My friends were serving outstanding "artisanal" bratwurst tonight, so...
2005 Alpha Omeaga Chardonnay. (Hudson Vineyard Carneros) My friends requested a good white, so I brought this new discovery (they don't like my other choice-Gewurtz). A very rich Napa Chardonnay. Great butterscotch, tropical fruit, but balanced-my friends and I found a lot of crispness in this wine. Not a steel fermented "chablis-style" wine, but no buttered popcorn flavors either. A delicious fruit forward Napa Chard that transcends the sterotypical "Rombauer" profile-at least to my palate. This two year old winery is doing great things. The devil himself is coming on board in two years (Michel Rolland), but I remain impressed.
2004 Glaetzer St Laurent (Austria): Cherry fruit. Definitely earthy. Major earthiness. Extremely, extremely smooth-not as high on the acidity level as last year. Like a really really good California Pinot Nor without the high alcohol and the cola flavor. Don't know a lot about the St. Laurent grape, and I am more than happy to be steered in the proper directions.