Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc, 2009

We have been enjoying lazy days at poolside in the warm Arizona sun. A good friend gave us a bottle of this New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to enjoy after a hard day of lounging, soaking and reading. In the glass, this wine has a light lemon yellow color with good clarity. On the nose is aromas of honey, tropical fruits, lemon blossoms and wet rock. This is a medium bodied wine that is fruity and slightly sweet with flavors of gooseberry, pear, lemonade and wheat grass. There is nice acidity and minerality that keeps this fruity wine refreshing and lively. Nothing serious here, but a fun wine to enjoy, icy-cold, after a day in the warm desert sun.

Martin Codax Ergo, 2008

We have been quite busy during the past month and I haven't had time to write about some of the wines we have been enjoying. Presently, we are down in Scottsdale, Arizona and enjoying some welcomed warmth and sunshine. I find myself drinking more beer than wine in an ongoing attempt to keep hydrated in the desert climate. Tonight we decided to pop the cork on a new vintage of a favorite "every-day" Rioja that we have enjoyed in the past. Bodegas Martin Codax was founded in 1986 and represents modern Spanish wine making with the ideal fusion of tradition and innovation. This Bodegas produces fine white wines in the Rias Baix Region and lovely red wines in Rioja. The winemaker is Luciano Amoedo and with Ergo he delivers is a well crafted wine at an everyday price. This wine is a blend of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Mazuelo. The color is deep ruby red that is nearly opaque. The nose is full of red cherry, plum with a hint of leather and exotic spice. This is a medium bodied wine that opens with sweet plum and black cherry and finishes with chocolate, black pepper and a hint of mandarin orange. There are medium tannins and a hint of oak that help round out this modern, fruit-forward, Rioja. This 2008 vintage of Ergo can be found in the Seattle and Phoenix area for about $10. This is a versatile red wine that will work well with any meal, your favorite cheese, or a good bar of chocolate.

Atalaya, 2008

It has been a busy few weeks for us with trips to San Francisco and Scottsdale and a hectic work schedule in between. This weekend things returned to normal as we slipped back into our normal routine of lazy mornings with our laptops, walks in Bellevue Square and casual cuisine with some tasty wines. Tonight, I made stuffed peppers and we enjoyed them with an excellent value wine from eastern Spain. This is the second vintage, available in the Seattle area, of Atalaya from Almansa. The 2008 Atalaya is a blend of Monastrell, Garnacha, and other red grapes. This wine was aged for eight months in French and American oak. The color is deep purple with a violet rim. This wine has a lovely bouquet of black cherries, blueberries, aged cheese and cotton candy. On the palate it has beautiful dark fruit flavors of dried plum, black cherry and blackberry along with some light spice, coco and white pepper on the finish. This is a medium bodied wine with mild tannins and gentle acidity that contribute to a smooth mouth-feel. This is a “new world” wine that is quite delicious and will go well with any hearty meal (like stuffed peppers) or with a nice chunk of dark chocolate. We bought this 2008 Atalaya at Pete’s Wine Shop, in Bellevue, for about $14.