EVEN MORE Bargains 2026
Continuing several previous years of reporting on bargain wines mainly from Trader Joe’s, Aldi and Costco, we’ll start 2026 with a couple of wines from the Costco CASE SALE. These are still the same price going on at least two years now. I will continue to add to this post for the remainder of 2026.
I’ve written reviews on both of these wines previously but, the Casa Santos Lima is a new vintage and the very generic nature and presumably enormous quantity produced of esteban martin, even if all of their wine is from the same batch, just the fact that they’ve been releasing the same vintage for several years now suggests that it might be maturing or changing. So, here’s the current reviews. 2023 Casa Santos Lima Red Blend Vinho Regional Lisboa PORTUGAL (13.5% abv) $59.99 per case of 12 at Costco equals $5 per bottle. In previous posts regarding the 2021, I’ve noticed and explained that although delicious upon opening, it evolves and develops that very special allure I call “desert island wine” after being open a few days. Just in the 10 minutes that this 2023 version has been in my glass having not tasted or swirled it yet, the nose has filled the room. Here goes! This is what wine smells like and way more. The initial whiff is just plain vinuous but in seconds, a another whiff is filled with complex tropical fruit phenols and energy just waiting to pop. In the mouth, pop it does with lively acid, edgy fresh fruit and the distinct sensation of grape skins. Not tannic; more of a fresh bitter mouth feel. Lovely right now, I’ll try to keep my hands off of it and see what it tastes like tomorrow and the next day. Although the esteban martin in the European Wine Box was a 2022 and maybe a different cuvee, 2021 esteban martin Grenache-Syrah Varietal de Espagña SPAIN (13.5% abv) $49.99 per case of 12 at Costco equals $4.17 per bottle was given a 92 point James Suckling rating. How is it possible to ship a 45 pound case of wine halfway around the world, pay tariffs, taxes and markups and still sell it for less than many brands of bottled water? The nose just blossoms out bright, fresh, exotic and captivating. The palate seems lighter than I remember, but still absolutely delicious with just enough texture to cleanse the palate. Like the Casa Santos Lima, I’ll try to stay focused on the next project and let this air for a day or two as well. UPDATE: Both of these wines not only hold well, but I do believe that they actually have a richer feel and more pronounced character with no loss of freshness after a couple of days with the caps screwed on half full bottles.
By the way, although these epitomize what I crave in wine character, Alice is not normally a fan of raw, fresh, edgy and unsettled wines like I am, but she too loved these wines.
Enjoy in Good Health!
A Brian Cain, the Michigan Vintner
PS In the above photo, you’ll notice a huge stack of Château Petit Freylon 2023 Kirkland Bordeaux Superieur. This is a Cab based wine and right now tastes more like a young California Cab than a Bordeaux. I know this sounds stupid when talking about a $6.99 wine, but I believe it is age worthy and worth putting a few in the cellar.
