2020 Gard Réserve de la Saurine Rosé

 Well, a disappointment after 2019. That one was great, you can read review here. But this one is just plain. Drinkable, with subltle citrus notes, but nothing special.

2019 Vinyes Ocults Malbec

 One more masterpiece from Argentina, from Eco valley. Taste is so complex and pleasant, you don't even want to find components in it. You just want to enjoy it. Was marked at Costco at 94 points, and I fully agree. Bought half a case more.

2018 Gerard Bertrand Saint-Chinian

 Love wines from this producer. Usually they are good substitution for Côtes du Rhône, But it feels like 2018 was very bad for that kind of wines. It's not that bad as 2018 Delas, but still not very good either. Has usual Rhône notes, chokeberry, spice. But too harsh, not balanced. Drinkable, that's all. Will not buy again.

2022 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau

 

Not on par with 2020 or 2021. Nice, spicy, with strong hint of cranberry. But not a masterpiece. Rosé might be good, but it didn't reach Minnesota yet.

Was good with croissant pie.

2021 J.L.Quinson Côtes de Provence

 Wonderful Rosé! Lots of citrus, as if it was held on lemon skins, a hint of honey, a hint of summer meadow, spices!

Enjoyed it with seafood paella.

2021 Céline Côtes de Provence

 Côtes de Provence as I like it. Honey, spices and a hint of citrus.

Was great with grilled shrimp.

2019 Château du Grand Bern

Second bottle from Costco Christmas box. Decent Bordeaux, but with strong bitter note, more usual for Médoc. Makes this wine less pleasant than other three of the box.

Was OK with BBQ chicken pizza.

 

2021 Patrick Lesec Côtes du Rhône Villages

 Another good Côtes du Rhône from Costco. Very subtle. Subtle chokeberry note, subtle leather note, just a hint of tobacco, almost no sugar. Very pleasant overall. Already bought more.

Was very good with grilled bison burgers.

2019 Baracan

 Third bottle from Costco Christmas box. Good. Strong black currant note, spice, almost no sugar. Very subtle bitter note, more usual for Médoc, but aerator makes it almost disappear.

Was very good with BBQ chicken pizza.

2019 Château Haut Landon

 Last bottle from Costco Christmas box. Nice Bordeaux. Mixed berries, old leather. Not very strong, 13% alcohol, which is good for a change. No sugar.

Was very good with sous vide tuna.

2019 Château Thomas

 The first bottle of Costco Christmas Bordeaux box (Christmas arrived early this year). It's different from 2018. Still complex taste, but sour cherry is the most prominent. No chalk in the taste this year. Spices, and a smoky hint.

Was very good with sous vide tuna.

2018 Château Des Rochers

Very good wine courtesy of Costco. Strong sour cherry note in the nose and taste. Smoky notes, good with BBQ. Some spice, a hint of old leather. Almost no sugar.

Was very good with grilled shrimp pizza. And yes, you can enjoy red wine with grilled shrimp.

 

2019 Cairanne

 

Very nice wine. From Provence, quite similar to Rhone wines, but not from Appelation Contrellee. Rich nose and taste. Hints of chokeberry, black currant, old leather. After some time on the air, a hint of plum. Great aftertaste.

Was very good with grilled venison burgers.

2019 Château Haut Claribes.

 Awful. I liked 2018 Haut Claribes a lot. But this one is plain awful Too much alcohol. Never heard of Bordeaux with 15% alcohol content. This one has it, and it killed the wine. Yes, there are some notes of coffee and black currant, but they are overpowered by alcohol.

I will not buy this vintage again.

2021 Kirkland Côte de Provence

 Wonderful. Nose and taste of a very good Provençal Rosé. Hone, citrus, spice, flowers, grass.

Was great with mussels, pasta and asparagus.

2021 Ile de Conas Rosé

 Cheap wine from Trader Joe's. No appellation, just Pays d'Oc. It's great! Complex nose and taste with subtle notes of honey, flowers, citrus, creating the impression of a meadow on a hot summer day. Will buy again.

Was great with grilled shrimp pizza.

2018 Santa Ema Cabernet Sauvignon

 One more great wine from South America. This time from Chile. Cherry, black currant, vanilla, tobacco, oak in the nose and taste. Perfectly balanced.

Was great with Sockeye salmon grilled on a cedar plank.

2021 Les Portes Rosé

 Sometimes Bordeaux Rosé is good. Not the case here. Drinkable, but that's about it. Feels cheap and watery. Was thinking about trying red of the same year, no way.

