I tasted through a small range of Argentineans because a good friend of mine imports. I'll have to be honest: I wasn't impressed. These are all technically well made and I am sure many will find them tasty (and they have proved very popular in the restaurants that they are sold to) but I thought them souless.
Tomero Sauvignon Blanc 2006 was correct in its flavours: fresh and fruit yet forgettable.
Tomero Sémillon-Chardonnay 2004 is a strange blend but it seems to work. Fresh, yet forgettable.
Tomero Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 is all about jam.
Tomero Malbec 2004 is all about meaty jam.
Vistalba Corte B 2004 starts out interestingly with some nice vegetal and floral notes but with a bit of time in the glass it becomes jammy.
Italy
Abruzzo
Marina Cvetić Chardonnay 2004 was a bit oaky, yet correct in its aromatics and it did have nice acidity. It wasn't over the top, but I rarely get interested in Chardonnay unless it is bubbly and from near Paris.
Marina Cvetić Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2003 is a fair wine for such a hot vintage. It is sweet and red toned and smells of ripe cherries. It is nicely structured but rather sweet and a bit soft on the aftertaste. Pleasant.
Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2004 was dusty and earthy, not as refined as the Cvetić but more personal and rustic. It's nice enough but not really something to get excited about.
Alto Adige
J. Hofstätter Gewurztraminer 2005 was quite a nice drop: pure and mineral yet true to the aromaticness of the variety. The palate is mineral and has nice acidity for the grape yet is still weighty. I like it quite a bit!
J. Hofstätter Pinot Grigio 2005 this is also a fresh and mineral wine, but just not as refined as the Gewurztraminer. Again, it is true to the characteristics of the grape. I like this also.
J. Hofstätter Meczan Pinot Noir 2004 is the unoaked Pinot from Hofstätter. It is bright and has nice earthiness and Pinosity. It is refreshing and mineral. I like it.
J. Hofstätter Pinot Noir Riserva Mazon 2003 sees some oak (IIRC 8 months, all new), but despite that and the vintage the wine is very nice on the nose with lots of Pinosity and beetroot like and earthy aromatics. The palate is a very fair effort for the year but is still softer than I would like.
Colli Orientali del Friuli
Perusini Ronchi di Gramogliano Ribolla Gialla 2005 is a lovely wine. It is refreshing and characterful and mineral. Very pure.
Perusini Ronchi di Gramogliano Pinot Grigio 2005 is also a pure and mineral and refreshing example of this better known grape. As it is true to the grape, it is weightier on the palate, but the weight is kept nicely in check.
Perusini Ronchi di Gramogliano Chardonnay 2005 is unoaked like the other Perusini whites. And like the others, this is a pure and refreshing example of the grape. It is all about white fruit, citrus and minerals. If all Chardonnay were like this, I would drink more of other examples than Bl de Bl Champagne!
Perusini Ronchi di Gramogliano Cabernet Franc 2005 is very pure and refreshing and true to the grape (do you see a trend with this producer?): leafy and herbal yet ripely fruit and savoury. Very nice stuff.
Perusini Ronchi di Gramogliano Merlot 2004 I tend to prefer my Bx varieties blended (Cab F excepted) into each other, but this varietal Merlot is a pretty decent drop. It has the dark toned yet savoury fruit I expect from the variety with some nice earthy and mineral notes also. Nice.
Perusini Ronchi di Gramogliano Rosso di Postiglioni 2004 is a Merlot based Bx blend and a rather successful one. It is a touch sweeter and frankly a bit more forgettable than the varietal wines, but is still a pleasure to sip. It smells and tastes like a Bx blend.
Dario Coos Romandus Ramandolo DOCG Passito 2002 is an intersting dessert wine. It smells of hay and is very floral yet light and refreshing. The acidity is a bit on the low side to my liking, but is a very refreshing yet funky (in a positive way) sweetie. I like it.
Portugal
S. Leonoardo 10YO Tawny was quite a hefty wine for a 10YO Tawny. It is savoury yet very sweet with more of an aged character than the years would indicate. Very nice if you like a very sweet and heavy style.
S. Leonoardo 40YO Tawny was quite a revelation. I rarely like 40YO because they are so easily too woody. This wasn't. The fruit was lovely and it was very sweet and muscular. This is not an elegant style of port, but it is a very impressive one. I like it, but this isn't the style of port I will most often turn to.
Quinta do Vesuvio VP 1994 is a lovely wine. It is savoury with some nice earthy notes and a great mix of both bright red notes and heavier darker tones. This isn't a blockbuster, but rather a perfectly harmonious and lovely drink. I find this very impressive.
Krohn 20YO Tawny was decent. It is earthy and savoury, but it isn't terribly elegant. It lacks the brighter tones that would bring into focus.
Krohn Colheita 1976, on the other hand, was all about those bright focused tones. This is all I could ask of a Colheita. Sweet, but not overly powerful, savoury and even elegant if that word can be used with Ports.
Spain
Navarra
Azul y Garanza Seis (Cabernet S-Merlot) 2004 is also imported by a friend of mine and is a very fair Bx blend. It is big and sweet but recognisable as Cab S and Merlot. This is a very nice QPR red if you like a bigger style than I do. The only problem I have with it is that it's difficult to drink much of it. And I like to drink much.
Rías Baixas
Santiago Ruiz Rias Baixas 2005 is a bit of a disappointment (but not as much as the last couple years of this wine). The nose has a bit of sweat on it yet otherwise is typical of Albariño + Loureiro + Treixadura blends. But as Valmiñor's Davila is both cheaper and cleaner and more refreshing, that is what I will buy instead.