Bolgheri, Tenuta Guado Al Tasso, Vermentino, 2006 (Italy) - This grape came highly recommended by co-workers who had it while traveling through Italy and we were excited to try it as the latest in our wine tasting group at work.  It's a delightfully rich wine with hints of fruits and a long finish.  It's actually one of the few wines we've given an extra star to while marking it off on our poster.  Apparently Bolgheri is one of the premier vintners of this grape too.  All in all I'll score this an 8 out of 10 for well above average and that's a pretty rare score from me.

Domaine Albert Mann, Pinot Blanc, 2006 (Alsace, France) - Although I'd had Pinot Blanc I'd say the samples to date had been weak so I went on a quest to get a more respectable version.  This bottle was recommended in Best Cellars and was pricier than my usual range (it was $25) so I really expected a lot.  Frankly I don't think it's worth $25, though it definitely is a quality Pinot Blanc.  You get a mild apple flavor which I'd only call lower average, but there's also a surprisingly long finish.  Decent but not outstanding.  So I'd score this 6 out of 10 for upper average.

Southern Right, Sauvignon Blanc, 2007 (Walker Bay, South Africa) - I'd had their pinotage and thought it was decent though not the best.  Then when discussing the extra thick neck on this bottle with a co-worker they mentioned they'd had the Sauvignon Blanc and thought it was really very good.  I couldn't find my own sample of it for quite a long time.  So now that I have it... I'd say... It's a standard quality Sauvignon Blanc.  Certainly good, I'd even call it upper average at 6 out of 10, but I was expecting more of a 7 to 9 score for it.

Blandy's, 5 Year Old Madeira, Verdelho (Portugal) - I'm making my rounds through the various madeira grapes.  This is the first bottle of Verdelho I've ever found so I jumped at it and the bottle explains it's sort of an intermediate between the very sweet madeira styles and the dry madeiras.  Yep.  I lacks some of the opulent richness of the malmsey and bual styles, but it still has a complex flavor and isn't too dry to turn me off like really dry sherries do.  So yes I like this, we'll drink it, but I think I'm spoiled by malmsey and bual and I'll only score this an 8 out of 10 (versus the 10's I gave the other styles).