Modern Simple Living

Wine · Collection Review 2025 State of Wine Collections From Trader Joe's to Costco — a cellar refined by value, consistency, and a few happy discoveries 31 Bottles on Hand $393 Collection Value ~20 Planned Additions Table of Contents ① The Gigondas Discovery ② Red Wines — Current ③ White Wines — Current ④ Sparkling Wines — Current ⑤ Future Additions Section I The Gigondas Discovery Finding a few bottles of Kirkland Gigondas 2023 for just $14.99 prompted a reflection on how much this wine journey has evolved over the past few years. French GSM blends have long been a favorite, and learning that Gigondas borders Châteauneuf-du-Pape — a region whose wines have also earned appreciation from Costco's shelves — only deepened admirati...

Wine Review Costco Wine Haul for the 2025 Holiday Season Getting Ready for the Holidays 4 Bottles Reviewed $7-$30 Price Range 3 Bulk Buys 4 Holidays Table of Contents ① Prepping for the Holidays: My Costco Wine Strategy ② The 2025 Holiday Wine Picks ③ What’s Next: Hunting for More Value Section I Prepping for the Holidays: My Costco Wine Strategy I stocked up on a few wines from Costco for the 2025 holiday season—something for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. I love GSM blends from Côtes du Rhône, so I was drawn to the Bordeaux and Priorat options. Costco’s European wines continue to deliver great value compared to California bottles, though Paso Robles is catching up. I’m still not ready to spend $80–100 on Napa Cabs, so the $20–40 range at Costco is perfect. I’ve tried three of the four wines so far, saving the Priorat for Christmas.   Section II The 2025 Holiday Wine Picks Bordeaux Selections → 2019 Reignac — This one blew me away. It had everything I lo...

Tasting Notes  ·  Paso Robles ◆   ◆ Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles · 2022 Hope Family Wines $52 Retail 2022 Vintage Cab Varietal Recently, I opened a bottle of the 2022 Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, and it was a real treat. At $52, it isn't exactly an everyday sipper — but after tasting it, I'd say it's worth the splurge.             First Impressions Fruit-Forward, California Style This Cabernet is fruit-forward in a way that California reds are known for. The first sip bursts with ripe cherries, offering that lush, almost jammy flavor profile that immediately pulls you in. Balance & Structure Smooth, Polished, Approachable What stood out was how smooth and approachable...

Personal Reevaluating My Relationship with Alcohol Quality Over Quantity — A More Intentional Approach 3 wks Break Taken 2–4 Drinks Per Month (Goal) Day 3 Cravings Subsided The Realization Habit, Not Choice While my overall alcohol consumption was low, having a drink almost daily began to take a toll on my body. I noticed that alcohol no longer provided the same satisfaction it once did. Even if it was just one beer or a glass of wine each day, it started to feel like a habit rather than a choice made for enjoyment.   The Reset Taking a Break: Three Weeks of Abstinence To address this, I decided to abstain from alcohol for three weeks. Initially, I committed to just one week, but I quickly realized that I wanted to see how it felt over a longer period. So far, I've noticed a significant change — I no longer feel the same need for alcohol. The first...

Food & Dining Argentinian Malbec Incredible Value in an Often-Overlooked Grape $6 Per Bottle Ready On Opening 2nd Bottle Already The Discovery A $6 Bottle Worth Stocking Up On I've recently enjoyed Argentinian Malbecs and am continually impressed by the incredible value this often-overlooked grape offers. I found a delightful, inexpensive red wine priced at just $6, and I'm already on my second bottle — it's that good. It's easy to see why this particular Malbec is a bulk buy. Unlike many other Malbecs I've tried, this one is enjoyable right upon opening. Typically, other Malbecs require some time to breathe and are better on the second day. No decanting, no waiting for day two — just open and pour. That alone sets it apart from most Malbecs at any price point.   Taste Profile What to Expect in the Glass ...

Food & Dining Kirkland Sauvignon Blanc A Bulk Buy Worth Exploring — Marlborough Ti Point $7 Per Bottle Dry Style The Wine Excellent Value at $7 The Kirkland-branded Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough Ti Point is an excellent bulk buy, priced at just $7. This wine is a remarkable value, offering an enjoyable experience without breaking the bank.   Taste Profile What to Expect in the Glass → Dry — no residual sweetness → Not sweet — clean and crisp from start to finish → Slightly sour — higher acidity gives it a puckering quality that signals both dryness and brightness The higher acidity gives it a puckering sensation that indicates both dryness and slight sourness. This characteristic makes it an excellent pairing with food, as it effectively cleanses the palate bet...

Food & Dining Kirkland Asolo Prosecco DOCG Exploring Sparkling Wines on a Budget $7.69 Per Bottle 10× Cheaper than Bollinger Extra Dry Classification The Setup A Champagne Fan Testing Prosecco While I enjoy champagne, I can only afford it for special occasions. To broaden my sparkling wine experience, I decided to test the waters with options like Prosecco. I've heard great things about Kirkland's Asolo Prosecco DOCG, and at just $7.69, it's ten times cheaper than my current favorite, Bollinger. I'm pleased to report that it doesn't disappoint. Considering its price point, this Prosecco offers a fantastic experience. It's categorized as Extra Dry, which means it's slightly sweeter than a Brut. However, as noted in various reviews, it's not overly sweet. It delivers a dry and crisp sensation that I appreciate in sparkling wines. ...

Food & Dining A Remarkable Find: $4 Pinot Grigio Almost as Good as an $18 Santa Margherita $4 Per Bottle vs. $18 Santa Margherita Case Buying by the The Find Let That Sink In I was blown away by how amazing this ridiculously cheap $4 Pinot Grigio tastes. You really have to remind yourself that this wine only costs $4 and is almost as good as an $18 Santa Margherita. Let that sink in! It's also a far better deal than the $12 Italo Cescon. At $4, you can try four bottles for the price of one Santa Margherita — and walk away impressed every time.   Flavor Profile What to Expect in the Glass → Dry — smooth and clean from start to finish → Slightly sweet — just enough to soften the acidity and keep the profile balanced → Slightest sour — subtl...

Wine & Drinks Exploring Affordable Wines from Costco Kirkland Finds That Punch Well Above Their Price Point 16 Wines covered 11 Bulk buys ~$5 Starting price I finally got around to purchasing some wines at Costco that were recommended from various online sources. I had already tried the St. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon, which is decent, but I was particularly impressed with how delicious and affordable the Kirkland branded wines are. * BB denotes Bulk Buys   Red Wines Red Wines → Kirkland — Reignac 2019 *BB → Kirkland — Pauillac 2023 *BB → Kirkland — Bordeaux Supérieur — Grand Vin *BB → Kirkland Signature — Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019 *BB → Kirkland — Signature Malbec *BB → Kirkland — Gigondas — GSM *BB ...