It's only wine but I like it

Chateau D'aigueville Côte Du Rhône Villages 2015, Ac

A rough and ready CdR with plenty of flavour and southern France character. Red fruit, spice, black olives lead the flavour profile. Tannin is a bit blunt but in keeping with the youth of the wine. Easy multiple bottle purchase for summer bbq. Really, lots on offer here. Tasted May 2017.

François Lurton Domaine Du Ministre 2013, Ac Saint Chinian

This St. Chinian from the Lurton family is lighter bodied than many reds from the south of France. Perhaps this is due to the St.Chinian terroir, perhaps wine-making decision. In any case, this wine won't blow you away with big ripe flavours but will impress with balance and purity of flavours. Nothing out of place or dominates. Tasted June 2017.

Domaine Les Grands Bois Cuvée Philippine Côtes Du Rhône Villages 2015, Ac

Losi Querciavalle Chianti Classico 2012, Docg

This CC is maturing very nicely. Stylistically, this leans toward the lighter, crisper model of Sangiovese, replete with sour cherry fruit, currants and earth. Oak is but a mere enhancement. The finish is long with fine acidity and tannin. Drinking very nicely now and should hold for a few more years. Tasted May 2019.

Gabbiano Chianti Classico 2015, Docg Tuscany

Delicious, authentic CC. Bright red cherry fruit, hints of leather, and fine acidity. A step up from the last time I had this wine (the '12). Fine value. Tasted March 2018.

Camporeale Aglianico 2015, Igp Campania

2nd tasting:
Horribly acidic, tastes like lemon juice was added...and a tinge of bubbles-flawed (75pts)
1st tasting:
An easy aka early drinking style of aglianico. Simple red fruit, perhaps some herbs mixed in, and a fairly short finish. Nothing wrong here, just nothing particularly memorable or distinctive. Correct for the price (86pts). tasted June 2017.

Melini Chianti Classico Reserva 2009

Holding on remarkably well for an 8 year old CCR. Typical, if slightly muted, red/sour cherry flavours with some leathery notes and finishing with the telltale fine acidity one would expect from Chianti. A solid if unexciting CCR that worked well with a tomato-based pasta sauce. Good value on sale at $15.95, only fair value at it's regular $18.95. Tasted Dec 2017.

Château Haut Rozier Cuvée Saint Vincent 2010, Ac Côtes De Bordeaux

Indeed, this is a fine value-priced right bank Bordeaux red from the vaunted '10 vintage. While a bit rough around the edges, there is some really good fruit and well integrated tannin. Certainly no Parkerization of this wine, but just an authentic Bordeaux red. Really nicely done and drinking well now. Tasted Aug 2017.

Creekside Iconoclast Syrah 2014, St. David's Bench

A lean, cool climate syrah, with tart blackberry fruit and hints of herbs and pepper bolstered by a fair whack of vanilla from 20 months in French oak. 2014 was a cool vintage which explains the tart slightly under-ripe flavours here. A good effort, no doubt, but one that again underlines the question I have on the Bordeaux and Rhone red varieties in Niagara. Why bother growing them when they only fully ripen about 6 out of 10 vintages? Tasted Dec 2018.

Santa Rita Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Perfectly serviceable Cab here from Santa Rita. Ripe fruit, and noted but reasonably integrated choco-coconut flavours from the oak ageing. Not sure that this is immediately identifiable as cabernet sauvignon but it is an appealing wine and good value (esp good value when picked up on sale a few weeks back). Tasted May 2018.