(December 23, 2016) … Suddenly my brother-in-law fancies himself a wine drinker – I am happy to oblige and especially if it can help empty the Christmas case from Virgin Wine Club – it means I don’t have to claim as much (and get dinged with duty) at the border … so I gave him a glass and we drank and talked a little wine … I’m proud of you Chuck:
Fontana Della Giovinezza 2012 Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva (Italy) … an 18 month in oak Cannonau (aka Granache) that smelled of plum, boysenberry, and spice with flavours of cigar box, spice, baked black fruit; it ended with a drying note of coffee and leather
Asado 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon (Argentina) … a simplistic wine that doled out some very nice aromas and flavours: blackberry, cassis and smoke plus blueberry, mocha, pepper, and black cherry.
Spier 2015 North Bank Malbec (South Africa) … it was typically South African with a tarry, truck tire finish and smell but there was also a mocha mid and silky entry that saved this one 
from being a “down the sink” wine.
Raymond 2015 ‘The Inaugural’ Cabernet Sauvignon (California) … talk about typical this one had California markings in spades with plenty of raspberry, blackberry and cassis; all fruit, very gulpable.