2007 Montes Cherub Rosé 92 points

Syrah Rosé, Colchagua Valley, $16

I love rose because when I open a bottle with friends they think it's sweet...not! Much darker than typical rose's, rich, ripe and perfectly balanced. Bing cherry's, raspberry and an under tone of earthy spice, with a luscious mouth feel. The body is light that's bone dry on the palate with a hint of vanilla on the finish. Yum! Montes has done a great job on this wine, drink now thru 2010.

2006 Santa Carolina Reserva Carmenère 88 points

Santa Carolina 2006 Reserva Carmenère (Rapel Valley); $10

Good bottle of red wine at a fair price creates a good value. Medium bodied with plum, dark berries and a hint of earth. Light and easy drinking red table wine at a good price, you can't beat that.

2006 Fortress Musque Clone 92 points

Sauvignon Blanc, Red Hills Lake County, $18

This is an amazing wine, beautiful, elegant, rich and enormously drinkable. Bone dry with zesty lemon drop, kaffir lime, and Asian spice's are integrated perfectly. A creamy mouth fell, balanced acidity with a crisp edge combine for a great Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now and buy this one by the case.

2007 J. Lohr Valdiguie Wildflower 89 points

Red Wine, Central Coast, California $10


This young wine has a slightly sweet and spicy edge to it. An uncomplicated flavor profile with hints of black cherry, plum and spice. Well rounded and easy drinking, creates an excellent value, buy this one by the case. Drink now thru 2015.

2005 Soos Creek Sundance Red Wine 91 points

Red Blend, Columbia Valley (WA), $20

The Sundance is Bordeaux-like in its flavors and structure or as we call it a red blend. This is a well made wine with tempered spicy juicy red fruit on the nose. The tannins are wrapped tightly around cassis, mulberry, spice and smokey oak. Well integrated fruit with soft, smooth cocoa and toast on the finish. Drink now thru 2011.

2005 Hayman & Hill Napa Valley Merlot 91 points

Merlot, Napa Valley, California $12

Some of the best Merlot's come from Napa Valley, great style with incredible value. Rich plum and black cherries power the nose, while the palate is lush and subtle with smoke, leather, cedar and dark berries. Medium bodied and more smokey oak on complex long lasting finish.

2006 Apaltagua Envero Carmenère 91 points

Carmenère, Colchagua Valley, $14

Very good wine and an excellent value made from the Carmenère grapes, with spice and vanilla on the nose. The palate opens with concentrated plum and blackberry's that winds it's way through with undertones of spice. Hints of vanilla finish off this great bottle of red wine.

2006 A to Z Pinot Gris 90 points

Pinot Gris, Oregon, $13

A to Z produces some excellent wines and this does not disappoint, with a nose of rich tropical fruit. The palate pops of nectarine, tangerine, pineapple and hint of buttered pop corn. This full-bodied white wine is rich and ripe with balanced acids and structure. A long and lingering finish makes this a great bottle of wine.

2005 Walla Walla Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon 94 points

Walla Walla Vintners 2005 Sagemoor Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Columbia Valley); $40

Sagemoor Cabernet Sauvignon is the 'signature' Cabernet Sauvignon for Walla Walla Vinters. This is a beautiful red blend, I got this as a gift because it's out of my price range and I tried to save it but could not resist. 79% old vine Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% each of Malbec and Petit Verdot are perfectly integrated with smokey oak. Concentrated flavors of dark berries, coffee liqueur, chocolate-covered cherries, cedar and leather. Very smooth and seductively long finish with notes of caramel and roasted coffee, drink now thru 2018.

2005 Iron Horse Estate 91 points

Chardonnay, Green Valley, $23


This Chardonnay is a beautiful expression of cool climate grape growing. Bright and focused with a tangy edge and flavors of tart green apples, kiwi, pineapple and Asian spices. Well balanced oak and integrated acids combine for a silky smooth long finish. Drink now thru 2013.

