Price: $20.00 Maker: La Crema Varietal: Chardonnay Region: California

89

This wine is filled with classic California Chardonnay features; the nose starts out with pronounced aromas of honeyed oak with citrus undertones. The aromas lead into a creamy, buttery body with flavors of lemon, apricots and hints of pineapple. This is the perfect wine for people who like oaked creamy California Chardonnay. -K.M.

Price: $15.99 Maker: Bonterra Vineyards Varietal: Merlot Region: California

89

This organic wine has a bright purple hue with a scent of blackberry jam. On the palette, this wine is full of dark fruit; flavors of cherry, boysenberry and plum wrap around the tongue and have a soft finish. This wine will pair well with multiple dishes and will be a hit with a wide audience. -VFE

Price: $17.00 Maker: J. Lohr Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Region: California

89

Another great Cabernet from J. Lohr, it displays rich flavors of black cherries, blackberries, currants all kissed with oak. You can often find this wine for under $10 at your local Costco and Total Wine at this price point the wine is a steal. -VFE

Price: $7.99 Maker: Redwood Creek Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Region: California

88

The nose is light but the body shows the flavors well, raspberry is the strong flavor of this wine with a hint of strawberries. We would like the finish to be a little longer but at this price point this is a great buy.

Price: $15.99 Maker: Clos Du Bois Varietal: Riesling Region: California

88

Hints of a classic German Riesling with just enough sweetness a light body and flavors of peaches and pears

Price: $9.99 Maker: White Truck Varietal: White Blends Region: California

88

This is an interesting white blend of 56% Sauvignon Blanc, 22% Chardonnay, 11% Pinot Grigio and 11% Viognier. The nose of this wine is tart and brings a lemon aroma to the front of your palate. The choice to use no oak during the production of this wine leaves the wine crisp and full of citrus, lemon and grapefruit. The dryness of the wine reminds you of a Pinot Gris but the addition of Sauvignon Blanc in the blend brings the citrus flavor back to the front of your palate.

We would recommend this wine with any seafood dish. When we tasted this wine we had instant thoughts of crab legs and lobster with butter for this wine. With a retail price of $10 this is a tough wine to pass up.

Price: $27.00 Maker: Robert Mondavi Varietal: Pinot Noir Region: California

88

This is another good Pinot Noir from Robert Mondavi. This is a 100% Pinot Noir, a feature that is becoming rare. The smell of cherries smacks you in face with a hint of pepper. The flavor of the wine follows the nose with blackberries and cherries coming through and just enough tannins with a light oak finish.

Price: $20.00 Maker: Wild Horse Varietal: Merlot Region: California

88

This is a deep purple wine that opens up to a full body with flavors of black cherry, plum, and vanilla with a smooth finish.

Price: $15.00 Maker: Rodney Strong Varietal: Chardonnay Region: California

88

Rodney Strong has released another excellent Chardonnay with their 2007 vintage. The wine has subtle aromas of lemon apple aromas. The body is nicely balanced with enough acidity to keep the wine crisp and your palate fresh. The barrel fermenting comes through on the palate with lemon, apple and pear flavors with just enough vanilla at the end. With a list price of $15 a bottle this wine is a great buy.

Price: $14.00 Maker: Kendall Jackson Varietal: Chardonnay Region: California

88

Apples, lemon and vanilla are evident in this fresh Chardonnay from Kendall Jackson. 90% of the wine was barrel fermented and shows a suprisingly perfect balance of oak with a nice long buttery finish. With a retail price of $14 a bottle this is a great buy.