It's only wine but I like it

Feudo Maccari Noto Nero D'avola 2015, Sicilia

Bright, fresh, vibrant, this Nero d'Avola is a cut above. Brisk acidity, with crisp red cherry/cranberry fruit, backed by smoke and spice. Oak is all but invisible and tannin is soft and approachable. Stellar value from Sicily! Tasted Sep 2018.

Baracchi O'lillo 2015, Igt Toscana

Medium bodied, with bright crisp red fruit and noted acidity would have me believe more Sangiovese than the 1/4 actually present. A bit lean and tart with an average finish. Certainly needs food (think tomato-based pasta or pizza). Decent enough but not especially impressive. I wonder if a couple of years in the bottle might improve this. Tasted Oct 2018.

Coltibuono Cetamura Chianti 2015

A fresh lively Chianti, mostly Sangiovese with no oak (I can't taste any and Coltibuono's website seems to imply no oak in this non-Classico Chianti). Sour cherry, fine acidity and more depth than I would have expected in a $16 wine from Tuscany. Delicious and exactly what I look for in an inexpensive Chianti. For drinking now through end of 2019. Tasted July 2018.

Lua Cheia Old Vines Red 2015, Doc Douro

Not quite up to the '14, this is still a solid Douro red. Appealing dark fruit, youthful, and very drinkable. Light tannin and some lemony acidity on the medium finish. Not sure this will age very long, but fine for drinking over the next couple of years. Nice value. Tasted Feb 2018.

Vale Do Bomfim 2015, Doc Douro

A bit floral on the nose. Dark fruit and spice dominant the flavours along with some medicinal notes (I find common to Douro reds - not a fault) and turning a bit sour on the finish. Hard to go wrong at the price. Tasted March 2018.

Charles Tort Old Vines 2015, Cotes Du Rhone

No thing of grace, this is still a solid red with good south Rhone character. Very ripe, with notes of local herbs and pepper. A bit rough and ready, and finishes with some heat. Agree with Steve, chill this just a bit. Being discontinued at the LCBO, this is on sale for just over $11 - a deal at that price. Tasted May 2019.

Ramirez De La Piscina Crianza 2013, Doca Rioja

re-tasted Nov 2018. Consistent notes,

Quite a rich, ripe Rioja here. Seems well evolved with a fairly hefty dose of oak. The wood is not overdone, just a bit heavy for my tastes. Tasted June 2018.

Lilás 2014, Doc Douro

A fairly big, slightly course Douro here. Some floral notes come through on the nose with ripe blackberry fruit on the palate. While no model of refinement, this is quite delicious, especially for summer bb1 season. Fine value. Tasted June 2018.

Errazuriz Aconcagua Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Do Aconcagua Valley

Nicely ripened Cabernet fruit, bolstered by a bit of vanilla and coffee from the oak. Tannin is nicely managed, making the wine drinkable today, yet should hold through 2024 or so without concern. A shade less oak would have pushed my score above 90, but that's just my oak-a-phobia. tasted Aug 2020.

Marrenon Versant Nord Luberon 2015, Ac

The winery's website says 80% Syrah/20% Grenache in French version but says 80% Grenache /20% Syrah in the English version. The bottle says main Syrah and my taste buds agree, so mostly Syrah it is. Fresh blackberry fruit, along with black olives and a splash of black pepper. Come to think of it, the colour of the wine is almost black....and the label also black. A bit of a theme here. In the end, a solid if not exciting syrah based wine here without any influence from oak (aged in stainless steel). Tasted Dec 2018.