2007 Honker Blanc 93 points

Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, $12


This Sauv Blanc is a killer...price and flavor are dynamite! The palate explodes with flavors of grapefruit, lime, passion fruit and minerals. With an undertone of spice and ripe acids balance this white with thirst-quenching flavor. With a broad finish of spearmint and fig that pops all the way. Buy this by the case if you can get it and enjoy thru the summer. Bravo!

2006 Alma Rosa Chardonnay 95 points

Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, $20


Wow, this is an amazing Chard, one of the best I've every had; With a beautiful nose of honeysuckle, smoke and vanilla. The palate opens with elegant mango, pineapple sorbet, vanilla, buttered toast and smokey oak that are integrated perfectly. The big fruit dance across the palate from start to finish for a delicious Chardonnay, bravo!

2005 Artesa Reserve Pinot Noir 94 points

Pinot Noir, Carneros, $25


Beautiful and elegant and one of my top 20 wines of the year. With a silky mouth-feel of Bing-cherries, rich cola, cinnamon and spice. At the core, there's solid extract and beautifully expressive. The finish is long and spicy and this fabulous Pinot Noir will be drinkable until 2014.

2005 Numanthia-Termes 93 points

Tinta de Toro, Toro, $28


Another home run from Numanthia! Usually they only produce 300 cases so get this fabulous red while you can. Velvet on the palate with blackberry, plum, chocolate and light chard smokey oak. Smooth and balanced on a long, lingering finish with notes of leather and spice, drink now thru 2012.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

2005 Massena The Howling Dog 95 points

Petite Sirah, Barossa Valley, $32


Get this fabulous wine while you can, it can be cellard up till 2018. Petite Sirah is one of my favorite wines and this is one of the best I've ever had. Its inky/blue/purple hue is accompanied by scents of blueberry liqueur, crushed rocks, and acacia flowers. Full-bodied, powerful, and rich, with surprisingly supple, but extravagant levels of tannin, it is not yet ready for prime time drinking. Purchasers should forget it over 4-5 years, then watch it unfold over the next two decades.

2006 Gainey Sauvignon Blanc 92 points

Sauvignon Blanc (Santa Ynez Valley); $13

Gainey vineyard is a top tier California sauv blanc producer and this wine does not disappoint. Kick ass price at $13 bucks or less, and perfect for warm weather. Crisp, elegant and dry kicks off with big citrus flavors of lime, honeydew, passion fruit and a subtle hint of vanilla. This wine spends 8 months in all neutral oak and has 15% semillon, to add a little sweetness. Mouthwatering finish inviting a second -and third - sip. Enjoy this vibrant, varietally distinctive Sauvignon Blanc over the next 1-2 years.

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.

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.

Meerlust Rubicon 2001 95 points

Bordeaux Blend, Stellenbosch, $30

Over a quarter of a century ago, this was one of the first South African Bordeaux blends. It is still one of the best,Ultra dark, intense, opaque & concentrated. A classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this wine is the culmination of the Myburgh family's dream of making a truly remarkable Bordeaux-style wine. Meerlust Rubicon is well-balanced with a cigar box and spicy tobacco bouquet. Smooth, firm tannins provide structure and depth with excellent aging potential.

2004 Quintessa 96 points

Bordeaux Blend, Rutherford, $99

WOW! 96 Points! A dramatic young wine from the Huneeus estate on the east side of Napa Valley in Rutherford, Quintessa is a selection from 170 acres of vineyards, mostly planted to cabernet sauvignon, along with merlot and small blocks of cabernet franc, petit verdot and carmenère. It’s beautiful the way the acid-tannin structure plays against the cherry, cassis and olive fruit, creating an architectural tension. If you open this wine now, decant for a few hours. Otherwise, it should hold for six to eight years, and develop further bottle complexity afterward. Get it while you can!

Milbrandt 2006 Legacy Chardonnay 91 points

Milbrandt 2006 Legacy Evergreen Vyd Chardonnay (Washington); $23

Concentrated, beautifully defined flavors of pear, apple and ripe pineapple drive a stake through the heart of this wine, blazing a trail across the palate with tongue-thrashing acids and bracing minerality. As it slowly unwinds it reveals a finish of banana caramel tart, luscious and long.

Lancaster Estate '04 Cabernet Sauvignon 98 points

Lancaster Estate 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (Alexander Valley); $65

WOW 98 Points! Lancaster burst on the scene with enormous buzz, before they had really earned it. Steadily but surely, they’ve built up the wine, and the ’04 is the best ever. It’s a gorgeous Cab, softly complex, rich in cassis, cherry, spice and oak flavors anchored with warm and earthy tannins. In fact, the earthiness stands it in good contrast to Napa Valley, making it wholesome and complete. Drink now if you can find it and enjoy!

Beauregard 2004 Zinfandel 95 points

Beauregard 2004 Beauregard Ranch Vineyard Zinfandel (Ben Lomond Mountain); $45

The product of a warm vintage in a cool-climate region, this is a very good Zin. It achieves interest and complexity. Structured like a good Cab Sauvignon, it has impressively deep blue and black wild berry and stone fruit, coffee, dried herb and spice flavors, wrapped into firm, dusty tannins.