When I last left this site, I had been writing in Maryland, who mercifully didn’t have a state a controlled liquor authority, but had one of the most complicated country liquor systems I’ve ever heard about.  This meant that in addition to baffling changes in the availability of various beer, wine, and spirits induced by driving 15 minutes, that occasionally the bar down the street would get unlabeled kegs of beer and sell them as such (I love you Quarry House!).  Moving back to Ohio, liquor is once again state controlled, if sold through agents of the states, meaning that wine is available in plenty of places including, such as grocery stores, gas stations, and Costco.

But wait, wine?  At Costco?!  Having seen the CNBC special on Costco, I know that their buying process is particularly refined, so having recently obtained a membership, I figured it was worth putting it to the test. At a cursory glance, the selection is fun, ranging from $5 – $10 bottles to $180 bottles of Dom.  Looking for a cheap thrill, I picked up 2011 Mano a Mano Tempranillo which was rated 90 pts by Stephen Tanzer.

Sight:  A deep inky purple-black color pervades the body of 2011 Mano a Mano Tempranillo.  The edges build an amazing magenta hue given the wine’s age.

Smell:  The nose is instantly spicy.  The spicebox fires off various odors of cinnamon, clove, tobacco, and a hint of black tea.  The tea notes compliment berries, licorice, and vanilla.  The nose is complex and builds multiple layers of depth.

Sip:  The palate is bright, but gets surprisingly full bodied for a tempranillo thanks to the 14% ABV.  The flavors channel slightly underripe blackberries, spices like clove and nutmeg, and gets hints of vanilla and smoke.  The body shows a surprising amount of complexity throwing out additional pops of black cherry, licorice, and more.

Savor:  The finish is tannic, and drives more cocoa powder and espresso.  The velvety feeling encompasses the palate for a good length of time, and leaves a hint of dried blackberry.

Overall, 2011 Mano a Mano Tempranillo is a surprisingly deep wine for the $9 price point.  The body is rich and enjoyable, and brightness and spicy flavors will stand up to using the grill this summer.  As tempranillo goes, this is one of the best examples I can remember having.  At under $10, go pick up a bottle of 2011 Mano a Mano Tempranillo, it’s well worth the price of admission.