It's only wine but I like it

Carpineto Dogajolo Rosso 2012, Igt Toscana

A light-medium bodied Tuscan red, soft, approachable with notes of bright, juicy red fruits. Quite pleasant and easy to like, but I really struggled to find much authentic Tuscan character here. I certainly found the wine enjoyable and it is good value. Tasted Sept 2014.

Château Grand Dignitaire Côtes Du Rhône Villages Gadagne 2012, Ap

A lovely CdR, with ripe dark fruits, plenty of spice and pepper and noes a garrigue. Depth and concentration are above average and the 15% abv is well-hidden. THe finish is merely good, which holds it back from 90+pts, but this is an excellent and authentic red well-worth buying at the sale price of $15.

Boutari Naoussa 2010, Pdo Naoussa

Still markedly tannic, the 2010 seems to be even more satisfying than the very good '08 and '09s. Concentrated and earthy sour cherries, and dried fruit flavours dominate much like nebbiolo. Complex and quite long finishing for such a modestly priced wine. A worthy multiple bottle purchase for fan of this style, this should keep several years. Great stuff. Tasted Feb 2015.

Trapiche Broquel Malbec 2012

Full-bodied, ripe malbec as one would expect from Argentina. Along with that ripe fruit is a considerably amount of mocha/chocolate flavours from the oak. I hesitate to call this over-oaked, as there is some good fruit to balance it. It is just a bit strong for my tastes. Still, there is alot to recommend, as this wine has more depth than most in the price range. Very good value at a discounted $12.95...but you gotta like oak. Tasted Feb 2015.

Château D'anglès La Clape Classique Syrah/Grenache/Mourvèdre 2010, Ac Languedoc

Vintages has jacked up the price by $2. Why? Because they can. The wine itself is recognizably south France, with of dark fruit, backed by hints of local herbs and black pepper. A bit less complex and shorter finishing than past vintages to my taste, but a good wine nevertheless. Tasted August 2014.

Carvalhais Duque De Viseu Red 2011, Doc Dão

Restasted Aug 2015, this red is showing better than a year go, with more open spicy red fruit. Upped 1 point. Super value.
My Aug '14 note: A decent red from the Dao, but seems to me less interesting than the superb '09. Flavours and aromas seem a touch muted and lack the vibrancy of the '09, at least at this point. Certainly a good wine, at a fair price. Perhaps this will show a bit better with anothe rcouple of years under its belt. We'll see....Tasted August 2014.

Coltibuono Cancelli Sangiovese Di Toscana 2011, Igt Toscana

A lighter-bodied Tuscan red, despite the reported 14% alcohol.. Red fruit flavours (cherry, cranberry) with light tannin and bright acidity. Decent Tuscan character and a pleasant wine, just a bit simple. Would be better priced at about $13 instead of $16. For current consumption. Tasted Oct 2014.

Domaine Berthoumieu Haute Tradition Madiran 2011, Ac

Retasted June 2016: this fine Madiran seems to have mellowed quite a bit since I tasted it almost 2 years ago. Evolving very nicely, this is drinking well now but should still keep another few years. Upgraded a point.

Original note:A stern red, as one might expect from Madiran. Cool blackberry fruit, with just a hint of oak and quite firm tannin. Really, a solid mouthful but cetainlynot a casual sipping wine. Very nicely made, but I should think that this could use a few years of bottle age. Tasted Oct 2014.

Tons De Duorum Red 2011, Douro Valley

Good value here indeed. Spicy dark fruit, with smoky and herbal overtones. Never veers into overripeness, indeed is quite crisp and fresh. While I still have a slight preference for the Pessoa for sheer value in Portuguese reds, this Douro red is most welcome on my table any time, thank you very much. Worth buying a few bottles at this price. Tasted June 2015.

López De Haro Crianza 2008, Doca Rioja

"Old school", "Traditional"..yep, those are apt descriptors for this Rioja. Ripe red fruit, with good dose of oak, notes of leather and soft tannin. Hanging in pretty well for an '08 Crianza. Spanish wine lovers should enjoy this. Nicely made and fairly priced (did I really say that about a wine a the LCBO?!). Tasted Sep 2014.