2007 The Wolftrap Rosé 89 points

2007 Rosé Blend, Western Cape, $11

Dry and crisp with a delicate nose and light body. On the palate notes of sweet strawberry, very light spice and even subtle undertones of earth. With a lean finish of vanilla and balanced acidity makes for a nice summer wine, drink now.

2006 Boom Boom Syrah 90 points

2006 Syrah, Washington, $15

Boom, boom is a great name because this Syrah explodes with lush flavors. Inky colored with a full palate of blueberry jam, blackberry, dried-spices and smokey oak. At this price it's one of the best values for this beauitful refined Syrah, drink now thru 2010.

2007 Cederberg Chenin Blanc 91 points

Chenin Blanc, Cederberg, $16

This white is very tasty and has an amazing mouth-feel that coats your palate with beautiful tropical fruit flavors. This is why I love Chenin Blanc; honeysuckle, apricot, Bartlett pear with a touch of vanilla. Bright acidity and pure fruit are balanced well layered to finish off this great white, drink now.

2006 Brander Syrah 91 points

Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley, $22

This small production Syrah is polished and elegant. A Dry palate that is rewarded with blackberry, rich raspberry, cocoa, spice and leather. This ripe and rich red wine is a beautiful effort with velvety tannins that finishes off with white pepper and oak. Another great wine from Brander Vineyard with aging potential up to 2012.

2006 Beaulieu Vineyard Riesling 88 points

2006 Riesling California Coastal Estates $9

This Riesling is spicier than the typical big tropical style you'll find. The spicy fruit of white peach, pear and orange rind flood the palate with balance and restraint. The finish is where the tropical notes and balanced acids come out, drink now.

2006 Finca Sophenia Malbec 91 points

Malbec, Tupungato, $17

Hearty and rugged that needs time to open up, but once it does...big fruit! The nose is earthy and toasty with dark fruit notes. The palate is full of tobacco, black cherry, raspberry and chocolate flavors. The finish has a heaping load of fudge and oak to make for a worthy effort at Malbec. Drink now thru 2012.

2007 CVNE Cune Rosado 89 points

Rosé Blend, Rioja, $13

This Rosé blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha is stylish and refreshing; aromas of strawberry and spice leeds to orange blossom, nectarine and more strawberry. This bright and crisp summer wine has a clean and refreshing finish, drink now.

2007 Mezzacorona Chardonnay 88 points

2007 Chardonnay, Vigneti delle Dolomiti, $8

Another fun Chard from Italy, buttery and fruity. It opens softly with white peach, melon, butter creme and caramel on a structured palate. Oak and spice come out on a clean finish, drink now.

2007 Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc 91 points

2007 Sauvignon Blanc; Sonoma County, California $8

Big time tropical fruit nose, that's clean and expressive. Zesty lime, pink grapefruit, tangerine and stone explode on the palate to create a bright and refreshing wine. Balanced acidity with a lip-smacking finish, drink this best buy now.

2006 Feudo Arancio 89 points

2006 Pinot Noir Sicilia $9

This big production Italian Pinot Noir shows how you can produce a value wine that's very tasty. Pure cherry flavors accented by vanilla and spice dance across the palate of this medium bodied wine. The finish is balanced and clean with modest tannins, drink now.

2007 Sdricca Pinot Grigio 89 points

Ca’Tullio 2007 Sdricca di Manzano Casaforte Crù della Sdricca Pinot Grigio (Colli Orientali del Friuli); $19

Rich, tropical and exotic with beautifully layered flavors of honey, ripe pineapple, mango and a hint of Jasmin. The mid-palate has mouth-filling flavor's of banana's and orange peel. It has a slightly sweet but yet refreshing finish, drink now.

2006 Domaine Coteau Pinot Noir 92 points

Domaine Coteau 2006 Pinot Noir (Eola-Amity Hills); $30

I was at a party and a friend walked in with this bottle of wine and I followed him around so I could taste it. With that said...Wow! This is a great Pinot, with a nose of cranberry and oak leeding to a mix of berry-driven fruits and lively spices. Midpalate concentration as the fruit unwinds with blackberry, plum, anise and hints of herbs. The finish is dry, rich and long to make this a beautiful Pinot Noir and a best buy.

2005 Waterbrook Syrah 92 points

2005 Syrah; Columbia Valley $19

Very interesting blend of 91% Syrah, 5% Grenache, 4% Viognier; bold and concentrated flavor profile. It roars with aromas of plum, blackberries and earth that caress the palate with black cherry, blueberry jam, and dark chocolate. A juicy and delicious finish with creamy oak and tar makes this a top 20 and one of my favorites of the year.

2007 Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc 90 points

Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, $14

This white is very tasty from a noble grape at a great price. Bright and vibrant, with pineapple, mango, pear and spice on the palate. Zippy and fresh with honeyed notes coming thru a balanced finish. Drink this best buy thru 2010.

