A few whites from the past week:
2021 Dow Douro Branco Vale do Bomfim White Blend
Pale yellow. Fresh citrussy nose with, on the palate, honeydew melon, lemony (juice) and lime (rind). For the price ($11), an excellent casual porch wine.
2020 Rene Rostaing Viognier Les Lézardes Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes
I'm notorious for claiming that Viogniers smell like dead old ladies (overly sweet perfume, hand lotion, Kleenex), and I genuinely dislike just about all new world versions of it. Old world versions occasionally work for me, and this was one. Floral but not cloying nose, concentrated midpalate complexity with apple, pineapple turnover, pumpkin and clove, then a finish that veers dangerously close to off-dry but finishes clean. Killer pairing with a cream of French onion and espresso soup.
2020 Le Anfore di Elena Casadei Ansonica Ansonaco Toscana IGT
20 carat gold color from 100 days on the skins and vinification/aging in terra cotta anfora. Heady nose with deep, magical flavors of peach, roasted hazelnuts, and yellow apple plus hints of turmeric and fennel seed. Not typically an orange wine fan, but I truly loved this like I loved a not-disimilar Occhipinti SP 68 a few years back.
2022 Olianas Vermentino di Sardegna
Pale yellow. From 1200 ft elevation on the island of Sardinia. Floral nose followed by crushed seashells with complex white fruits on the palate. More depth and body than I typically associate with Vermentino. In fact, where I usually find Vermentinos kind of empty/boring, this one is flat-out exciting.
2022 Massican Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley
Tight and lemony--a sour spinster compared to the lovely bottle we had just a month ago.