It's only wine but I like it

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.

Il Palagio Di Panzano Chianti Classico Docg 2015

Re-tasted June2022 - Still a superb CC,ageing perfectly.

A prime example of why i often avoid the higher priced (and usually heavily oaked-infused) Riservas and Gran Selezione Chianti Classicos. The CC normale is pure Tuscany, pure Sangiovese. No resorting to overextraction or oak flavours. Delicious red cherry/raspberry fruit, hints of earth, that wonderful Sangiovese acidity and a long finish. Superior CC, obviously grown and vinified by people who really know and love their vineyard. Superb. Drinking now, should easily hold 3-5 more years. Tasted Nov 2020.

J P Azeitao Red 2017, Peninsula De Setubal

Fresh, lively, with smokey blackberry fruit, hints of black pepper and a bit of an herbal finish. Light-medium bodied, with low tannin and a decent finish. No great depth or complexity, just an honest to goodness good wine - stellar value at the price. Chill in the fridge for 30-40 minutes. Worthy of multiple bottle purchase. Tasted Dec 2018.

Lornano Chianti Classico 2015, Docg, Tuscany

May 2021: Consistent notes from 15 months ago, still a lovely CC.

Original notes: A bigger, more full-bodied CC here from Lornano, perhaps due to the warm (even by Tuscan standards) vintage. Still, there is no doubt that this is Sangiovese through and through - cherry fruit, perhaps a bit of darker fruit coming in, a mere hint of spice/vanilla from the wood and finishing with the expected acidity and some still chewy tannin. Really fine CC, fine now, but better in a year or 2. Should live through 2025. Of course, ignore Luca Maroni's idiotic 97 pt score...Tasted Feb 2020

Borsao Berola 2015, Do Campo De Borja

Plummy, ripe with some pleasant herbal notes. Soft and cuddly, with loads of alcohol and soft tannin. A bit hollow but ok for the $$. Tasted Nov 2019.

Rocca Delle Macìe Chianti Riserva 2015

A bit riper compared to the '14, as one might expect from the vintage. Straightforward Chianti here, without much complexity but with typical red cherry fruit and decent acidity. Nicely made and a pleasant value. Tasted nov 2018.

Les Darons 2015, Ap Languedoc

Grenache-dominated blend from the Languedoc that is all too easy to like. Nicely ripened dark fruits, bolstered by herbs and pepper. Unoaked, this allows for the terroir to take center stage. Good length, decent complexity and fine tannin. Not a wine for the ages, just one for near term enjoyment. Delicious and a fine value. Tasted Oct 2018.

Château Saint Roch Chimères 2016, Ap Côtes Du Roussillon Villages

Rich, ultra ripe, picking up some almost syrupy notes on the finish. Loads of herb-infused flavours, along with some pepper and smoky notes. The 15% alcohol (or is it even higher?) is quite notable. A lot of character for $17 and certainly warms you up on a dreary December evening but how much better could this wine have been if they had picked the grapes a little earlier and go for a bit more balance? Tasted Dec 2018.