2007 Clos de los Siete Mendoza, Argentina ($15.99)

91 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "There may be no finer red wine value in Argentina than this superb blend of 48% Malbec, 28% Merlot, 12% Syrah, and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is aged for 11 months, two-thirds in 100% new French oak and the balance in vat and bottled without fining or filtration. Opaque purple-colored, the wine coats the glass while offering up a superb bouquet of toasty oak, violets, mineral, black currant, blueberry, and black cherry. This is followed by a layered wine with gobs of ripe fruit, a plush texture, outstanding balance, and several years of aging potential (not that many buyers will be laying this down). This lengthy effort over-delivers and then some. Located right at the foothills of the Andes in a magnificent setting, this Michel Rolland project is off to a flying start." (12/08) Wowing aromatics of pencil lead, black olive, red peppercorns are all apparent but the march is led by a sweet layer of blackberry coated in sweet roasted fennel and lavender. Full weight and full flavored this Malbec based blend is both sweet and savory at the same time. Walking a tightrope between the lush, ripeness of wild berry, cassis, milk chocolate and blueberry and the savory notes of dill, warm clay, finely ground pepper and licorice this has a little bit for everyone. Lengthy and lasting this is a great wine that will appeal to fans of Domestic Meritage, Bordeaux and yes, even fans of Argentina. Stock up you'll be sorry if you don't.

2006 Corton-Charlemagne, Grand Cru, Louis Jadot - 0 available ($119.99)

94-95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The Jadot 2006 Corton Charlemagne fermented at what used to be called a glacial pace. Any doubts about the advisability of showing it on the heels of the other grand crus in this collection were largely dispelled by a clarion aromatic fanfare of citrus and herbs; a tactile, quarry-like depth and density of crushed stone on the palate; and a finish of prodigious length, scrupulous pristinity, and electric vivacity. As this opens up, a sense of sheer sweet pit fruit emerges such as one seldom encounters from this appellation, and so do saline, savory sides to its minerality that will add to the fascination at table and over a decade or more of bottle maturation. Given its price and availability - there are all of 33 barrels worth - this is an indulgence in grand cru pedigree that a significant number of consumers should be able to enjoy, even perhaps especially in hard times." (12/08) 94 points Wine Spectator: "An alluring white, with opulence and grace. Peach, apricot, lemon and mineral aromas and flavors permeate the lush texture, all supported by a vibrant structure. This is beautifully balanced and ends with a creamy, vanilla-laced finish." (10/08) 94 (+?) points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar and 93 points Allen Meadows' Burghound as well.

2006 Louis Martini Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon ($11.99)

90 points from Robert Parker: "One of the finest bargains in California Cabernet Sauvignon must be Louis M. Martini's outstanding 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma. The good news is there are 140,000 cases produced. Fabulously sweet aromas of black currants, licorice, and cedar soar from the glass of this medium to full-bodied wine. With silky tannins as well as surprising concentration, depth, and texture, this 2006 should drink well for 8-10 years." (12/08)

2006 Penley Estate "Phoenix" Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra ($14.99)

91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Phoenix was aged in 35% new oak. Purple-colored, it has an enticing bouquet of spice box, cassis, and black currant. Sweet, ripe, and layered, it has 1-2 years of aging potential but can be enjoyed now. Penley Estate has turned out four exceptional values in the 2006 vintage." (08/08) 90 points Wine Spectator: "Lithe and appealing for its transparency and pretty currant and berry flavors, shaded with hints of earth and herb, hinting at aromatic tobacco as the finish lingers effortlessly. Drink now through 2016." (10/08) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Deep ruby. Spicy redcurrant and cherry aromas are deepened by smoky tobacco and loam. Dusty minerals add grip to fleshy red berry and cherry flavors, which become deeper and sweeter with air. This carries 15% alcohol but betrays no warmth. Finishes with lingering sweetness."

2007 Sherwood Pinot Noir Marlborough New Zealand ($14.99)

An Editors' Choice, Wine Enthusiast. Everybody loves pinot noir these days and that's for a good reason. It easily expresses a sense of place, style and character. The tough thing, though, is to find pinot noir that, at the very least, tastes like the grape at a price point that won't break the bank, something that can be used for large group parties or events. Well, this wine hits the mark, without a doubt. Dayne and Jill Sherwood have been in the wine business since the 1980s; the fruit for this wine comes mainly from their vineyards in Marlborough and Waipara. I think the 2007 is their best to date and a terrific value. The nose offers fresh dark plum, cherry, clove and a hint of dried orange peel. On the palate the wine is juicy with a supple mouthfeel, fine-grained tannins and good length. (Jim Chanteloup, K&L New Zealand buyer)

2006 Three Rings Barossa Valley Shiraz ($15.99)

91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - here's your final chance to get the last of the 2006! Wine Advocate says: "There are 14,000 cases of the 2006 Shiraz, a wine sourced from three Barossa vineyards. The wine was aged in seasoned American oak. Opaque purple colored, it offers up a jammy perfume of cedar, spice box, violets, blueberry, and blackberry. This leads to a medium to full-bodied wine made in a surprisingly elegant style. Supple-textured, full-flavored, with well-integrated tannin, this hedonistic effort will evolve for three to five years but can be enjoyed now and over the next ten years." South Australia's Chris Ringland (Winemaker), David Hickinbotham (grape grower) and Californian Dan Philips (importer) have created this fine wine; a hard act to follow. 100 percent Barossa from several old vine vineyards blended beautifully by Chris Ringland.

