2005 Robert Mondavi Reserve 93 points

Pinot Noir, Carneros, $35

This pinot noir is one of the best I've ever had, beautiful and complex, this young wine will develop in the bottle, but i say drink it now. It has a silky, refined texture, with concentrated flavors of cherries, black raspberries, cola, pomegranates, persimmons and cinnamon spice. There’s lots of new oak, which adds smoke and vanilla notes.

2005 McIntyre Vineyards 90 points

Pinot Noir, Monterey, $38

Big and Powerful, yet ripe and elegant, I love finding a pinot noir with so much body. This very dry lip smacker brings flavors of blueberry, Cherries, raspberries and blackberries flood the palate, enriched with earthier notes of balsam, cola, soy, licorice and spice. Drink now thru 2010

2006 The Black Chook VMR 91 points

White Blend, South Australia, $18

A beautiful Rhône-style white with Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne, which are blended together in this flamboyantly floral and herbal wine. Sweet plum, melon, white pepper and citrus flavors strike the palate with a lush, almost oily impression, yet finish long and crisp. Drink now.

2007 Crossroads Sauvignon Blanc 91 points

Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough $15

Massive fruit propels this refined sauvignon blanc, with very good intensity and a balance lime, passion fruit, and pink grapefruit flavors highlighted by savory herb and crushed stone accents. Herbal notes, and grassy undertones and a white peach note linger in the finish. Drink now, this is a best buy and get it while you can.

2005 Leasingham Bin 7 92 points

Riesling, Clare Valley, $15

Yummy, lip smacking with bold flavors of honeysuckle, lime zest and fleshy citrus fruit. Firmly built and close to dry, mouthwatering acidity and a long crisp finish. Exhibiting balanced texture and layers of fruit flavor.you can drink it now for its power and fruit, or hold it up to 10 years or more.

2004 Treana Red Wine 93 points

Red Wine (Paso Robles); $52

I love red blends and this one has a lot of power, Cabernet Sauvignon gives this wine a luscious, elegant mouthfeel, with classic currant and cedar flavors. Syrah brings a gamy, leathery note, with white pepper accents. The result is an interesting, complex young wine of power and authority, drink now thru 2009.

2003 Parducci True Grit 93 points

Petite Sirah, Mendocino, $25

It got a little chili in St. Pete last night and that's perfect for a Petite Sirah. This wine shows massive blackcherry, blackberry, plum, cocoa, tobacco, balsamic, soy, coffee beans and Asian spice flavors. Drink now thru 2012, and get this best buy by the case.

2006 A to Z Chardonnay 91 points

Chardonnay, Oregon $15

This unoaked chardonnay has a vivid gold with green highlights. The nose bursts of pear, green apple, quince, apple blossom, lime, tangerine, talc evolve to include honey, butter, nutmeg and white chocolate. The mouth-feel of this wine is gorgeous, the ripeness and richness of the fruit are perfectly balanced by the beautiful acidity. Concentrated and succulent with a long, clean finish.

2006 Martin Ray Sauvignon Blanc 90 points

Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley. $18

This completely dry, tart young wine that burst with flavor of bold fruit. Sweet but not candied, floods the mouth with spearmint,lime, pineapple and vanilla flavors. Plenty of sharp acids for a long clean and spicy finish.

2006 2 Up Shiraz 90 points

Shiraz, South Australia, $14

Another great shiraz, this warm, inviting wine, with scents of brown sugar, plum and baking spices. The tannins are creamy-soft, imparting a lush texture, balanced by just enough acidity to keep it from being thick or cloying. Finishes with plenty of fruit, plus a dash of chocolate. Drink this best buy now thru 2010

2005 JC Cellars The Imposter 90 points

Red Blend, California, $32

I love red blends, zinfandel, petite sirah, syrah, mourvedre, viognier makes for a great bottle of wine. Viognier elevates the usual cherry-berry and spice flavors, giving it both earthier, deeper notes as well as brighter citrus fruits. Decant before serving.

