It's only wine but I like it

D'Angelo Aglianico Del Vulture 2019, Doc Basilicata

Full bodied and brimming with flavour.
Dark red fruit, herbs, hints of dried fruit, and long finishing. Seems a bit less rustic than in the past, but still keeping to it's southern Italian roots. Perhaps the best vintage yet in this wine. Stellar value in Aglianico. Worth buying more than one bottle - try one now, cellar the others for a few years. Tasted Dec 2024.

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.

M. Chapoutier Bila-haut Occultum Lapidem 2016, Ac Côtes Du Roussillon Villages Latour De France

Another superb red from Chapoutier, darkly fruit with notes of wild herbs and scrub brush and even a hint of licorice.
A bit closed aromatically at first (some vigorous decanting helped), this seems a bit less opulent and more structured than the similarly priced L'esquerda (which is made from grapes from a different village), but this is a superb red in any case. Drink now through 2024. Tasted March 2020.

Domaine Brusset Laurent B. 2017, Côtes Du Rhône D.O.C.

re-tasted Mar '24- more mellow, but I fear slightly on the fade. drink up.

A well-made Cotes du Rhone, medium-bodied with notes of pepper and spice enhancing the the fruit. More depth and complexity than the generic CdR designation might indicate, but still this wine somehow failed to excite me. Another bottle awaits in the cellar so perhaps time (18 mths?) will enhance the charms here. Tasted June 2020.

Basilica Cafaggio Single Estate Chianti Classico Docg 2022, Panzano

A very fine Chianti Classico from Cafaggio, with properly tart red fruits, dusty tannin and fine acidity. Concentration and length are very good indeed. Depth of flavours is as well. Drinking well now but I thinking holding another 12-18 months would show even better. Should hold to the end of the decade. Tasted June 2025.

Fattoria Della Aiola Chianti Classico 2016, Docg Chianti Classico

Maturing though not at all over-the-hill, this Chianti Classico has a silky tannin structure that comes with age. Bright cherry fruit is joined by notes of dried fruit and hints of herbs. Long finishing with that crisp Sangiovese acidity that makes CC such a food friendly wine. Wood ageing is completely subsumed into the greater whole. Top kit Tuscan red, a model for modern Chianti Classico. I'd guess this is at about its peak now. Tasted Sep 2023.

Gorghi Tondi Coste A Preola Nero D'Avola 2022, Doc Sicilia

An absolutely delicious Nero D'avola. Not one for long keeping but to be enjoyed in its youthful splendor. $18? A steal. Wish I had bought a few more bottles. Tasted Sep 2025.

Barone Ricasoli Brolio Bettino Chianti Classico 2021, D.O.C.G.

A rich Chianti Classico, with deep bright red fruit (cherry, cranberry), a solid structure and vibrant acidity. I get hints of some mature flavours as well which indicates to me that this wine may not be one for the longer haul. But it is delicious now, and should be good for the 2-3 years. Tasted Sep 2025.

Cape Mentelle Trinders Shiraz 2022, Margaret River, Western Australia

A rich Shiraz from one of my fav regions in Australia, the Margaret River. With the cooling breezes from the Indian Ocean, the wines from this region always seem to have a fine sense of balance. Case in point here, while this is no North Rhone syrah, neither is it a blowsy Barossa shiraz. Yes, it is rich, but not over the top, with good complexity and a hint of oak. Drink now or in the next 3 yrs. Tasted Sep 2025.

Vigna Di Pettineo 2022, D.O.C.G. Cerasuolo Di Vittoria Classico

Ver ripe, almost over -ripe, with red fruit (cherry, cranberry), oak dialed way back (if there is any(. Silky tannin and a long finish. Detracting a bit is a bit of residual sugar. Drink now. tasted Dec 2025.