Costco Connection - June 2005

PUBLISHER Ginnie Roeglin
EDITOR David W. Fuller 425-313-8510 dfuller@costco.com
MANAGING EDITOR Anita Thompson 425-313-6442
athompson@costco.com
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Tim Talevich, Seattle 425-313-6759 ttalevich@costco.com
Lorelle Gilpin, Ottawa 613-221-2009
Lorelle. Gilpin@costco.com
Sue Knowles, London 011-44-1923-213113
sknowles@costco.co.uk
Sung-won Hwang, Seoul 82-2-2630-2606
swhwang@costcokr.com
SENIOR EDITOR T. Foster Jones Tod. Jones@costco.com
ONLINE EDITOR David Wight David. Wight@costco.com
REPORTERS
Will Fifield wfifield@costco.com
Stephanie E. Ponder sponder@costco.com
Mark E. Stroder mstroder@costco.com
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Dorothy Strakele 425-313-6899 connection@costco.com
COPY EDITOR Miriam Bulmer
CONTRIBUTORS
Wally Amos, Brian Basset, Hope Katz Gibbs, Marcy
Goldman, David Horowitz,
Lisa Alcalay Klug, Laura Langston, Laurie Notaro,
Doreen Pendgracs, Valerie Ryan,
Tracy Schneider, Irene Middleman Thomas, Pat Volchok
ART DIRECTOR Doris Winters dwinters@costco.com
ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR
Lory Williams lwilliams@costco.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Ken Broman, Bill Carlson, Susan Detlor, Chris Rusnak,
David Schneider, Dawna Tessier
PRODUCTION MANAGER Pam Sather
psather@costco.com
ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER
Antolin Matsuda
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Elaine Emond, Ottawa
COLOR TECHNICIAN MaryAnne Robbers
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Jane Klein Shucklin 425-313-8277 jshucklin@costco.com
ASSISTAN T ADVERTISING MANAGER
Kathi Tipper-Holgersen 425-313-6581 ktipper@costco.com
ADVERTISING COODINATORS
Deborah Lipman, London 011-44-1923-830481
dlipman@costco.co.uk
Isabel Levasseur, Ottawa 613-221-2394
Isabel. Levasseur@costco.com
Steve Trump, Seattle 425-313-6969 strump@costco.com
ADVERTISING / PROMOTION COPYWRITER
Bill Urlevich
BUSINESS MANAGER Janet Burgess
CIRCULATION MANAGER Rossie Cruz 425-313-6715
rcruz@costco.com
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
D. Ted Harris 425-313-2937

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999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, Washington 98027
Fax: 425-313-6718
E-mail: connection@costco.com
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The Costco Connection is published by Costco Wholesale. All facts, opinions and statements appearing within this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by Costco Wholesale or its officers. Publishing offices are located at 999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA 98027. Information in The Costco Connection is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed. Copyright © 2005 Costco Wholesale. Products advertised may not be available at all locations at time of publication.

LAUNCHED ONLY A FEW months ago, Costco’s Kirkland Signature wines have already established a loyal following. The newest wines in this private-label series are a 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley in California and a St. Emilion (Bordeaux). Situated just northeast of its more famous neighbor, Napa Valley, Alexander Valley has developed quite a reputation for serious Cabernets, and for good reason. Alexander Valley is indeed a valley, sheltered by the California Coastal Range to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east, and stretches from Healdsburg north to the Mendocino County line. But the term “valley” is a little misleading, as the appellation en-compasses everything from vineyards on the valley floor to those at an elevation of 2,400 feet, high up in the Mayacamas Mountains. The style of wines produced varies accordingly, from softer, more accessible wines in the valley to deeply colored, intense, structured wines from mountain fruit. The soils become thinner and rockier the higher up the mountain you go, which makes the vine struggle and produce lower yields of smaller berries, which in turn intensifies the flavors and the vari- etal character of the grapes. The elevation also The latest in Kirkland Signature wines: a helps retain natural acidity in the wine, keep- St. Emilion Bordeaux and an Alexander ing it fresh and lively. Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Kirkland Signature Alexander Valley Cabernet is a great example of the mountain Alexander Valley Cabernet is no exception. style. It is deeply colored, with intense, ripe Enjoy it with roast beef, prime rib, filet fruit. Flavors of black cherry and black cur- mignon, lamb, venison or game. It will also be rant (cassis) dominate, but it is multilayered equally at home with the cheese course. and complex, with hints of chocolate and cof- The Kirkland Signature St. Emilion fee. The wine is very well structured, with (Bordeaux) comes from the much-heralded firm but elegant tannins and balanced acidity. 2000 vintage. This is a rich, voluptuous

While the wine is ready to drink now, it Merlot-based wine. Think liquid velvet! C also has the potential to age for several years.

So, if you have the willpower, stash a few bot- David Andrew is a wine consultant tles away in a cool, dark place and forget based in Seattle. about them for a couple of years.