Lately, we've been hopping around Europe with new discoveries in French, Italian and Spanish wines.

2020 Domaine Auvigué Pouilly-Fuissé, "Les Villages" ($33.99 - wine.com) - This comes from the villages of Solutré, Chaintré and Fuissé. It displays a brilliant gold color and lovely aromas of pear-apple, white peach, cantaloupe, citrus, apple blossoms, wisteria and yellow incense. The flavors, as well, are alluring, with yellow fruits that are accented by grape and pear skins and granitic minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and touches of hazelnut, lemon zest and crème fraiche, followed by a lingering, finely fruited finish. 19/20 points.

2020 Jean-Marc Burgaud Beaujolais-Villages, "Lantigné" ($13.99 - Esquin) - This is a super buy (regular: $23). It offers a purplish-ruby color and enticing aromas of wild raspberry, blueberry, black currant, crushed roses, purple lilac and sweet incense. The flavors, as well, are appealing, with copious red and blue fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa, orange pekoe tea and gravelly earth. On the back, the wine fills out with pressed berries, roasted nuts and framboise and cassis liqueurs, followed by a juicy yet well textured finish. 18.5/20 points.

2020 Jean-Marc Burgaud Morgon, "Les Charmes" ($25.99 - wine.com) - Morgon is one of the fuller bodied Beaujolais Cus. This one shows a deep purplish color and a rich nose of raspberry, blueberry, black currant, crushed roses, bayberry, purple lilac and sweet incense. The flavors are mouth filling, with loads of dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, French roast and granitic minerals. The back reveals macerated fruits and framboise and crème de cassis liqueurs, followed by a vigorous ripe tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2020 Diochon Moulin-à-Vent, "Cuvée Vieilles Vignes" ($29.99 - Esquin) - Moulin-à-Vent is also a fuller bodied Beaujolais. Deep purplish colored, it emits intense aromas of wild raspberry, blueberry, black currant, black roses, purple lilac, violets and sweet incense. The flavors are mouth encompassing, with red and blue fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa, black tea and granitic minerals. The saturation continues on the back with macerated berries, roasted nuts and framboise and cassis liqueurs, followed by a ripe, smooth tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.

2019 Domaine Nathalie & Gilles Fevre Chablis ($32.99 - Esquin) - This is a classically styled Chablis. It shows a brilliant lemon-gold color and expressive aromas of Bosc pear, white peach, citrus, pear blossoms, wisteria and oyster shell. The flavors are crisp yet well fruited, with notes of grape skins, peach stones and hillside minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs, blanched almonds and touches of crème fraiche and lemon zest, followed by a crisp, again finely fruited, finish. 18.5/20 points.

2020 Yves Cuilleron Crozes-Hermitage Blanc ($34.99 - Esquin) - Produced from 100% Marsanne, this North Rhone white exhibits a deep, brilliant gold color and intense aromas of pear, peach, nectarine, pineapple, citrus, pear blossoms, honeysuckle and yellow incense. The flavors are strikingly full and viscous, yet laser-like, with ripe fruits that are marked by pear skins, peach stones and alluvial minerals. The back picks up poire and pêche liqueurs, lemon custard and hazelnut, all balanced with fruit acids to make for a complete wine. A real "find." 19/20 points.

2020 Chante Cigale Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc ($41.99 - Esquin) - Chateâteauneuf du Pape is mostly red. This white is a combination of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Picpoul and Bourboulenc. It shows a brilliant gold color and floral aromas of pear-apple, white peach, honeydew melon, lemon custard, apple blossoms, acacia flowers, clover and white incense. The flavors, as well, are striking, with white and green fruits that are accented by pear skins, peach stones, herbal tea and mas minerals. The vibrancy continues on the back with poire and pêche liqueurs and blanched almonds, followed by a vigorous fruit acid lifted finish. 19/20 points.

2020 Mille Prosecco Millesimato Rosë - We picked this up at a dinner and tasting of Antinori wines at the GG Inn. Light copper-tinged pink colored, it possesses streaming bubbles and lovely aromas of strawberry, pink cherry and tangerine with scents of cherry and orange blossoms and pink incense. The flavors are bright and vivacious, with pink fruits that re accented by cherry stones and tangerine peel and enlivened by CO2 on the light alcohol (11%) fruited Extra Dry finish. Check Assaggio and GG Inn for pricing and availability. 18/20 points.

2018 Villa Antinori Rosso Toscana ($17.99 - Safeway) - This regional red offers a ruby color and aromas of raspberry, cherry, plum, black roses, tobacco, herb medley and stick incense. The flavors are supple and direct, yet substantial, with notes of cocoa, black tea and Tuscan hillside earth. On the back, the wine rounds out with pressed fruits, roasted nuts and plum preserves, followed by a moderate tannin and acid finish. 18/20 points.

Yesterday, we had lunch at Valdemar Estates in Walla Walla. The winery features the wines of the family's estates in the Rioja district of Spain as well as the Washington state wines it produces.

2020 Conde Valdemar Blanco ($22) - Composed of 60% Viura, 25% Tempranillo Blanco and 15% Malvasia, this offers a lemon-gold color and floral aromas of pear. peach, melon, pear blossoms, verbena and white incense. The flavors are crisp, laser-like, with white fruits, pear skins and stony minerals. The back picks up pear and peach liqueurs on the way to a brisk dry finish. 18+/20 points.

2012 Conde Valdemar Rioja Reserva ($30) - Rioja wines age very well and this one is a fine example. Composed of 80% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, and 5% each of Maturana and Garnacha, it shows a deep ruby-garnet color and a rich bouquet of sun-dried fruits, nuts, tobacco, sandalwood and incense. The flavors are rich, thick and complex, with notes of cocoa, chicory coffee and earth. The back reveals roasted fruits and nuts, Jason and graphite, followed by a savory long finish. 19/20 points.

2011 Conde Valdemar Rioja Gran Reserva ($50) - This blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Maturana displays a deep ruby color and rich, smoky aromas of semi-dried fruits, dried rose petals, tobacco, Spanish lavender, tobacco, sandalwood and incense. The flavors are incredibly round and complex, augmented with roasted fruits and almonds and touches of leather and caramel, all followed by a heady, long sweet-dry finish. 19+/20 points.