It's only wine but I like it

Glenelly Glass Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Wo Stellenbosch

What a fine Cab this is. Amazing concentration, depth and length for an $18 wine. Fruit is very ripe, but keeps that Bordeaux-like balance. Oak, tannin, acids, all nicely balanced. Not sure its for keeping much more than a few years, but who cares? Delicious now. Tasted Aug 2021.

Réserve De La Roncière Cuvée Traditionnelle 2018, A.C. Côtes Du Rhône

Grenache dominated, soft and cuddly, with plenty of red fruit. "It's like, how much more red could this be? And the answer is None: None...more red.". Oh, yeah, easy going CdR, well made, delicious and just $16. How could I not love this? Tasted May 2022.

Fina Nero D'avola 2017, D.O.C. Sicilia

Perfectly ripened fruit, rich with wild berries, hint of herbs and no oak that I can detect. Tannin provide enough structure, complexity is very good and made with organic grapes. Delicious! for $17? Alas, pretty much sold out at Vintages. Another case of "I wish I'd bottle another bottle or 2". Tasted Dec 2021.

Les Hauts De Lagarde Blanc 2020, Vegan, Sustainable, Ac Bordeaux

Dec 2022: Same notes as below. Great value.

Fresh, crisp, lively....all those adjectives work here. Lovely summer sipper for a reasonable price. Seems to be lots available at the LCBO, an easy multiple bottle purchase. Tasted Jul 2022.

Lavau Côtes Du Rhône 2018, A.C.

Re-tasted March 2020 - same notes. Super value CdR.

Soft, easy-going CdR from the reliable Lavau. Generous ripe fruit with the expected spice/herbs/pepper notes of the region. No great complexity but for $15, this is more wine than one usually expects. Fine value indeed! Tasted Sept 2021.

Planeta Plumbago Nero D'avola 2018, Doc Sicilia

A very fine Nero D'avola. Red cherries, raspberries and crisp acidity on the long finish. aged in 3-4 use oak so very little wood gets in the way of the pure fruit.
Reminds me a little of a good Chianti Classico yet stands out on its own. Tasted April 2022.

Crasto 2019, Doc Douro

Re-tasted Nov 2022 - consistent notes.

A fine vintage of this multi-variety blend from Crasto. Only 15% of this wine sees any oak, so pure Douro is what you taste here. Ripe, dark fruit, almost lush, with well-judged acidity and tannin - none of the lean/austere notes that marred the '15. Great to see one of my fav wines from years ago back on form. Drinking fine now, can hold a few years for sure. Tasted March 2022.

Malivoire Cascade Cabernet Franc 2020, Twenty Mile Bench V.Q.A.

Medium bodied, cool climate flavour profile but nicely ripened in this warm, dry vintage. Oak is nicely dialed-in, acidity and tannin well sorted as well. Solid, well made, $26.95 when purchased. Drinking nicely now and over the next few years. Tasted Oct 2023.

Aubert & Mathieu Marie Antoinette Corbieres 2020, Languedoc

A blend of syrah, mourvèdre and grenache, medium=bodied with fine balance and harmony. The perfectly ripened fruit is well-supported by herbs and notes of pepper. This is pretty much ready to drink, no need to wait. Fine Corbieres. Merci, Albert et Matthieu. Tasted Feb 2023.

Evel Tinto 2017, Doc

Rich, ripe, balanced Douro. Really delicious. Quite amazing depth for a $15 wine. Lovely to drink now, Tasted Feb 2022.