I got to enjoy two very different offerings from the Iberian peninsula yesterday over a course of yummy pizza, of course.

Arca Nova Vinho Verde 2004

This is a charming and somewhat elegant quaff with a fruity nose, a great lime brightness and acidity with a good backdrop of minerals and dryness followed by an easy finish. We enjoyed the whole bottle before the pizza even got delivered (thank you Austin's Pizza) since its sooo conveniently at only 10% on the Richter scale.

Mad Dog and the Englishman 2003

This strangely appelled offering from Jumilla blends three wonderful grapes: 30% Shiraz/Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Monastrell/Mourvedre. My first tasting of it brought shadows of Australian blends, but upon further quaffing, the rich dryness and depth of the monastrell aiding in the unique character typical of Spanish winemaking. I was soo pleases by the fruity shiraz front and the jammy textures of the cab sauv, and then terribly satiated by the monastrell, it quickly launched itself into the top ten offerings of our selection. The rich dark fruit mingles ohsogood with the depth of the earthy tannins and textures. I can't overwax about this one, and when you only pay $9.99 for it, you'll be stunned too.

thatsallmoresoonerthanlater,
~dipak