2005 Falesco Pesano Merlot 91 points

Merlot, Umbria, $16

Wow, this is why I love Merlot, value, style and intensity. Medium-bodied, lush fruit with chocolate, blackcherrie, leather and spice. This intensely concentrated, multi-layered Merlot is an oak bomb that finishes off with vanilla and caramel. This wine represents why Umbria makes some of the best large production wines on the market. This Best buy and top 100 Merlot should be enjoyed within 2-3 years.

2007 Felton Road Riesling 91 points

Riesling, Central Otago, $22


I love Rieslings and this is the reason why, a little sweetness, lots of tropical fruit and great aging potential. A nose of pink grapefruit, lemon zest and stone with a palate of exploding tropical fruit. Medium body with a lush mouth feel and balanced acids, with a smooth long finish. Drink now thru 2015.

2005 Rutherford Ranch Zinfandel 91 points

Zinfandel, Napa Valley, $17

Big and rich, this is why I like Zinfandel and impressive for a Napa Valley. Raspberry, blueberries, cinnamon and crushed black pepper, with a completely dry mouth feel. Vanilla and smoke round out with soft easy tannins. Drink now.

2006 Toad Hollow Pinot Noir Rosé 86 points

Pinot Noir Rosé, Sonoma County, $10


This easy drinking bone dry Pinot Noir Rosé is light in style and flavor. Wild strawberry, white pepper and a hint of spice flow through the palate for a decent wine. Bracing acidity balance out this uncomplicated Rosé for a great price, drink now.

2006 Clos Pegase Mitsuko's Vineyard 91 points

2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Carneros, $20

What a lip smacker, intensely dry Sauvignon Blanc. Very clean with lots of acidity, the palate opens up with juicy pear, honeydew, lime and a hint of smokey oak. With all this big tropical fruit it does have a level of sweetness, but i like that. Elegant balance and a lively, fresh long finish. Drink now

2006 Snoqualmie Whistle Stop Red 89 points

2006 Whistle Stop Red Columbia Valley $10

This is a well made wine for a budget price, I like red blends and this does not disappoint. Black cherries highlighted with clove and earth, throw in a little leather. Tannins are soften up with subtle vanilla and a little roasted coffee on a smooth finish. Drink now thru 2011

2004 Stonehedge Petite Sirah 90 points

Stonehedge 2004 Petite Sirah (Mendocino); $19

Inky black in color with a refined nose of white pepper and blackberries. This bold effort at Petite Sirah offers a silky mouth feel with black cherries, dark chocolate and anise. This is a big wine for such a small grape, that's completely dry, with a fruity intensity that lasts through the finish. Drink now thru 2012

2006 Vision Cellars 92 points

Riesling, Santa Lucia Highlands, $18

Riesling is considered one of the most versatile grapes, not only because of flavors and complexity, but paring with food. I love this wine, perfectly executed, this guy knows how to make great wine. A nose of creamy lemons and lavender with a mineral edge to it. On the palate, rich, racy acids are perfectly balanced with white peaches, granny smith apples and pineapple. Bone dry finish adds to this alluring Riesling, drink now thru 2015, get this while you can only 419 cases made.

2006 Verve Sauvignon Blanc 89 points

2006 Verve Sauvignon Blanc (Paso Robles); $12

This intense effort to bridge between California and New Zealand hits the mark. Clean, ripe and focused, with a waffey fruit filled nose of lime and grapefruit. Zippy on the palate with pretty lemongrass, melon and passion fruit, with mineral notes. Well structured acids balance this wine and leeds to a clean, refreshing finish. Drink now.

2006 Kingston Family Tobiano 91 points

Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley, $15

This wine is very seductive, with a flowery nose offset by black cherry. Meaty and earthy with heavy notes of bitter chocolate, caramel, and vanilla flavors stemming from new oak. Very nice Pinot Noir from Chile but very different from typical California of Oregon styles. Drink now.