2006 Clos de la Siete Super Red Blend 93 points

2006 Red blend; Argentina, $19

A beautifully blended red wine with 50% Malbec, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Syrah. Big fruit nose of blueberry liqueur and spice leeding to a restrained palate of black cherry, blueberry, spice and oak. This well balanced red will get better with age, drink now thru 2015.

2004 Twisted Oak Syrah 90 points

Syrah, Calaveras County, $19

Year after year Twisted Oak produces some great wine's and this one does not disappoint. On the palate you get cassis, blackberry, chocolate and spice with restrained tannins. With notes of cedar, leather, and oak pushing forward on a long legged smooth finish. Drink now thru 2011.

2006 Holy Cow Chardonnay 89 points

Chardonnay, Washington, $12

A new world style Chardonnay , clean, crisp and all fruit. I love a fruit bomb; Zesty lime, grapefruit and gooseberry flood the palate from start to finish. This uncomplicated chard is a great value at $12 bucks, drink this best buy now.

Black Box Reserve NV 88 points

Merlot, Sonoma County, 3 L, $25

I have to say I was served this Merlot and was not told it was out of a box. With that said, I was surprised how well rounded and polished it was. Flavors of Bing cherries, earth, cedar and oak wash across the palate nicely. The finish adds more oak and leather to make this a nice Merlot at a great price. Drink now, well done!

2005 Barnard Griffin Fumé Blanc 91 points

Fumé Blanc, Columbia Valley (WA), $10

Very much in the french style of Sancerre, dry, crisp and clean. Packed with tart flavors of mango, melon and peach, with light spice winding it's way from start to finish. Dry with lingering tropical on a light finish. Drink this best buy at a great price now.

2007 Gianelli Vermentino 89 points

2007 Gianelli Vermentino (Tuolumne County); $18

This white wine is very interesting; refreshing with crisp acidity. The palate opens with orange peal, pears, and summer flowers. This easy drinking white finishes off with notes of vanilla and crisp green apples, drink now.

2006 Luchador Shiraz 93 points

2006 Shiraz; Australia $18

Velvety texture and rich aromas of cedar, spice and dark fruit. Full on fruit fruit on the palate, blueberry jam, blackberry, eucalyptus, and vanilla. It's big and rich in the mouth, with a medium body and a long finish that sings of more vanilla and eucalyptus. Drink this great beauty of a wine thru 2014. Bravo!

2006 Masi Modello delle Venezie 88 point

2006 White Blend, Venezie, $10

This white blend is very different, fruit and nuts. The palate open up with honey, banana, peach and almonds, that are well integrated and crisp. A creamy mouth-feel with notes of vanilla and acacia flowers finishes off this nice summer white.

2006 Razor's Edge Shiraz-Grenache 92 points

2006 Shiraz-Grenache McLaren Vale $13

This beautifully built red is a blockbuster. A refined nose of earth, vanilla, and, cassis opens up on the palate with black plum, blackberry, vanilla, and cinnamon. Silky, caressing texture with supple tannins and a long, long finish. Drink this killer red now thru 2015 and buy it by the case.

2007 Newsome-Harlow Sauvignon Blanc 91 points

2007 Newsome-Harlow Sauvignon Blanc (Calaveras County); $16

This powerful, super-rich Sauvignon Blanc blasts out of the glass with huge tropical fruit. I loved this wine, so lush with pink grapefruit, zesty lime, honeydew and light spice on the palate. A bone dry lip smacker, with crisp acidity to finish off this beautiful white wine. Drink this best buy now.

2005 Trimbach Gewurztraminer 91 points

Gewurztraminer; France $18

This wine is a perfect compliment for spicy food. Tasty, with a distinct floral nose of rose petals and spice. Broad and mouth-filling palate with notes of pears, peach and Asian spices. The acids are restrained with a note of orange peel on a long finish.

2004 Casa de Santar Red 90 points

Casa de Santar 2004 Red Wine (Portugal); $17

This red wine needs time to open up, give it a couple of hours. This ripe, modern-style wine has clean black cherry, and chocolate aromas. Medium-bodied with more black cherry, licorice and spice on the palate. The finish is smooth and well balanced with hints of vanilla and leather. Drink now thru 2010.

2006 Vinos Sin-Ley M5 Monastrell 91 points

2006 Mourvedre; Yecla, Spain $12

Beautiful garnet color, with a perfumed nose. The grape used is Monastrall, aka Mourverde. On the palate it's bold and packed with blackberry, pepper, spices and blueberry jam. The finish is long and deep, drink now thru 2011.

2006 Virgin Chardonnay 86 points

Chardonnay, California, $10

The virgin means no oak and I like the simplicity of that. The creamy mouth-feel and tropical fruit meld together well with undertones of mango, green apples, and, pineapples. Balanced acids with a zippy finish at a great price, drink now.