WTN: Italy, USA, SA, Portugal

Tonight we had a lovely dinner with a few good friends. We nibbled on some wonderfully garlicy olives to start with. Then we moved onto a salad of lightly smoked salmon. I guess not all of my cooking is abysmal, since my guests once again wanted Risotto à la Otto, with lots of Trumpet of Death mushrooms. The wines were for the most part quite lovely, also:

• 2004 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs - USA, California, North Coast, Napa County (12/22/2007)
  This was a very charming bubbly! Though the nose was sweeter and riper than Champagnes tend to be, it still had a Champagne-like presence to it - white fruit, chalk/mineral, nutty. Elegant mousse. Ripe fruit, but refreshing acidity. I like this very much, even though it may not be the most complex bubbly out there.
• 2005 Fairview (Charles Back) Goat-Roti - South Africa, Western Cape (12/22/2007)
  Dark. Very sweet nose, oaky and dark toned but still with a pleasant touch of rusticity to it. Big palate, sweet but nicely structured. A bit too hot on the finish, but a very well made wine if you like a bruiser style.
• 2005 Perusini ronchi di Gramogliano Colli Orientali del Friuli Ribolla Gialla - Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Colli Orientali del Friuli (12/22/2007)
  A refreshing and lovely nose, slightly nutty (but unoaked), citrussy and very, very mineral and pure. Bright, focused, but ripely fruity palate. Very long, citrussy and mineral aftertaste. Just wonderful stuff for the c.17€ it cost.
• 2006 Dario Coos Vindos Venezie IGT - Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezie IGT (12/22/2007)
  A pure and mineral nose, slightly citrussy - very attractive and elegant. The palate is bright and pure and like mineral water. It has wonderful texture from acidity (and maybe slight RS as the previous vintage had?) combined with ripe but elegant fruit. Long and mineral - I also find quite a bit of tannin on the finish for a white wine. A very charming wine.
• 1996 Quinta do Portal Moscatel Reserva - Portugal, Douro, Porto (10/20/2007)
  An old note of mine, but it still tastes the same: It smells very floral and true to Muscat, yet has the orange-like notes of wood aged Colheita! I find the scent very engaging. It is sweet yet more refreshingly acidic than vintage ports are - rather the structure reminds me of older Colheita Ports in its citrussiness. Long aftertaste that is more savoury than simply sugary. I really like this stuff!

Posted from CellarTracker