2007 Villa Maria Private Bin 90 points

Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, $13

Another lip smacker from Villa Maria, I love Sauv Blanc's from Marlborough. The nose is balanced with fresh citrus flavors popping out of glass with a herbaceous undertone. Medium-bodied on the palate with fresh, lime zest, lemon peel and other tropical fruit flavors. This wine is intensely focused with sharp acidity and a lingering crisp finish. Drink now thru 2010.

2006 Santa Carolina Reserva Merlot 88 points

Santa Carolina 2006 Reserva Merlot (Colchagua Valley); $10

I think Merlot is one of the most under-appreciated and maligned grapes. Cedar, chocolate and big blueberry stand up to the prominent toasty oak rather nicely. Full bodied on the palate with undertones of espresso, blackberry and other ripe fruit. Finishes off with toffee, smoke and green herbs, offering a surprising complexity for a wine of this price.

2006 Bodegas Luis Gurpegui Muga 87 points

2006 Tempranillo Viño de la Tierra de Extremadura Pintoresco, Spain $9

Very tasty for the price and such an easy drinking, light bodied table wine. Red cherry and plum fruit, with smoke and char accents flood the palate of this juicy red wine. The nose has a heavy earth component, with a light, lean finish.

2005 Simi Chardonnay 90 points

Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, $25



This vintage is one of the best Chardonnays from Simi in several years. Brimming with lush flavors of mangoes, papayas, pineapple custard and caramel. Crisp, clean acids with well endowed toasty oak ad's vanilla and spices. Creamy texture, finesse and elegance finish off this classic Russian River Chard. Drink now, 15,000 cases produced.

2006 Tait The Ball Buster 93 points

2006 Red Wine from Barossa Valley, Australia $16

I tasted this blend of 78% Shiraz, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot three times over the day and could not get enough. Beautiful inky color, with a nose of dark fruit, earth, spice and dark chocolate. Soft and lush on the palate, with blueberry pie, espresso, leather and nutmeg. 16% alcohol, but it's not hot, the finish is smooth and long with the toasty oak coming out. Drink this Best Buy now thru 2015.

2005 Balletto Zinfandel 89 points

Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, $15


I like this wine, It's spicy bright on the nose, with hints of raspberry and plum.
The palate brings dark berries framed by toasty oak with coffee, tar, black cherry and a herbal component. Medium bodied with balanced acidity and a light smooth finish. Drink now thru 2010, only 1388 cases produced.

2005 Airfield Estates Aviator Red 89 points

Red Blend, Yakima Valley, $25


This red blend consists of 40% Syrah, 35% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, when blended correctly are very tasty. Well integrated dark fruit with hints of raspberry, crushed black pepper, chocolate and cedar. Merlot adds a lush, silky layer and oak aging restrains the tannins to this well blended red wine. Drink now thru 2010.

2006 Stonecap Riesling 90 points

2006 Stonecap Riesling (Columbia Valley); $11

A real lipsmaker, with a great balance between acidity and sweetness. I find this Washington State Riesling very stylish and a great value for 11 bucks. Crisp pineapple, melon, granny smith apple and a underlying layer of spice. It finishes off tangy and tart framed by vibrant acidity, drink now.

2005 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 95 points

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Walla Walla); $20


I gave this Cab 2 extra points because of the price, even at 93 points 20 bucks is a killer price. Perfectly executed and drinkable now, amazing layers of flavors with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 76%, Merlot 14%, Syrah 9%, Malbec 1%. Blackberry, black cherries, cassis, earth and spice propel this plush, full-bodied, yet restrained Cab. Integrated tannins with some sweet spiciness and oak on a long finish. Drink this Best Buy now thru 2011 and if you can get it by the case.

2006 Tablas Creek Rosé 91 points

Rosé Blend, Paso Robles, $25



Tablas Creek makes fabulous blends, reds, whites, rosé and always highly rated. The 2006 Rosé is pure, powerful and rich, the nose has intense ripe strawberry's and spice. This wine is fully dry and full-bodied, pomegranates, white peach, and raspberry flood the palate. Racy, crisp acids and spice finish off this beautiful, Rhône style blend of Mourvèdre 60%, Grenache 28%, and Counoise 12%. Drink now.