Here, we have a bunch of new French wines we've had recently plus an introduction to Portuguese dry reds.

French Wines

N.V. Lucien Albrecht Crémant d'Alsace Brut Rosé ($16.99 - Esquin) - Alsace is an excellent source for sparkling wines. This one displays a brilliant copper-pink color, frothy bubbles and enticing aromas of strawberries, pink cherries, tangerine, pink roses, lilac and pink incense. The flavors, as well, are appealing, with bright fruits that are accented by grape skins, cherry stones and Vosges minerals, The back picks up fraise and cerise liqueurs and recurring tangerine peel, followed by a tangy dry finish. 18.5/20 points.

N.V. Lucien Albrecht Crémant d'Alsace Brut ($18.99 - Esquin) - The white version offers a brilliant lemon-gold color, frothy bubbles and fresh aromas of apple, peach, citrus, apple blossoms, lemon verbena and whiffs of white incense. The flavors are crisp, almost steely, with vibrant white fruits are enlivened by the CO2. The vibrancy continues on the back with poire William and pêche liqueurs on the way to a dry true Brut finish. 18.5/20 points.

N.V. Perles Fines Sparkling Touraine Rosé ($20 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - The Loire Valley is also a fine source for sparkling wines. This one shows a light copper-pink color and attractive aromas of fraises de bois, red currants, orange peel and orange incense. The flavors are brisk, enlivened by grape skins and CO2. The back picks up fraise and cassis liqueurs and a twist of orange peel on the dry finish. 18+/20 points.

2019 Bernard Fouquet Vouvray, "Cuvée de Silex" ($23.90 - Foodscape, Walla Walla) - This Chenin Blanc features a brilliant lemon-gold color and a floral nose of Anjou pear, white peach, honeydew melon, citrus, pear tree flowers, jasmine, clover and flintstone. The flavors are nicely fruited, with notes of grape and pear skins, peach stones and Loire River minerals. The resonance continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs, melon rind and lemon zest, followed by a pleasing faintly honeyed yet dry, persistently minerally finish. 18.5/20 points.

2018 Jean-Maurice Raffault Chinon Blanc ($23.99 - Foodscape) - Most Chinon, across the Vienne from Vouvray, is red (Cabernet Franc) but a small amount of white is made from Chenin Blanc. This version shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and floral aromas of Anjou pear, white peach, citrus, a hint of wintergreen, wildflowers and white incense. The flavors are bright and lively, with notes of grape and pear skins, peach stones and limestone minerals. The back picks up poire and pêche liqueurs on the way to a persistently minerally faintly honeyed finish. 18.5/20 points.

2019 Hippolyte Reverdy Sancerre ($39.99 - Esquin $39 - Foodscape) - From one of the best Haut Loire producers, this shows wonderful Sauvignon Blanc purity. Brilliant lemon-gold colored, it possesses floral aromas of pear-apple, gooseberry, citrus, a bit of passion fruit, apple blossoms, honeysuckle, lemon verbena and gunflint. The flavors are finely fruited and resonant, with notes of grape and pear skins and saline minerals. The back picks up poire William liqueur and a touch of lemon custard, followed by a lingering, racy finely fruited finish. 19/20 points.

2017 La Bastide Blanche Bandol Rouge ($31 - The Thief) - Bandol is situated between Marseille and Toulon and the wines, red and rosé, are mostly Mourvèdre. This red displays a ruby-brick color and rich, smoky aromas of wild raspberries, black currant, plums, crushed roses, mulberry, garrigue (lavender and Provençal herbs) and incense. The flavors are simultaneously supple and vigorous, with notes of black licorice, cocoa, roasted coffee beans and cliffside minerals. On the back, the wine turns chewy textured, with macerated berries, grilled nuts and touches of leather and charcoal, followed by a ripe moderate tannin and acid finish. 18.5/20 points.

Dry Portuguese Wines

While Portugal is best known for its sweet, fortified Port wines, much of the country's wine production is dry. Here's an introduction to the main wine producing regions.

2017 Aljás Bairrada, "Elegancia de Outrora" ($29.99 - wine.com) - Bairrada is situated on the north central coast of Portugal and the principal variety is the Baga grape. This one displays a deep ruby color and intoxicating aromas of raspberries, cherries, plums, black currants, black roses, mulberry, sweet tobacco, lavender and incense. The flavors are medium full bodied, with dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, bittersweet chocolate, chicory coffee and scorched earth. On the back, the wine turns fleshy yet firm, with sensations of macerated fruits, cherry and currant liqueurs and charcoal,mfollowed by a sweet-dry tannin finish. 18.5/20 points. 

2016 Esperão Alentejo Riserva ($26 - The Thief) - Alentejo is situated south of Lisbon. This wine is composed of 40% Aragonez, 30% Alicante Bouchet, 20% Tincadeira and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It displays a deep ruby color and engaging aromas of raspberry, cherry, plum, crushed black roses, mulberry, tobacco, mixed herbs and stick incense. The flavors are thick and chewy, with red fruits that are intermixed with licorice root, cocoa, chicory coffee and calcareous earth. The saturation continues on the back with macerated fruits, roasted nuts, mocha and charcoal, followed by a savory, spiced ripe tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

Douro, situated in northeast Portugal, is the most prestigious region and is also encompassed by the Oporto appellation. The grapes are the same as those for Port, Tinto Cao, Roriz, Touriga Nacional and others, but made dry.

2018 Prats + Symington Douro, "Post Scriptim Chryseia" ($26.99 - Esquin) - This wine resembles a dry, unfortified Ruby Port. It shows a purplish-ruby color and rich aromas of raspberry, cherry, plum, black roses, sweet tobacco, black olive and sweet spiced incense. The flavors mirror the aromatics with licorice, cocoa, chicory coffee and hillside minerals. On the back, the wine gains intensity with macerated fruits, roasted nuts, mocha and touches of leather and dried cherries, followed by an, again, Port-like sweet-dry tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 Quinta da Romaniera Douro, Touriga Nacional ($39.99 - Esquin) - Touriga Nacional is the principal grape of Oporto, here made in a dry style. It exhibits a deep ruby color and an intoxicating nose of wild raspberry, cherry, plum, crushed roses, sweet tobacco, field herbs and smoldering incense. The flavors are thick and deep, marked by licorice root, bittersweet chocolate, black tea and mixed earth. The intensity continues on the back with macerated fruits, roasted nuts, mocha, raspberry and cherry liqueurs and charcoal, followed by a lingering sweet-dry, Port-like finish. 19/20 points.

2016 Quinta do Crasto Douro, Reserva ($41.99 - wine.com) - Produced from vines averaging 70 years of age, this displays an inky ruby color and intoxicating aromas of blackberry, black cherry, black plum, black roses, mulberry, tobacco, sandalwood and smoldering incense. The flavors, as well, are powerful, with dark fruits that are infused with licorice, dark cocoa, chicory coffee and hillside earth and minerals. The saturation continues on the back with roasted fruits and nuts, mocha, vanilla oak and graphite, followed by a lingering sweet-dry, Port-like finish. 19/20 points.