Marlborough, New Zealand ($11)
Wow. This is a most fantasticly crisp, fruity white wine. There are grapefruit, citrus, and honey flavors, an amazing aroma, and a smooth finish. It is absolutely wonderful. 2004 was by far the best vintage yet for this winery, which we discovered on a tasting trip in Marlborough in 2002.
Côteaux du Languedoc, France ($8)
This is a very nice inexpensive wine. It is smooth and fruity with a clean finish. The aroma is slightly earthy. There is a nice amount of acid and structure. For the price, it is an excellent value. It matched nicely with a rich sausage risotto.
Côtes du Rhône, France ($10)
A very nice red wine. This wine has long legs and a remarkable finish. there is a spicy aroma, and nice but not especially complex berry flavors. The wine is made from a blend of four grape varietals, mostly Grenache.
Rosso di Montepulciano, Italy ($11)
This was really, really tasty. Excellent fruit, structure, and aroma. We don't drink many Rosso di Montepulcianos, but this one was outstanding.
Napa Valley, California, USA ($42)
This is a truly amazing wine. There is lots of fruit, but also a very complex, lingering finish that makes my mouth happy. The tannins added just enough structure, and the aroma is amazing. I've tasted wines that sell for three times as much that are not nearly as tasty. I discovered this wine on a trip to Napa Valley in the spring of 2005, and have really enjoyed it.
Dry Creek Valley, California, USA ($42)
We discovered this wine while touring the Dry Creek Valley in October. It is smooth, delicious, and even a little bit luscious, with crisp fruit flavor, a pleasant finish, and a nice texture. This is definitely a Zinfandel to look for again.
Porto, Portugal ($15)
This has become one of my favorite Ports in this price range. It is really smooth and tasty, and has become a stock bottle we keep on hand.