2018 UKO (Valle de Uco) Cabernet Sauvignon

 Absolutely wonderful. Multiple berries in the nose and taste. I can feel black currant, a hint of red currant, a hint of sour cherry. But there is much more! Also some buttery hint in the finish.

Was great with sockeye salmon grilled on a cedar plank.

2021 Artea

 

Very good Rosé. Nose of the summer meadow on a hot day. Some citrusy notes in the taste. Well rounded wine.

Was great with veal steak.

2021 Pierre Moulin Grenache Rosé

 Typical Grenache. Well, it's Rosé, but still Grenache. Some hints of berries, good finish.

Was very good with baked haddock.

2019 Douro Mural Reserva

 Wonderful wine from Portugal. Courtesy of Costco. Wine Enthusiast gave it 92 points, I absolutely agree. Complex berry taste, with plum note. If I tried it on a blind tasting, I'd say "Bordeaux", if not for that plum note. Great aftertaste.

Was good with grilled chicken pizza.

2020 Fonte dos Frades

Probaby the best Portuguese wine I've ever tasted. Complex taste with berries, old leather, tobacco. Everything subtle. Almost no sugar.

2017 Bodega Eguia (Kirkland) Rioja Reserva

Not bad. Not as good as was 2015, but still complex taste with multiple berries. A little bit of sugar. Overall nice impression.

Was very good with sous vide lamb leg.

 

2020 Cabriz Rosé

Nice Rose. Taste of plum and spice.

Was good with seafood pasta.

2016 Monte Antico

 Exquisite Italian wine. Complex taste with multiple berries and spice. Ultimate pizza wine.

Was great with smoked chicken pizza.

2017 Tom Baton

 

Very nice wine from Portugal. Complex nose and taste, with hints of multiple berries.

Was great with salmon and butter lettuce salad.

2019 Les Rastellains

Classic Côtes du Rhône. Chokeberry, old leather, spice, just a little bit of sugar. The wine how it should be. Unfortunately, many Rhône producers released disastrous 2017 and not so good 2018, which doesn't reflect good on the reputation. And this one is an example, too. 2018 wasn't any good. But now we can celebrate 2019!

Was very good with beef and mushroom strudel.

2018 Siglo

 Temranillo from Rioja. But tastes more like Rhône wines. Hints of some berries,  some old leather and tobacco. A hint of blueberries in the taste. Lots of tannins. Some sugar. Overall very good wine, but it doesn't tastes like Rioja.

Enjoyed it with sous vide lam.

2021 Loma Negra Rosé

 

Decent Rosé from Chile. But needs some air before drinking. If you try it after opening the bottle, it taste like... grape juice without sugar. After 5 minutes, it shows some nose and taste. A bit of honey, a bit of spice. 2020 was much better.

It was OK with grilled shrimp.

2020 Lagranja 360

 

Nice Spanish Rosé. Bouquet of flowers in the nose, subtle honey, grass and a lot of spice in the taste.Well balanced.

Was great with pasta and mussels.

2018 Château Cateau Lagrange

 

Unusual but good Bordeaux. Strong nose of old leather (my wife said it's like the smell of a saddle after some workout). Black currant and raspberry in the nose and taste. Lots of tannins, no trace of sugar. Overall feels pretty good.

Was good with salmon pizza.

2020 De Mont

 

Great Rosé from Provence. Much better, than 2019. Strong honey and meadow notes in the nose, honey and spices in the taste. Unlike 2019, no hint of chalk or dust at all.

Enjoyed it with sous vide cod.

2013 Tierra Imeriale

 Nice Spanish wine. Full-bodied, powerful. Strong nose and taste of sour cherry, a hint of old leather.

Was very good with smoked chicken pizza.

2017 Cerro Añon

 Great Rioja! Powerful sour cherry note in the nose and taste. Well balanced. Aerator greatly improves this wine.

Enjoyed it with sous vide lamb.

2018 De Dauzac

 

Classic Bordeaux. Powerful mix of black and red currant in the nose and taste. No trace of sugar. Exceptionally well balanced.

Enjoyed it with sous vide arctic char.

2019 Petit Freylon

 One more good Bordeaux from 2019. Sold under Costco Kirkland brand. Powerful black currant in the nose and taste. A hint of old leather in the nose, more pronounced in the taste. Very interesting subtle hint of coffee in the nose and taste. Very well balanced, no sugar at all.

Enjoyed it with smoked chicken pizza.

2018 Antonin Rodet Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir. But not from Burgundy. At least, not Appelation Contrôllée. Decent wine. A bit more powerful than I expected. Subtle notes of berries. Not bad overall, but I still prefer Burgogne. Although US prices are outrageous.
Was very good with smoked pork chops, served with wild rice and canned peaches.