2007 Slowine Rosé 91 points

Rosé Blend, Overberg, $12

This rosé blend is a lip smacker with a bright pink color and very interesting blend; a bright and fresh nose of strawberry and spice. On the palate it opens with complex layers of cherry, fresh strawberry, and light spice. The finish is crisp and bone dry with no residual sugar, drink now.

2006 Easton Zinfandel 91 points

Zinfandel, Amador County, $15

Starts with a beautiful aroma that's dramatically chocolaty and dark fruit. On the palate you find layers of black cherries, black raspberries, and oak. Lush, creamy, and dry mouth feel finish off this spicy Zin, Great Job! Drink now thru 2010.

2007 Colombelle White 86 points

Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Colombelle White 2007 $8

Light, bright, and easy to drink. This crisp white opens with granny smith apples, pears, and white peach. This fresh white has a mineral undertone to finish it off, drink now.

2005 Diamond River Cabernet Sauvignon 86 points

Diamond River 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (Lutzville Valley); $10

This easy drinking Cab has a big fruit nose, but light on the palate. A nose of pepper, dark fruit, and coffee grounds and a less fruity palate makes this a likable but less complex red wine at a great price. Drink now

2007 Drylands Sauvignon Blanc 92 points

Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, $15

Another fabulous vintage from Drylands, intense, multi-layered nose of tropical fruit. Pink grapefruit, mango, lime, and, passion fruit blasts on the palate with intensity and restraint. Clean and crisp with a bone dry finish...drink this lip smacking best buy now.

2004 Quinta Do Encontro 87 points

2004 Bairrada; Portugal $8

This red blend is so dense you could almost cut it with a knife. Savory dark berry's with chewy tannins, it is rich, and well balanced. Add some plum and chocolate to a rich, powerful finish, drink this nice red table wine thru 2010.

2005 Madrona Cabernet Franc 91 points

Cabernet Franc, El Dorado, $16

I love Cab Franc, medium-bodied, inky-purple, and elegantly complex. This wine has beautiful black cherry, licorice, and currant that shows structure and suppleness. Dense on the mid-palate, with soft balanced tannins and acids. It's hard to find a Cab Franc at such a good price, drink now thru 2012.

2006 Rosenthal-Malibu Estate Chardonnay 91 points

Rosenthal-Malibu Estate 2006 Chardonnay (Malibu-Newton Canyon); $25

Elegant and structured with just the right amount of oak and smoke. Pineapple, lime, peach, and butter-nut meld to the palate beautifully. This wine has a long, crisp finish with a punch of smoke to delight the palate.

2006 Morgante Nero d'Avola 91 points

Nero d'Avola from Sicily, Italy $20

Well done; Tight, ripe, and, concentrated. This beautiful red bursts out of the glass with leather, black cherry, earth, and spice. Notes of vanilla come out on the finish, with balanced silky tannins for this bold red.

2006 Columbia Crest 10 White Wine 89 points

Two Vines Vineyard White Blend, Washington, $8

Clean, crisp, rich, and off-dry white blend, with a great price. A powerful tropical nose and a broad floral and citrus palate, easy drinking at a great price with no oak finishes off this value white blend.

2007 Sebeka Sauvignon Blanc 87 points

Sebeka 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Western Cape); $10

This is a big production wine for a great price, and perfect for the summer. Light, clean, and refreshing with big tropical fruit. Zesty lime and pink grapefruit with crisp, lively acids. Mineral notes with a zing finish off this great value Sauvignon Blanc, drink now.

2006 Evans & Tate 91 points

Chardonnay, Margaret River, $19


This is why I love Chardonnay...the oak bomb! This intense effort is wonderful, bright tropical fruit, sweet honey, sauteed banana's and buttercream. The oak is the perfect partner, adding smokey vanilla, and hazelnut. Well done and worth every penny.

2005 Balletto Estate Syrah 91 points

Balletto 2005 Syrah (Russian River Valley); $24

A tremendous wine, delicious, and complex and easily drinkable. It has blackberry jam, raspberry, plum, and chocolate flavors with velvety tannins. With notes of pepper, vanilla, and smoke added by oak with a lush, dry finish. A beautiful wine with great aging potential, drink now thru 2015.

2006 Gary Farrell Sauvignon Blanc 91 points

Redwood Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County, $20

Clean, crisp, ripe, and fruit forward, reminds me of a New Zealand style Sauv Blanc. With a nose of pink grapefruit and gooseberry's, it blasts onto your palate with sweet peach's, melon, and nectarine. This very dry, lip smacker finishes off with a zippy zest and a clean, beautiful mouth-feel.

