Loios White 2007

A blend of rabo de ovelha and roupeiro, this white would qualify as another every day patio pounder. aromas of minerals and limes and slightly grassy note as well. stainless steel only fermetation gives this wine vibrant, crisp flavors of apple and citrus. this has a nice full mouth feel, but finishes clean and acidic. anti-pasta and light summer fare will work well with this one. sells for about $10.

Loios Red 2007

i tried this very nice budget red from portugal at my favorite wine merchant recently. for $10 this red really delivers. the blend is 35% aragones, 35% trincadeira and 30% castelão. the nose is jammy and full of fruit, with plum and bramble fruit notes coming through. the taste is full and well balanced, with flavors of plums and dark chocolate, followed by some nice subtle meaty notes. medium tannins and a nice long finish with some spice notes in it, this wine will work well with barbecue or even pizza.

Loredona Viognier 2007

summer time patio pounder lovers, here is a nice alternative to a chardonnay. viognier is starting to get a little more attention and with just cause. this was, which sells for about $11, is well worth the price. the nose was peaches and honeysuckle and a little tangerine as well. the flavor was slightly sweet, not cloying, and well balanced, with apricots and honey. i also picked up some nice tropical fruit notes as well. this one spends no time in oak so it shines on the fruit characteristics alone. viognier is a worth while varietal to try as there are many available in this price range. i really nice food wine that will go well with many summer time dishes.

Paisajo de Tupungato 2005

another red wine i tried some time ago and revisited recently at a tasting was this blend of cab, merlot and malbec. hailing from argentina, the wine had a nose of raspberries and plums, with some smoky oak notes. the taste was big and bold, but very well balanced. blackberry and anise flavors with smoky notes at the finish. be sure to decant it for a bit first, as it will need time to open up. sells for about $15 and is an excellent pairing with grilled meats.

Yalumba "The Octavious" Barossa Shiraz 2002

i tried this shiraz at a tasting and held off writing about it until i could find the words to describe it. i am still not sure i will do it justice, but here goes. wow. the nose was blackberry, plums, figs and chocolate with spice and pepper notes mixed in. huge, beautiful nose. i have smelled wines that were big on the nose and then disappointed with the taste. not this wine! the palate was exceptional, with flavors of blackberry, dark chocolate, some roasted meat flavor, and spice notes. a big, bold wine that was well balanced with medium tannins and a long finish. wow again. and you will have to pay for the wow factor as this sells for $85. thankfully, i was able to try this at a tasting. not quite in the budget, but i was glad i got the opportunity to try it. if you can afford this wine, buy it and lay it down for a special occasion. you won't be disappointed.

14 Hands 2007 Chardonnay

washington state chardonnay is far different from the california variety. some times that is a good thing. in the case of this one, i am not sure. the nose was nice, with apples and pears coming through. the taste was very fruit driven but it came across a little flat and unbalanced with a minimal finish. the wine spends a little time in oak which maybe the wine maker should avoid next time. got the wine on sale ($10) and bought two bottles so i will try again on the second one to like this more or completely give up on it.

McManis Petite Sirah 2007

another offering from mcmanis that i recently tried was their petite sirah. the nose was blackberry, boysenberry, leather and pepper. off to a nice start. couldn't wait to taste it. the flavor was black raspberry with smoky oak and chocolate flavors mixed in. also got some nice cedar notes as well. the tannins were a bit powerful at first but mellowed as the wine opened up while a swirled it in the glass. this is a nice big wine for a not so big price of about $12. two wines now from mcmanis that have been well worth the money. you gotta try this one. excellent.

McManis Zinfandel 2007

when is a zin not a zin? try this one from mcmanis and you will see. most of the zins i have tried are big, bold wines. this one has a really interesting subtle character to it that i really found enjoyable. the nose was a beautiful mix of raspberries and blueberries, with spicy clove notes mixed in. the taste was very fruit forward. flavors of blackberry and cherry, with some nice cinnamon and mocha notes mixed in at the back. very well balanced with medium tannins and a very long finish. this is not an over the top zinfandel. it has a very nice, refined character that i found very appealing. and the price of about $12 makes for an excellent buy.

"The Other" 2007 Red Blend

i tried this several years back and really enjoyed it and revisited it recently at a wine tasting. here is the line up for this blend…60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 10% syrah. the wine will draw you in with the nose is has, with aromas of plums and spice and cedar. the taste was black cherry and smoky wood followed by some spice and a really nice dark chocolate note. the blend on this wine changes from year to year, so it is worth looking into and comparing. the '05 i tried was mostly syrah and was wonderful. sells for about $13. this would be a nice compliment to grilled meat dishes.

Ca Tullio Pinot Grigio 2007

warm weather is here so i am tasting a few more white wines and tried this one last week. the nose was floral with apple and pineapple as well. on the palate this was heavy on the citrus with lemon and lime flavors prevailing. the wine was very crisp and acidic and the finish was clean and abrupt. not a bad pinot grigio for about $10, although i wasn't crazy about it. think salads and other light summer foods and cheeses with this one.