Botter Prosecco di Valdobbiadene (Veneto).
Organic, hint of a doughy nose. Lovely wine for under $17, one of the better Proseccos I have come across.
`05 Pares Balta Blanc de Pacs (Penedes).
Third time tasted and winner!! Again organic, terrific nose of pear and apple. Smells sweet but taste is dry. Lovely finish, could go OK with salad dressings.
`04 Lake Breeze Semillon, Okanagan Valley.
This wine has been a revelation for me and my buddies! Pale colour, no yellow. Just a hint of residual sugar, waxy, oily, light honey. Really good finish puckery w. good acidity. One for seafood for sure, love this and very popular with my Stampede patio party!!!
The Reds.
`03 DFJ Pedras do Monte Castelao (Portugal).
Looks light but packs a puch. Kernal fruit on the nose, violets, spice. One taster had this one before and mentioned cocoa and chocolate after an hour. Medium bodied, firm acidity, spicy and savoury. Raspbery and blackberry, look out for this one forumites!
`01 Talomas Cab Sauv/Syrah (Central Coast, Calif).
Good QPR here, only $15. Light violet tinges on rim, not much depth of colour but finish is a big wallop of fruit! Cherry and plum, nice richness and flavour. Its not complex but great with BBQ steak.
`03 Morgante Nero d`Avola (Sicily).
Huge improvement on previous vintages. Nose is violets and plum, minerally. Spice, chocolate, some bitterness (typical) but does not deter with food. Tomato sauces would not stand up to this one!! Very well balanced considering the acidity etc.
On the way home I stopped off at a friends horsey place and we opened a `04 Marcarini Moscato d`Asti to go with flammed peaches! Lovely, "drink a lot and not get hosed" was my better halfs comment.