2005 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs 92 points

Sparkling Blend, Napa-Mendocino-Sonoma-Marin, $25

Year after year Schramsberg has made consistently great sparkling wine; With a tangy palate of Meyer lemons, white peach, ripe apples and smokey vanilla. Crisp and expertly layered it's perfect alone or with food. This beautiful sparkler finishes off with bright acidity that's long and lively.

2007 Ti Point Sauvignon Blanc 91 points

Kirkland Signature by Ti Point 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough); $13


I think this Sauv Blanc is only available at Costco. Fabulous and refreshingly ripe on a palate of lime, gooseberry, honey and fresh cut grass. Clean and crisp this will please any lover of Sauv Blancs. With a clean finish that's long and refreshing, drink now thru 2009.

2006 Bouvet-Ladubay Saphir Brut Vintage 91 points

Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay, Saumur, $18



Rich, crisp and clean for a fabulous price; With a refined and elegant palate of honeydew, cantaloupe, backed apples and nutmeg. This Champagne has a creamy mouth-feel and balanced acids. The finish is clean with an added layered ripe fruit and baking spices, drink now thru 2014.

NV Graham Beck Bliss Demi Sec 90 points

Champagne Blend, Robertson, $16




This semi-dry sparkler from Graham Beck is a stand out; English honey, pineapple, jasmine and yeast dance on a sweet palate. A perfect sparkler to pair with spicy Asian food. With a finish that's light and refreshing you'll want another glass...Time to toast!

2007 Red Guitar Old Vine Rosé 88 points

Garnacha, Navarra, $10




This rosé has some nice zip and slight sweetness; Fresh strawberry, raspberry, kiwi and other citrus flavors delight the palate. Lively and refreshing mouth-feel with a long finish that's slightly sweet, drink now.

2007 Snoqualmie Naked Gewürztraminer 90 points

Gewürztraminer, Columbia Valley (WA), $12


Gewürz is a great white wine to pair with ham; the palate opens with juicy flavors of Mandarin orange, guava, lemon drop and Asian spices. With snappy acidity and juicy sweet fruit, makes for a perfect x-mas dinner wine. The finish is clean and refreshing and at 12 bucks you can't beat the price.

2007 Neil Ellis The Left Bank 91 points

Red Blend, Western Cape, $15


This red blend is broad and intense; With a smokey palate of red plum, black cherry, cedar and caramel. Expertly integrated fruit that holds the tannins in check. With an interesting finish of smokey oak, leather and dried spices adds a extra level value to this red blend.

2007 Ponzi Pinot Blanc 91 points

Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley, $15


This white is juicy, clean and quite the lip-smacker; Lush flavors of green apple, lime zest, cantaloupe and honey fill the palate with flavor. With a full body and crisp acidity from start to finish. Lovely honeydew and other citrus come out on a long, lip-smacking finish, drink now.

2007 Geyser Peak Block Collection 91 points

Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, $20



A new world style Sauv Blanc, clean, crisp and refreshing; Zesty lime, grapefruit, passion fruit and white pepper dance on the palate. Bracing acids and bone dry profile creates a beautiful lip-smacker. With a broad finish of more lime and ground pepper that's refreshing and clean, drink now thru 2010.

2006 Chateau St. Jean Robert Young Vineyard 88 points

Chardonnay, Alexander Valley, $25



This Chard is all oak all the time; A buttery palate of tangerine, pineapple, green pear and caramel. Full-bodied and very refreshing with a long exotic finish of vanilla bean and toasty oak, drink now.

2006 Calcareous Petite Verdot 91 points

Calcareous 2006 Petite Verdot (Paso Robles); $25


Petite Verdot is one of my favorite grapes; Beautiful inky-purple color and a hearty palate of red plum, currant, espresso and dried ginger root. This red is polished with balanced tannins and a full body. With notes of mocha and Asian spices coming thru on a long, smooth finish, drink now thru 2010.

2006 Penley Estate Phoenix 92 points

Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, $20


Beautiful with a bold fruit forward flavor profile; Blackberry, cassis, vanilla bean and cedar oak are velvety on the palate. This full bodied red has tight tannins and a lush texture that's properly balanced. The finish is smooth and long with hints of leather and caramel, drink now thru 2016.

Graham Beck NV Brut 89 points

Graham Beck NV Brut (Robertson); $15


I love the weight and balance of this sparkling wine; Rich pineapple, melon, butter creme and yeast dance on the palate with heft. Clean, crisp and refreshing that's very food friendly. With a creamy light finish that's elegant well structured, drink now.

2003 Cristalino Brut Nature Vintage 89 points

Cristalino 2003 Brut Nature (Cava); $12



It's time to break out the bubbly; This Cava has a lot of weight on a palate of granny smith apples, honeysuckle and toast With a creamy mouth-feel and low acidity adding to an interesting flavor profile to this Cava. With a long and lingering finish of spice and toast, drink now.

