It's only wine but I like it

Château De Tréviac Corbières 2020, A.P.

A bit of a disappointing vintage, this 2020 Treviac. Nice enough flavours but rather simple and short finishing. Drink in the near term, Tasted Oct 2024.

Jeff Carrel Les Darons 2021, Ap Languedoc

Fun fact: Jeff Carrel is not related to Steve Carrel. No resemblance at all either. Amazing, huh? I wish that they were related, how cool would that be? But I bet Steve would like this wine. Really good southern French blend, mostly Grenache. A no nonsense unpretentious red with oodles of character. and a great price too. Tasted Jul 2024

Pesquié édition 1912m Ventoux 2021, A.P.

Love the mix of ripe fruits and herbs, Drinking this inspires me to cycle to the peak of My Ventoux. A glass of this every 5km, I think that I can do it. Then again, I could just stay at the bottom and sip on this. Nice stuff. Good value too. Organic? Great. Tasted June 2024.

Chateau Saint Roch Corbarol Syrah/Grenache 2021, A.P. Côtes Du Roussillon

As always, a solid red from Lafage. Low acid, fairly high alcohol, but thankfully no significant residual sugar. Perhaps a bit simple, but it is delicious and a fine value at $16.95. No point ageing this for any period of time, this is ready to go. Tasted Mar 2024.

Santa Carolina El Pacto Agreement No. 1 Limited Production Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Sustainable, Valle De Cachapoal

Ripe, and rich, with balanced oak and finely judged tannin Just a wee bit of herbal notes come through which simply add to the complexity. A wine for nearer term consumption in my view (i.e the next 2-3 years) but at $18, worth buying a few to see how it ages. great value indeed. Tasted Apr 2024.

Calcu Tiny Blocks Gran Reserva Cabernet Franc 2020, Sustainable, Valle De Colchagua

Certainly does not taste like Cab Franc to me, though most of those are cooler climate (Loire, Niagara). But this is a seriously good red wine, medium-full bodied, with complex red and black fruits, herbs and just a hint of wood. $15? What a steal! I think that this is the best value to come through Vintages in the last year. Drinking well now, but no rush. Tasted Mar 2024

Tombacco Aglianico Del Beneventano 2021, Igt

Love the label and what is inside the bottle is up to the label. Delicious Aglianico from Campania, a bit rustic but not at all overly oxidized. Big ripe fruit, ark cherries, figs, and nice firm tannic structure. Way more wine than one would expect for $15. Should have bought more than one bottle. One of the top values in 2024 at VIntages. Tasted Sep 2024.

Firriato Chiaramonte Nero D'avola 2020, Igt Terre Siciliane

Deep and dark, not exactly cheerful yet I would not lean to brooding. Kind of cheerfully brooding sort of red, with dark cherry flavours and savoury notes of mystery meat (I say that in the most favourable way). A wee bit of oxidative fruit on the finish leads me to suggest to drink this sooner than later....but very good Sicilian red here for sure and a fine price I should say. You know, I have never been to Sicily. I should remedy that, Tasted July 2024.

Clos Bagatelle à L'origine 2022, Ap Saint Chinian

DL noted the hashish aromas so I decided just to whiff this wine over the course of a couple of hours without drinking it. As the night progressed, for some reason, I got the munchies.

Eventually tried the wine. Maybe all that hashish aromas might have impaired my judgement, so take this with a grain of salt, but I really liked it, Great value. Buy up! Tasted (and whiffed) Aug 2024.

Mount Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz 2004, "Grampians, Victoria"

A very nicely made Shiraz, which really should be labelled Syrah. Why? Because this wine has much more in common with the red wines of the north Rhone than with most Aussie Shiraz. Dark berry fruit, pepper and well-judged oak, with a fine backbone of acidity. My only gripe is that it lacks a bit of character. Stil at a dicsounted price of less than $17 a good buy.