2005 Lamont Pinot Noir 92 points

Lamont 2005 Pinot Noir (Central Otago); $40

I love this Pinot Noir, impressive for a relatively new producer, It's won several awards and it’s easy to see why. Beautiful blackberry aromas and flavors are touched with hints of herbs, currant and clove flavors are wrapped into rich, silky tannins. Finishes long, with hints of vanilla and spice.

2005 Girard Petite Sirah 93 points

Petite Sirah, Napa Valley, $28

This has a certain rustic charm with a classic structure and a little edge. Blueberries, black currants, loganberries, plums, cherries, dark unsweetened chocolate, leather, coffee, violets—they all come together in this dry, fresh young wine. Will easily hold for a decade or two, gradually getting softer and sweeter, buy this by the case.

2005 Pellegrini Reserve Chardonnay 91 points

Pellegrini 2005 Olivet Lane Estate Reserve Chardonnay (Russian River Valley); $40

Big, rich, powerful and an oak bomb. This chardonnay is gorgeous and could not get enough of it, so much wine so little time. Massive in caramel corn, butterscotch, pineapple, peach, mangoes, butter cream and cotton candy flavors, to over the top for most food, get this while you can, limited production.

2005 Innocent Bystander 91 points

Shiraz-Viognier, South Eastern Australia, $20


This medium-bodied red/white has lots spiciness on the nose and a velvety mouth-feel. Blueberry and other dark fruit, ad a hint of pepper, oak and nutmeg with a chewy finish. drink now thru 2009.

2006 CONCHA Y TORO CARMENERE 90 points

Carmenère Rapel Valley Casillero del Diablo Reserve 2006 ($10)

Excellent value at 10 bucks, medium bodied with cocoa powder, leather, toast and tobacco notes backed by nice grip on the finish. What a value. Drink now through 2009and buy it by the case.

2005 Roshambo Frank Johnson Vineyard Syrah 94 points

Roshambo 2005 Frank Johnson Vineyard Syrah (Dry Creek Valley); $35

Subtle and powerfull, yet still restrained and refined. This beautiful Syrah is different than most Syrahs, it shows a subtle, complex blend of blackberries and bitter black cherries, cedar, tobacco, dark unsweetened chocolate, leather, fresh ground white pepper. Drink this dramatic wine now and through 2011

2006 Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel 88 points

Gnarly Head 2006 Old Vine Zinfandel (Lodi); $12

Young,lusty and fruit forward with blackberry, cherry and blueberry flavors. This wine needs time to mellow out and in a year this wine could be a 90 pointer, not bad for 12 bucks though.

2004 Waters Interlude Red 92 points

Bordeaux Blend, Columbia Valley (WA), $25


I love red blends, this half Cab, half Merlot with a splash of Cab Franc, this excellent Bordeaux blend comes jam packed with ripe fruit. Big body that's softened by the Merlot, cherry, creme DE coco accented with barrel notes of kahlùa, espresso and smoke. Concentrated and smooth throughout, this wine is a best buy because it's the first effort from this winery

2005 TerraMater Altum Single Vineyard 93 points

Shiraz, Maipo Valley, $22


Beautiful, another great Chilean shiraz, the nose opens with blackberry jam and other dark fruit. This wine has a velvety mouth-feel thats well balanced with restrained tannins. lots of oak comes out on an amazingly long finish , a best buy for me and i'll buy this one by the case, good thru 2011

2006 Olsen Estate Chardonnay 91 points

Olsen 2006 Chardonnay (Columbia Valley); $28


Well structured and tightly woven the fruit is precise and fine-tuned, showing nuances of granny smith apples and yellow berries, citrus and stone fruits. Along with hints of butterscotch from barrel aging in new French oak. A sophisticated debut that promises good things to come.

2005 Novy Cellars Syrah 96 points

Novy Cellars 2005 Syrah (Santa Lucia Highlands); $27

Absolutly lushious red and racy, bursts out of the glass with blackpepper, cedar and black currants. This California syrah is soft, with sweetly ripe tannins bursting out with blackberry jam, black currants, anise, vanilla and sweet oak flavors. This wine is fully dry, well rounded and virtually perfect. Absolutely first-rate Syrah.

