It's only wine but I like it

Fuligni Brunello Di Montalcino 2008, Docg

At first, quite light on the palate, almost like a Chianti Classico. However, given time in the glass, this fills out and opens up. A rather fresh medium-bodied style of Brunello, perhaps reflecting the vintage. Bright red cherry fruit, showing some maturity with some dried fruit notes on the finish along with bright acidity and silky tannin. Really grew on me the more I sipped. Fine stuff. Drinking now, should hold another half dozen years or so. Tasting July 2020.

Brittan Vineyards Basalt Block Pinot Noir, 2015, Mcminville

Complex and concentrated pinot, with flavours of sour cherries, cranberry, hints of pepper, and quite stemmy. Finishes with some tannin and notable acidity. A wine of considerable character, but one that I never really warmed up to, one that never really drew me in. Perhaps another 18-24 months would help. Certainly interesting, if not particularly pleasurable. Tasted Nov 2021.

Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Old Tawny Port, Douro Valley

Beautfully smooth, with ample flavours of dried fruit, carmel, and nuts. Long, not excessively sweet, and wonderful to sip on a cool fall evening. A benchmark tawny. Sad to say that this can be had for almost $20 cheaper in the US. Drink now or whenever. Tasted Nov 2012.

Taylor Fladgate Estates Collection Vintage Ports 2005, "Btld. 2007, With Wooden Gift Box"

The Vargellas, tasted from the 375ml bottle. Deeply coloured and richly flavoured, with huge dark fruit, spice, and dried fruit. Wonderful balance, as is the norm for Taylors, with sweetness and acidity perfectly matched and a long, long finish. Thoroughly enjoyable now, but really needs to be forgotten in a cellar for 10 years or so as this will surely only improve from here. Tasted June 2012.

Château Dauzac 2009, Ac Margaux, 5e Cru

The 2005 vintage:

Still remarkable youthful even at almost 12 years of age. Deep purple in colour, ripe blackberry fruit with a bit of tartness. Quite a bit of oak, but not over the top...it does show in a bit of bitterness. Complex and long finishing with a whack of notable tannin. Really not quite ready for drinking yet, needs another 3-5 years. I can imagine this wine living past 2030 with ease. Tasted May 2017.

Poças Colheita Port 1994, Vieilli En Fût, Doc Douro

This single vintage tawny is most comparable to a 20 year old tawny port. Flavours range from dried fruit to toffee and butterscotch. The alcohol is well-balanced as is the sweetness. I do find this a bit rougher and shorter-finishing than , say, a Taylor's 20 year old. Still, a fine tawny. Tasted Dec 2014.

Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2009

Purchased at Premier wines in Buffalo for USD 39.99, this is a forward ripe Barolo from Vietti, no doubt due to the warm 2009 vintage. Concentration and flavour depth are excellent as one would expect from a wine in this price range. Plenty of red cherry notes but with a hint of oxidation creeping in. This does not detract from current enjoyment of the wine but is something to be mindful of if intending to hold this wine longer term - I think that this is best consumed in the next couple of years. But lovely juice here. Tasted Aug 2017.

Donatella Cinelli Colombini Brunello Di Montalcino 2008, Docg

A fairly big, concentrated Brunello here from Donatella Cinelli Colombini, quite amazing considering that '08 was considered merely a good vintage in the Montalcino region. Rick, ripe dark cherry fruit, with notes of sour cherries and vanilla on the long finish, as are some youthful tannin. Complex, deep, and delicious. Lots of life left in this. Really well done. Tasted Aug 2018.

Ravine Vineyard Chardonnay 2011, VQA Niagara Peninsula

Oak dominates the simple fruit. Out of balance. Unmemorable.

Château Léoville Poyferré 2008, Ac St Julien

The 2003 vintage:
Unexpected surprise. Given the hot vintage and "modern-wine" reputation of the producer, I expected something ore over the top. But instead, this is a wonderfully complex authentic left-bank red, with perfectly judged oak, ripe (but not overly) black fruit, cedar, vanilla and a very long finish. Tannin is still noted, so this is still (at 13 years) a bit young but still a sensation red. I have another bottle too! Drink now through 2030...maybe longer. Tasted Dec 2016.