It's only wine but I like it

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.

Marchesi Di Barolo La Tradizione 2017, D.O.C.G.

Young, with firm tannin and acidity, but with fine Nebbiolo fruit. Sour cherry fruit, dried fruit, hints of dried herbs and did I mention the tannin? Yes, this is young and it is Nebbiolo, so a few years of bottle age will see this mellow nicely I should think. Not one for the ages -2025-2028 should be about right. Tasted Aug 2022.

Cuvée Sabrine Côtes Du Rhône Villages 2019, Ac

Seems a bit more austere than the '15-'17 vintages, but this is still a delicious CdR Villages with plenty of herb and pepper infused fruit. Price is unfortunately up $3, making this slightly less compelling value but then again, $19 for a wine of this quality - I ain't complaining. Inflation, what can you do? Tasted June 2023.

Castello Di Bossi C. Berardenga Chianti Classico 2018, D.O.C.G.

A fine Chianti Classico, lively and neat. Delicious to drink now. Organic is a bonus. Drink now through 2025. A very reliable producer. Tasted Sep 2023.