2004 Tenuta L'Ugo Riserva Chianti 90 points

Tenuta l’Ugo 2004 Riserva (Chianti); $22


Starts out by pushing sweet cherry and tea aromas before shifting to leather and sawdust. Yes, it’s oaky, but the wood falls into place on the palate, where it shares time with cherry and plum. Just shy of elaborate, with palate-friendly tannins and ample spice. Great for near-term drinking.

2005 Roshambo The Reverend Zinfandel 93 points

Roshambo 2005 The Reverend Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley); $25


Tough life here tasting wine everyday, but I found another great wine to taste. This zin is dynamite, perfect if you will, jam packed full of fruit and flavor. Black cherry and other dark berry's with lots of cassis, cocoa, pipe tobacco, cedar and some spiciness round out this beautiful wine. Elegant structure with restrained tannins make this wine a best buy and in my top 20 of the year.

2005 Robert Karl Syrah 96 points

Robert Karl 2005 Syrah (Columbia Valley); $29


WOW, This Syrah is gorgous, absoloutly one of the best syrahs from Washington State i've ever had. Tons of fruit that has a tangy edge with hints of cranberry, raspberry and blueberry. I get hints of smokey bacon and a little oak, with acids zipping thru clean long finish. Get this by case, because this best wont last long.

2005 Marquee Signature Shiraz 91 points

Marquee 2005 Signature Shiraz (McLaren Vale); $20


This wine, as all wines are from the earth and boy can you taste it, less fruit than you would find in a typical McLaren Vale Shiraz. This wine is well rounded with a supple mouth-feel, the fruit hits the palate with hints of black cherry and coffee beans with a silky long finish. Drink now thru 2010.

2005 Gnarly Head Cabernet 87 points

Gnarly Head 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (California); $12

This blend comes from Napa, Monterey and Lodi, and is juicy and ripe with lots of flavor, an interesting combination of cool and warm climates. Bursting with ripe cherries, blackberries, red licorice, cola, cocoa, dates and vanilla spice, well balanced. Drink this great value wine now thru 2010

Sebeka 2006 Sauvignon Blanc 89 points

Sebeka 2006 Sauvignon Blanc (Western Cape); $8

Another great white from Sebeka, speaking of that this wine has peaches and other citrus fruit lead the nose of this likeable wine from Sebeka. On the palate it races in clean, lively and offers an appealing citric punch without being overly tart. Simply a good everyday wine for a very attractive price.

2003 Hunt Cellars Bon Vivant Cabernet Sauvignon 92 points

Hunt Cellars 2003 Bon Vivant Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles); $38.


I love a big powerfull cab, but sometimes I like it alittle less bold. This cab is soft, smooth and silky in texture and savory in flavor, this Central Coast Cab tastes of sweet cherries, cassis, mocha and licorice. The oak bomb turns up on the finish. Forward enough to drink now or save for a couple of years.

2007 Los Vascos 91 points

Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley, $12


Style wise this is closer to a California sauv blanc, Los Vascos is fast becoming the leader in inexpensive but highly rated Sauvignon Blanc's from the Casablanca Valley. This is the best effort to date, and it delivers a very expressive showing of green apple, grapefruit and exotic citrus aromas. The palate is lively as can be, and it houses fine but also defined lemon and lime flavors. Refreshing and clean make this a best buy, get it while you can. Drink now thru 2010.

2006 X Winery Pinot Noir 94 points

Truchard Vineyards Pinot Noir (Carneros); $25


I love a great Pinot and this does not dissapoint, a delight to drink, with bing cherry and cola flavors nuanced with earthier tones of tobacco, rosehip tea and anise. The mouth-feel is beautiful, all silk and satin. This balanced Pinot Noir defines elegance, and should improve for a few years. A best buy and top 20 makes you want to buy this one by the case.