New Year's Day I spent a lazy morning, had the traditional Southern blackeyed peas and greens for lunch, and then in afternoon I went to pick up David and his girlfriend at Newark as they came back from Denmark. Later, I went to a New Year's open house, with a pretty good potluck spread and a few wines to sample:
2005 Las Brisas (pretty sure this was Rueda).
Light, citrus and melon fruit, good acidity, a bit short. OK as an apertif,a little light to stand up to some of the food. B/B-
2005 Loimer "Lois" Grüner Veltliner (Kamptal)
I've never been very happy with this low-end bottling before, but this one isn't bad for the $8 tag. Not especially varietally correct, but a nice lightweight wine with white peach and nectarine fruit and just a hint of spritz. Probably better for a summer picnic than a winter party, but I liked. B
2004 Produttori del Barbaresco Nebbiolo (Langhe)
Clean cherry fruit accented by flowers, not exceedingly complex but nice lighter-styled Nebbiolo. B
2004 Eugen Muller Forster Mariengarten Kabinett
Good acidity, lime and tropical fruit, some floral notes. More floral than mineral, but nice. B/B+
Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.