2005 Diamond River Merlot 87 points

Diamond River 2005 Merlot (Lutzville Valley); $10

Uncomplicated and easy to drink at a great price, you can't beat that. Earth and spice on the nose lead to fresh raspberrys and more spice on the palate. Hints of vanilla lead to a well balanced soft finish.

2006 La Posta Cocina 91 points

Red Wine from Argentina, South America $14


This is a red blend of 60% Malbec, 20% Bonarda, and 20% Syrah with a pretty purple color. A beautiful nose of Bing cherries and vanilla that opens up on the palate with notes of blueberry liqueur, leather, cedar, and stone. This red blend has a tannic edge restrained by creamy oak leading to a tasty sweet finish. Drink now thru 2014 and buy this by the case.

2004 Capcanes Mas Donis Barrica 91 points

Rhone Red Blend, Spain $13



I love Spanish wines, and this one does not disappoint. 85% Garnacha and 15% Syrah has a powerful nose of dark fruit, earth and spice. Full bodied on the palate with layers of raspberry, blueberry, slate and spice. Well balanced with restrained tannins and beautiful soft finish. This wine is a great value for $13 bucks and very drinkable till 2012.

2006 La Posta Angel Paulucci Vineyard Malbec 90 points

Malbec from Argentina, South America $15

Raspberry jam aromas greet you as the bouquet exudes power: Bursting with fruit, campfire, earth, and chocolate rolled into one. The palate is balanced and well structured with creamy notes of chard oak, vanilla, and spice. Vanilla and blueberry jam come out on a long smooth, and spunky finish. Drink now thru 2014.

2006 MacMurray Ranch 91 points

Pinot Gris, Sonoma Coast, $20

Juicy and lip smacking; reminds me of an apple orchard with an almond tree near by. This wine is broad and mouthfilling, it coats the palate with pretty white peach, green apple and fresh cracked almonds. Bright acidity with lots of tropical fruit flavors and a touch of vanilla.

2006 Treana Mer Soleil Vineyard Viognier-Marsanne 93 points

Rhône White Blend, Central Coast, $19

This is a fabulous bottle of wine, elegant, complex, rich and vibrant. It opens up with beautiful aromas of Meyer lemons, honeysuckle and citrus spice. The mouth feel is lush with notes of pineapple, nectarine, mango, papaya and mineral notes. Complex and compelling with balanced acidity and so many layers of flavor I can't list then all. Bravo! At the price of 19 bucks buy this up and drink now thru 2013.

2005 Vacceos Tempranillo 89 points

2005 Vacceos Tempranillo (Rueda); $11

This warm weather red is very tasty and a great value with some unusual flavors for red wine. Notes of Bing cherries, nectarine and spice layered over red plum fruit. Medium body with barrel ageing add smokey vanilla and tobacco to a smooth long finish.

Columbia Crest Chadonnay 91 points

Chardonnay Columbia Valley Grand Estates 2006 $10


Soft and broad with a rich and creamy style. Sweet and appealing with flavors of pear, pineapple, toast and butterscotch. This complex wine roars to a finish with apple-butter and caramel, drink now and buy this one by the case.

2006 Bridlewood Reserve Viognier 89 points

Viognier, Central Coast, $24

Exotic, tropical, rich and spicy, these are attributes of viognier. This well balanced white offers ripe tropical fruit, wildflowers and spice. Dry and crisp makes this a good bottle of wine, drink now thru 2010.

2006 Zonte's Footstep Shiraz/Viognier 90 points

Shiraz/Viognier, South Australia, Australia $13


This blend of 94% Shiraz, 6% Viognier is a fruit bomb, tamed by a little sweetness. Medium bodied and well integrated fruit bring out juicy black cherry, pipe tobacco, cedar and charred oak. Balanced tannins and a smooth long finish, create an excellent value at 13 bucks. Drink now thru 2014 and get a case if you can.

2006 Xanadu Chardonnay 90 points

Chardonnay, Margaret River, $18

Yummy Chard, complex and delicious and a great value. Lots of ripe, rich peach and pineapple custard flavors, sweet, toasty oak and a buttery texture. Well integrated perky acids keeps this lively and clean. Drink now thru 2010.

2006 Valminor Albarino Rias Baixas 88 points

White Wine from Rias Baixas, Spain $15

Fairly edgy, floral, and friendly, with precise peach, melon, nectarine and other citrus flavors. It's easy drinking personality and good mouth feel, this is what you're looking for in a solid, everyday white wine.