It's only wine but I like it

Maria Papoila Loureiro/Alvarinho 2022, Doc Vinho Verde

Very crisp, and lean....plenty of lemon-lime flavours with a hint of barely ripe mango (I kid you not, that's what I get) Comes off as dry despite 8g/L of RS thanks to the brisk acidity. Just 11.5% abv, so I would guess that this was early-picked. Very enjoyable wine, but works best with appropriate food (eg fish). Tasted Jul 2024.

Vineland Estates Elevation Cabernet 2020, Bo Teek Vineyard, VQA Niagara Escarpment

Light to medium bodied, scoring on balance and typicity. The wood is nicely integrated and the fruit is ripe, with a telltale cool climate herbal touch. Picked up on sale for $20, which is fair. The 95 pt score on the label is just silly. I know wineries want to market their wines but pasting on a score like this is disappointing. Tasted Oct 2024.

Famille Perrin Les Cornuds Vinsobres 2020, A.C.

A typically reserved and balanced red from Perrin. The syrah seems to dominated the flavour profile, with notes of black pepper, licorice and dark fruit. Very good typicity here, as one would expect from Perrin. Fine wine for a very fair price. Tasted Nov 2023.

Kew Vineyards Pinot Noir 2019, Estate Vineyard, VQA Beamsville Bench, Niagara Escarpment

Lean and lighter-bodied as one would suspect from a cooler vintage but still with plenty of flavour. Beetroot, and cranberry with some vanilla from the oak ageing coming through on the finish. Good complexity and a decent finish. This is a very good pinot noir. Drink now or should hold another couple of years. Tasted Nov 2023.

The Fledge & Co. Katvis Pinot Noir 2021, Unfined And Unfiltered, Wo Elgin

A fine cool(er) climate pinot noir. No over-ripening, to heavy oak use, just pure pinot fruit. Nice stuff. For drinking now or over the next few years. Tasted March 2024.

Château De Corneilla Pur Sang 2020, Single Vineyard, A.P. Côtes Du Roussillon

Second tasting Aug 2024, still excellent.

An excellent red from the Roussillon, Complex and ripe, with plenty of herbs, pepper and meaty notes. I get just a wee bit of astringency that JS notes, which fades in the glass but no sense of under ripeness. Balanced and long finishing. Worth seeking out. For drinking now with a decant of hold another 18-24 months. Tasted Dec 2023.

Seméli Nemea Reserve Red 2017, Pdo

Really delicious red from Nemea. Complex, not heavy and ready to drink. Fine value indeed. Tasted Feb 2024.

Château De Montfaucon "La Côte" Côtes Du Rhône 2019, Ap

What a lovely, balanced CdR, a wine that questions why anyone would spend $50+ for a Chateauneuf de Pape when, for $22, delicious reds like this are produced in this region and labelled "lowly" Cotes du Rhone. Brimming with ripe fruit, spice and pepper with a long finish, Ready to drink. Tasted Sep 2024.

Garzón Pinot Rosé De Corte 2023, Garzón

Barely pink in colour, so pale is this wine. At first, I was "meh", but this grew on me. I suspect it was a wee bit too cold when I first tried it, which my have rather deadened my palate. The wine is crisp and light, hints of orchard fruit (peaches) and strawberries. Charming and nifty. Now I know where Uruguay is on the map.
Tasted Jul 2024.

Lafage Cayrol Vieilles Vignes Carignan 2021, I.G.P. Côtes Catalanes

Not too often that one comes across a wine made from 100% Carignan. Very ripe, with lots of alcohol (15% according to the label). An in-your-face wine, with lots of concentrated fruit, and plenty of herbal notes. A bit of bitterness on the finish which you may like or not. Really fine wine, as one has come to expect from this producer. Tasted Jul 2024.