Kirkland Chateauneuf Du Pape
I've had this one for a few years. Always love Chateauneuf Du Pape (Castle of the Pope) because of the cool bottles it comes in, and its connection to history. Due to various situations involving the legitimacy of the papacy, the Pope lived in the region for a period, and ever since has been attached to Wine. It normally also tastes pretty good as well.
Nose Black Cherry, Plum, The Sea
Flavor, delicate mature berries, with a spicy finish (likely due to the 15% Abv). I get mostly fruit, some moderate tannins, low acidity, some minerality. Easy to drink, does not overpower anything you're eating, relatively dry, smooth throughout.
I wouldn't call this wine bursting with flavor, but its not trying to be. Its a balanced mix of grapes. Fruit, minerality, acidity, and tannins all feel in balance. It doesn't have anything in particular to push it into a truly exceptional wine, but its extremely delicious and I don't think you'll be disappointed by it. It's biggest achievement is being able to tame a 15% alcohol level without going too extreme in any other category. The heat from the alcohol is nicely integrated into the wine, it feels deliberate rather than something its trying to fight.
NatScore: 3.5/5 Pretty Good