It's only wine but I like it

Château Pech Redon La Clape L'épervier 2014, Ac

Dense, rich, ripe, loaded with spicy black fruit. Hugely extracted and still a bit tight, complex and long finishing. As John notes, a high impact wine, but still retains a fine sense of balanced. Super wine at a very fair price. Drink or hold a few more years. Tasted Sep 2020.

Mount Riley Syrah 2016

Slim, taut, but unmistakeably Syrah. As David notes, this is similar to a North Rhone red, with crisp smoky black berry notes, pepper and herbs and fine acidity. very dry, still a bit youthful and little in the way of noted oak. Solid cool climate Syrah. While not intended for long ageing, this could use another year 12 to 18 months. Tasted June 2018

La Crau De Ma Mère Châteauneuf Du Pape 2010, Ac

This CdP certainly has some authentic southern Rhone attributes. Very spicy and peppery, with loads of herbs mixed in. But there is a dearth of joyous fruit that make wines of the south Rhone so endearing. Also, there is considerable bitterness and sharp acidity. Yet another disappointing CdP - will stick with cheaper Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Rasteau from now on. Tasted Dec 2017.

Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez Tinto Pesquera Crianza 2006

Rich, full-bodied with significant sweet coconutty notes from the American oak ageing. Thankfully, the quality of the Tempranillo fruit is high enough to stand up to all that oak. Admittedly, this isn't a style that suits my taste, yet it all seems to be so wlll integrated that I actually enjoyed it. Nicely done, especially if you like the style. drinking well now, should hold as few more years with ease. Tasted Dec 2013.

Royal Tokaji Late Harvest Tokaji 2015, Tokaj Hegyalja (500ml)

Lovely late harvest from Royal Takaji. Not nearly as heavy or cloying as some late harvest wines, this hits the perfect balance between sweetness and acidity, making this a great wine to enjoy with desserts with less sweetness than you might find at Costco (or to just sip on its own after dinner). Complex array of flavours and a long finish. Drinks wonderfully now but this should hold for a few years with ease. Great value. Tasted Dec 2017.

Giacosa Basarin Vigna Gianmaté Barbaresco 2007, Docg

I believe this producer (Giacosa Fratelli) is completely separate from famed Bruno Giacosa (no obvious relationship I could find). This Barbaresco is modern leaning, with its ageing in small oak barrels (noted in the sheen of vanilla), yet tries to maintain the character of nebbiolo. For the most part, this merging of styles is a success. The oak, while noted, is not obtrusive and the red fruit and perfumed floral elements shine through. Noted (but pleasant) acidity and firm tannin on the finish. Drinking now, but no rush, this should keep. Nicely done. Tasted Dec 31,2015.

Alvaro Castro Red 2008, Doc Dão

Medium bodied, with ripe red fruit, along with notes of smoke and spice. I actually found the wine a bit lacking in the middle palate and the finish is only good. It's a good wine for sure, and fairly priced, just not 90+ to my taste. Drinking now or can hold a few years. Tasted July 2012.

Vieil Armand Médaille Gewurztraminer 2010, Ac Alsace

Golden yellow in colour, and viscous when swirled in the glass. Very fragrant, with notes of spring flowers and spices. On the palate, intense notes of sweet apricots, oranges and spices. Quite a bit of residual sweetness, though not quite to late harvest status. To my taste, this calls to my Riesling as much as it does Gewurz. Whatever, an excellent white for near term drinking. Tasted Dec 2012.

Socré Barbaresco 2008, Docg

Re-tasted July 2017.
A further (nearly) 4 years of ageing has softened this wine, but still enough structure to hold a bit more. Taking on some more interesting nuances (dried fruit, faded roses). Really interesting mature Barbaresco. Upped score a point to 91.

A slightly more approachable Barbaresco than the norm. Nicely fragant. this is a medium-bodied red, with red fruit, firm (but not astringent) tannin and a long finish with a hint of pleasant tartness. Nice to drink now, but I think another year or two would benefit this wine. Should hold through 2020. Tasted Sept 2013

Lionello Marchesi Coldisole Brunello Di Montalcino 2006, Docg

A very good BdM that is neither traditional or modern, embracing both worlds. Certainly, vermouth-y flavours, dried cherry fruit and oxidative notes are more traditional Brunello. Yet, there is a significant dose of vanilla from the ageing in small oak barrels. While not up with the superior (and ore expensive) reds of the region, this mis-mash of styles works. Tannin seems quite mellow. I'd say that there is no benefit in ageing further, this seems to be at or near its peak. Tasted Feb 2017.