It's only wine but I like it

Lafage Cayrol Vieilles Vignes Carignan 2019, I.G.P. Côtes Catalanes

Good intensity and depth here from this old vines Carignan. Dark fruit accented with wild herbs, all bundled up with taut tannin and bright acidity. I think that this is still a bit too young- best to hold another 12-18 months. Tasted March 2022.

Coca I Fitó Jade 2018, Do Montsant

Agree with DL's take on this wine. I really like the complexity and balance of this wine. Nothing out of place or out of proportion, it just draws you back for another sip. Drink or hold a few more years. Tasted Nov 2024.

Quadrus Red 2015, Dop Douro

Excellent Douro, with complex flavours, still fresh and firm nearly 6 years on. Delicious now, can certainly hold for a few years as JS suggest. Well-priced. Tasted Aug 2021.

Clos De Luz Massal 1945 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Almahue, Do Valle Del Rapel

Very solid cab sauv, with virtually no oak influence. Still fairly pronounced tannin and bright acidity. Complex and long finishing. Very good now, but I suspect better in another 12-18 months. Tasted March 2022.

Le Clos Jordanne Jordan Village Pinot Noir 2019, VQA Niagara Peninsula

re-tasted Sep 2024. Tannin mellowing, more mature flavours but still going strong. Really good stuff.

May 2022: Quite pale red in colour - this is thin-skinned pinot noir after all. Cool climate pinot through and through, with dominant slightly tart red fruits, hints of earthiness and vanilla. light-bodied with a silky texture and some sneaky tannin on the long finish. Fine wine here from Thomas Bachelder and decent value. WIll be interesting to re-visit in a couple of years.

Domaine Alary La Jean De Verde Cairanne 2015, Ac Côtes Du Rhône Villages

A serious CdR for sure, perhaps too much so. On the positive side, this is a complex red, with all the rip fruit, herbs and spice one might expect from this region. Yet, the alcohol is obvious, it is still tannic and there is some notable bitterness on this finish. Seems a bit over-extracted to my tastes. Perhaps another 2-3 years might help. Alas, I will never know - my only bottle. Tasted March 2021.

Dievole Chianti Classico Docg Petrignano 2020

Easy going CC, with rather sweet red cherry flavours, a bit softly structured, somewhat atypical for Sangiovese. Tasty and easy to like but, in the end, a bit simple for $29. Drink in the nearer term. Tasted Nov 2024.

San Polo Rubio 2021, I.G.T. Toscana

Pleasant, fruity, ready-to-drink Tuscan red with red cherry fruit and a hint of bitterness. Certainly has some Sangiovese character, yet is seems all a bit simple to me. I was underwhelmed. Drink now. Tasted Dec 2024.

Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2021, W.O. Stellenbosch

Re-tasted Apr 22. still great value.

Seems a bit riper this vintage yet again it has great purity and balance. Crisp, complex fruit flavours an oak so dialed in that I hardly noticed. I really am an idiot for only buying one bottle of this, I'd love to taste this with a few years of age, but one can hardly keep from drinking this young. Brilliant value one again. Tasted Sep 2022.

Marynissen Cabernet Franc 2020, VQA Niagara Peninsula

Fully ripe, and delicious cab franc here from Marynissen, with concentrated red fruit, hints of black pepper and herbs. The 2020 vintage in its full glory but some fine work here being done at Marynissen. Best wine I have had from them in a long time. Super value here. Tasted July 2023.