It's only wine but I like it

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.

Orfée 2020, Ap Corbières

Yeah, I'll go along with the consensus, 89 pts. Delicious southern French wine, at a great price. Tasted Nov 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.

Il Poggio Sannio Aglianico 2019, Dop

Swarthy, southern Italian red on a cold February night. A perfect remedy to the winter blahs. Love wines like this. No catering to modern tastes, especially this abysmal trend to low/no alcohol wines.
Tasted Feb 2025.

Catena Cabernet Sauvignon High Mountain Vines 2022, Mendoza

A slightly odd combination of richness and cool climate herbal notes. Dark fruit and some oak, which seems well under control. Overall, a good cabernet but not especially compelling. At $18 (post LCBO discount and sans HST), not bad value. For nearer term consumption. Tasted Dec 2024.

Finca Sophenia Altosur Malbec 2023, Uco Valley

Rip and juicy as one would expect from Malbec, but this is also very nicely balanced. Not sure ripe or heavy and the oak is nicely in the background. Complexity is good and this is simply delicious. For drinking in the near(er) term to capture that fruit Great value. Tasted in the evening as the sun was setting, pondering, pondering. what to do?

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.