Fâmega Vinho Verde Denominação de Origem Controlada Vinho Branco 2007 This is a personal favorite for lean white wine on a budget. There’s citrus in the nose and the petillance is quite palpable on this date, adding to the livliness.
Notes on the ‘06: Lean and green and pétillant – a great value example; petillance [...]

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Albarino, a.k.a., Alvarinho, is hot. This refresher from Iberia is becoming more visible in America, with more imports from abroad and more plantings on the homefront.
Condes de Albarei Rias Baixas DO Albarino 2007
Fully aromatic and lip smacking with a sweet/tart character - delicious. This brand is a cooperative effort of growers in the Salnes [...]

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Havens Napa Valley Carneros Albarino 2006
This wines has been a spot-on fresh example of Albarino; I only wish it was more widely available. P&B in Napa 12.5% $19.49 at Bottle Barn Havens

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The red wines from the Southern Rhone follow a recipe that emphasizes Grenache. The wines of this flight highlight this underdog grape.
Unti Dry Creek Valley Grenache 2005
Pretty funky at first opening but after an hour, the smell improved to show the Grenache fruit. This wine is framed by a moderate level of tannin. [...]

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Fâmega Vinho Verde Denominação de Origem Controlada Vinho Branco 2006
Lean and green and pétillant – a great value example; petillance is gone with the second bottle in September but still the phenolic mineral grab and blazing acid are apparent. The latest bottling code is # 0707098; Not an Alvarinho-only Vinho Verde as their are [...]

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