AMAZING - Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2022 Lacoste Borie (France)

 

 

If somebody tells you the 2022 Bordeauxs are great, believe them - even the 2nd wines are spectacular, like this one ... today it's the Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2022 Lacoste Borie

ENTICING - Orma Winery 2021 Orma (Italy)

Here's something exciting from Bolgheri (not Bulgari or Bulgaria) what is that excitement you might ask? Well let me tell you about it ... Today it's the Orma Winery 2021 Orma

BREATHTAKING - Capezzana 2021 Ghiaie della Furba (Italy)

 

While the real story here should be the 100-year old wine I tasted at a dinner Capezzana hosted; there was no way I was going to put my hands on one of those. What I did find, was a bottle of red that blew my hair back; or at least showed exceptionally well. Today it's the Capezzana 2021 Ghiaie della Furba

AWESOME - Chateau la Fleur de Bouard 2022 Lalande de Pomerol (France)

 

Time to talk Bordeaux, I spent the better part of a month there in January 2025 and the wines bearing the date 2022 are spectacular. This is just another one of those finds: Chateau la Fleur de Bouard 2022 Lalande de Pomerol

 

STUNNING Tenuta Sette Ponti 2022 Oreno (Italy)

 

Super Tuscan wines have a great reputation. It's a name everyone seems to know. People are always excited to try them. And it's got Tuscany in the name - somewhere everybody wants to go - even if it is just for a few minutes at a time, in a glass. Today, it's the Tenuta Sette Ponti 2022 Oreno

EYE-OPENING Chateau Clos de Sarpe 2022 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe (B...

 

In January, I spent 25 days in Bordeaux. Going in depth to discover the wines from first and second growths to places like Fronsac and Pomerol. It was, to say the least, an eye-opening experience. To me, nothing beat the wines from the 2022 vintage. What a watershed moment to taste those wines and be awed by the balance, the fruit, the ... oh hell, all that is for the article. Let me dive into this bottle of  

Chateau Clos de Sarpe 2022 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe

UNEXPECTED Casa Santos Lima 2021 Taverna da Aldeia (Portugal)

 

This wine came as a shock to me, as you will hear in the video. I was skeptical that this winery could pull it off - but they did, in spades. Now, without further ado I'm looking at the Casa Santos Lima 2021 Taverna da Aldeia

FABULOUS Gerard Bertrand 2021 Chateau L'Hospitalet La Clape Grand Vin (F...

 

The south of France can make some beautiful wines, some exceptional wines in fact; I could go on here, or I could just tell you about this one ... Let me tell you about the 

Gerard Bertrand 2021 Chateau L'Hospitalet La Clape Grand Vin

TERRIFIC Zambartas 2021 Margelina (Cyprus)

 

Another wine from my Cyprus adventure in 2024 - I hope you folks with Wine-der-lust are getting the idea that you need to go and visit this newly-re-emerging jewel of the wine world - today it's the

Zambartas 2021 Margelina

NEAR PERFECT - Hidden Bench 2020 Terroir Cache (Ontario)

 

Back to Ontario we go. And this time I'm showcasing a red blend from a vintage that will be remembered for decades to come from a relatively young winery known for taking their time, creating buzz, and making iconic wines - but in their own camouflaged? No. Disguised? No, again. Masked kinda way? Anyway, today, it's the Hidden Bench 2020 Terroir Cache

SUPERB - Chateau La Nerthe 2020 Les Cassagnes (France)

 

For those looking for 'Neuf-du-Pape quality, without paying 'Neuf-du-Pape prices, might I suggest this alternative by one of their great producers : 

Chateau La Nerthe 2020 Les Cassagnes, Cotes-du-Rhone Villages

SUPERB Ruffino 2019 Modus (Tuscany, Italy)

Lovers of Super Tuscan wines are gonna dig today's video for the 

Ruffino 2019 Modus

FLAVOURFUL Redstone 2020 Meritage (Ontario, Canada)

From the folks at Redstone, in Ontario, Canada, comes a 2020 wine that should come as no surprise to us living in the province, but might to those new to Canadian wine : 

Redstone Winery 2020 Meritage

TASTY Tarapaca 2020 Etiqueta Azul, Gran Reserva

The numbers 4 and 3 play a part in this wine, 

which is more than the sum of its parts: 

 

Tarapaca 2020 Etiqueta Azul, Gran Reserva

INCREDIBLE : Bodegas Martinez Lacuesta 2015 Campeador (Spain)

First created in 1916, this Tempranillo-Grenache is a stellar wine 

even at almost 9 years from vintage - 

let me tell you what I mean as I talk about the 

Bodegas Martinez Lacuesta 2015 Campeador

EXCITING Chateau de Pibarnon 2019 Bandol (France)

This was the first winery in the Bandol area I visited and it was stunning: 

the views, the cellar, and most of all the wine : 

Chateau de Pibarnon 2019 Bandol

EXCITING Malivoire 2020 Stouck Farmstead Red (Ontario Wine)

From a winery famous for Gamay, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir 

comes another in a steady line of Bordeaux blends : 

Malivoire 2020 Stouck Farmstead Red

 

 ... Written Review ...

A Merlot/ Cabernet Sauvignon blend the doles out a number of primary and secondary characteristics that are very appealing and approachable: dark fruit, like plum and blackberry meat up with licorice, vanilla and smoke, all the while it's plush with all that beautiful ripe fruit on palate. The real kicker, is the chocolate / mocha / latte finish and linger; that just makes this wine more unforgettable. It'll get better with some age, say 5 to 7 years.

SURPRISING Tenuta di Saragano 2017 Montefalco Rosso Riserva (Italy)

Riserva wines have a reputation of being over-oaked

and needing a long time to come around to be drinkable; 

time to change your mind

Tenuta di Saragano 2017 Montefalco Rosso Riserva

 

- WRITE UP -

There's some real complexity here that is not all wood derived - the spice and fruit play nicely on the long finish and there is age-ability of 5-10 years.

 

SERIOUS Claymore Wines 2018 You'll Never Walk Alone

Mataro is Mourvedre, so this is a GSM blend with a different name; 

but this is a different kind of wine and wine company - let me explain: 

Claymore Wines 2018 You'll Never Walk Alone

 

 

This is a GSM blend (but call it Mataro, not Mourvedre), is full of black pepper, blackberry, dark and brooding fruit that keeps giving the more it stays open. Rich and close to unctuous, yet well-balanced with acid and tannins bringing it all together. It still has a few years ahead of it, but drinks well right now. It is 14.7% alcohol, so just beware.

CLASSIC - Tenuta San Guido 2020 Guidalberto (Italy)

An iconic producer creates a second tier wine 

to honuor a founder of the area, from a great vintage 

Tenuta San Guido 2020 Guidalberto

 

Tenuta San Guido 2020 Guidalberto

(60% Cabernet Sauvignon / 40% Merlot)

First vintage 2000 … dry and round in the mouth, fruit is dried and dipped in balsamic. It’s young, so the wood dominates now, but there is also plenty of plush dark fruit, subtle balsamic & spice notes with the tannins nipping playfully. The acidity is on-point and the finish is long – this should turn opulent with time.