2007 Whitehaven 89 points

Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, $15


Sauv Blanc's from New Zealand just can't be beat; Zesty lime, gooseberry, nectarine and fresh cut grass explode on the palate with flavor. Clean and crisp with zippy acidity and a fresh mouthwatering finish, drink now.

2006 Andeluna Winemaker's Selection 91 points

Malbec, Tupungato, $13





This Malbec is a killer red for $13 bucks; A beautiful palate of blackberry, licorice, pepper and new oak. With a great balance of fruit and wood wrapped around tight tannins. The mouth-feel is bold with a punch of oak on a long finish.

2007 Cambiata Albarino 89 points

Cambiata 2007 Albariño (Monterey); $24




This clean, crisp Albariño is very tasty; A rich palate of melon, honeysuckle, jasmine and asian spices. Fresh and clean from start to finish with zippy acidity. With a dry and broad finish of citrus and stone.

2005 Novelty Hill Columbia Valley 91 points

Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley (WA), $19



This Bordeaux blend is balanced and ripe; with smokey flavors of dark cherry, currant, nutmeg and roasted coffee fill the palate with flavor. Balanced tannins and acidity this full-bodied red blend is a well rounded and seamless. With a finish that's ripe with smokey oak that's long and smooth.

2007 Chateau Ste. Michelle Gewurztraminer 89 points

Chateau Ste. Michelle 2007 Gewürztraminer (Columbia Valley); $10

Another Chateau Ste. Michelle, another great wine; Lively flavors of tangerine, orange blossom, guava and apricot explode on a broad palate. Tangy and spicy with zippy acids with a lovely balance of citrus and spice. With a zingy kick of sweetness to finish beautiful white, bravo!

2005 Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Merlot 92 points

Chateau Ste-Michelle 2005 Canoe Ridge Estate Merlot, $22



Another hit from Chateau Ste-Michelle; these guy's make great wine's at all price points. This lush and beautifully layered Merlot with palate pleasing blueberry jam,
licorice, mocha and cedar. The tannins are smoothed out to find a proper balance. With a sassy and interesting finish of black tea and toasty oak that's long and delicious, drink now thru 2012.

2005 Bodega Norton Reserva 91 points

Cabernet Sauvignon, Luján de Cuyo, $14




Norton has produced a fabulous Cab at a great price. The blackberry, black cherry, toasty oak and vanilla melt on the palate. Full bodied with tight tannins and a creamy mouth-feel achieves a well rounded Cab. The finish is long and smooth with notes of mocha and vanilla, drink now thru 2014.

2005 The Yellow Cellar Pinotage 87 points

The Yellow Cellar Pinotage 2005; $15 Coastal Region



I like this pinotage, but the price is to high; The palate is fresh and lively with flavors of red plum, Bing cherries, spice and smoke to back it up. The tannins smooth out the pronounced acids, with white pepper and smokey oak to finish this red off, drink now thru 2010.

2006 Rex Hill Chardonnay 90 points

Rex Hill 2006 Chardonnay; Oregon $18


To me, this is a unoaked Chard, clean, crisp and fruit forward. Big fruit on the full palate of pineapple, melon, guava and rich spices. With crisp acids and tightly defined fruit layers propels this to all fruit all the time. The finish is clean with a spicy long, full-bodied end, drink now thru 2011.

Kedar's K'orus NV Chardonnay 87 points

Kedar's K'orus NV Chardonnay (Vin de Pays d'Oc); $12


Vin de Pays area can be iffy when it comes to Chardonnay, but this one is pretty good; Pineapple, green apple and creamy vanilla are soft on the palate. Easy to drink and a good price with a soft, clean finish, drink now.

2007 High Note Elevated Malbec 89 points

Malbec, Uco Valley, $13



Power packed full of dark fruit; Black cherry, black plum, blackberry and creamy spice on a silky palate of flavor. This is a young Malbec with lot's of power to it. The finish is long and smooth with silky tannins and a creamy send off.

2007 Cadaretta sbs 91 points

Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon, Columbia Valley (WA), $22



This beautiful white calls out for food; 75% Sauv Blanc, 25% Sémillon burst on to a lush palate of lime, grapefruit, passion fruit and spice. With balanced and zippy acids and perfectly layered fruit leading to a bright fruit filled finish, drink now thru 2010.

2006 Stephen Vincent Crimson Red Blend 87 points

Stephen Vincent 2006 Crimson Red Blend; $12 California

This is a red blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon that's easy to drink; Ripe black cherry, raspberry and earthy spice lushly fill the palate with flavor. This is a easy drinking red table wine suitable for everyday. The finish is light and uncomplicated but still pretty good, drink now.