Good. Best value.
Pleasant and grapey, with some acidity and blackberry fruit. Nicely dry finish, with some herbs and pepper. Well-balanced. This will be drunk merrily. We didn’t like the 2004.

Charles Krug Winery 2005 (Yountville, Napa Valley). $20.99. Very Good.
Lovely dark color, with cedar on the nose. Ripe, dark fruit, excellent tannins and some aging potential. A complete wine, with layers of flavor — Bordeaux-like structure and rich California fruit.

Simi Winery 2005 (Alexander Valley). $20.48.Very Good. 
Looks rich and even smells like ripe, chewy fruit, with blackberries, blueberries and savory spices of the kind we’d put into stuffing. Earthy, with good tannins and a little bit of bittersweet chocolate. Big, rich, friendly wine.  

Raymond Vineyard & Cellar “Reserve” 2005 (Napa Valley). $22.99. Very Good.
Lovely fruit and nicely dry. Tastes classy, with some structure and even a hint of tobacco, like a fine Bordeaux. A wine of some stature, appropriate to a fine meal.

Sterling Vineyards 2005 (Napa Valley). $20.86. Good/Very Good.
Crisp, clean and nicely acidic. Mouth-watering, with some minerals and a nice little bite at the end. Good with food because it’s not too heavy. John thought it was thin; Dottie thought it was simply restrained.

Full article:
 http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB122669984967629523-lMyQjAxMDI4MjE2NjYxOTY5Wj.html

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