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.