2005 De Lisio "Krystina" Shiraz McLaren Vale (Was $40 Elsewhere) ($24.99)

92-94 points Robert Parker: "The 2005 Shiraz Krystina (named after Tony De Lisio’s wife) is a 100% Shiraz from relatively young vines planted on one of the limestone and slate sectors of McLaren Vale. Seventy percent new French oak was utilized, and the wine, which was going to bottled unfiltered about one month after I tasted it, exhibits a sweet nose of blackberries, raspberries, smoke, camphor, and graphite. Full-bodied, rich, and intense with sweet but noticeable tannin, a firm structure, and an accessible style, it should age for 12-15 years." (10/06) 92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Saturated ruby. Intensely aromatic nose features explosive blackberry, cassis and cherry-cola scents underscored by vanilla and mocha. Suave and velvety in the mouth, with deep berry preserve flavors and no rough edges. Where are the tannins? This supple and strikingly concentrated shiraz boasts excellent finishing thrust and persistence. And there's terrific energy here to counter the lush, sweet berry fruit, giving this considerable appeal." (Jul/Aug '07) 90 point Wine Spectator: "Tight in texture, showing juicy blackberry flavors against lively acidity, with hints of mocha and spice as the finish lingers. Best from 2008 through 2015." (09/07)

2007 Foxglove San Luis Obisipo County Chardonnay ($12.99)

90 points Robert Parker: "Perhaps the great value in Chardonnay in the marketplace today, this wine, made by the highly talented Varner Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains, comes from fruit accessed in California’s Edna Valley. With malolactic blocked but with lees stirring, this 25,000-case cuvee provides terrific notes of tropical fruit and poached pear in a fleshy, medium-bodied style with obvious minerality and precision. This is a remarkable effort that is fresh, lively, and best drunk over the next 1-2 years." (08/08) Winemaker Bob Varner makes Foxglove SLO Chardonnay in a fresh, approachable style - loaded with tropical fruit, the wine is crisp and refreshing. It sees no malolactic fermentation or oak, allowing the wine's mineral streak to shine through. Unbelievably good at this or any price!

2007 Stuhlmuller Vineyards Alexander Valley Estate Chardonnay ($21.99)

92 points from Robert Parker: "It is hard to find a 92-point Chardonnay for $24 a bottle, but Stuhlmuller’s 2007 Chardonnay (5,600 cases) is a beauty. Lemon oil, honeysuckle, white currant, white peach, and poached pear characteristics are present in this beauty along with terrific freshness, medium to full body, a layered mouthfeel, and a long, pure, dry finish. Drink this knock-out Chardonnay over the next 2-3 years." (12/08) 91 points from Wine Spectator: "Tangy lime and citrus notes join riper green apple and honeydew melon in this supple, full-bodied, complex and elegant offering. The finish is long and clean. Drink now through 2011. 5,600 cases made." (Tasting Highlights, Dec. 8, 2008) 2007 turned out to be an excellent vintage for chardonnay in Sonoma County, particularly at the Southern edge of the Alexander Valley where Stuhlmuller is located. The even growing season kept potential alcohol in check, while preserving the natural acidity and purity of fruit in the wine. This chardonnay boasts pineapple, ginger and sweet corn aromas that build up to layers of tropical fruit, white flowers and oak spice on the palate. Lees stirring adds a creaminess mid-palate to the already richly-textured wine.

2007 St. Supéry Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($13.99)

91 points and two stars from the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: "This brisk, slightly pungent, intensely varietal Sauvignon Blanc is long on concentrated, kiwi-like fruit and its lack of oak allows its very deep fruit to shine through from beginning to end. It is fleshy and beautifully balanced in a rich and always refreshing style, and it is just the thing for washing down flavorful shellfish preparations. Try it with the likes of savory crab cakes or classic Oysters Rockefeller." (09/08) 91 points from Wine & Spirits Magazine: "The powerful green fruit of this sauvignon needs air to settle down, or a year or two in bottle to mellow. It has the scent of an exotic desert succulent plant, while lime and mineral character develops in the glass. For chicken schwarma and other spicy white meats." (06/08)The St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc is like your favorite chair, book, record or movie: you know it will always be there ready to accept you without hesitation or question. From the onset this is Sauvignon Blanc, unmistakable and pronounced with aromas of gooseberry, musk, lime peel and wet quartz. Vibrant and refreshing the instant it hits your tongue with flavors of Meyer lemon, cut grass and guava with a return of the stony cut found on the nose. Building in ripeness to a tropical styled finish of passion fruit, mango and the bite of quince, this is easy to like and even easier to drink. (Bryan Brick, K&L)

2007 Chateau Souverain Alexander Valley Chardonnay ($11.99)

90 points Wine Spectator: "Complex aromas of citrus, pear, apple and honeysuckle, with touches of toasty oak. Full-bodied, rich and elegant, with a long, lingering finish." (Tasting Highlights, 12/9/08) And, according to Robert Parker: "The fruity, medium-bodied 2007 Chardonnay is ideal for present consumption." (12/08) Chateau Souverain has been a constant in the California wine world for many, many years. They always seem to produce solid, varietally correct wines with plenty of fruit and structure and, better yet, they are typically amazing values. The 2007 Chardonnay is no exception to this legacy. Full of tropical notes like lychee, dried pineapple and green tea with an underlying base of butterscotch, this is a bit more than your typical $12 Chard. There is a lot of stuffing here and the level of richness found in wines twice the price, if not more. Full-bodied and coating on the palate, this shows layer upon layer of pie crust, vanilla, Fuji apple and some of the reoccurring themes of butterscotch and pineapple. With just enough snappy acid to move it along and surprisingly long, lasting finish this is a serious value. (Bryan Brick, K&L)

2006 Rosenblum "Rominger Vineyard" Yolo County Syrah (Was $25) ($12.99)

93 points from the Wine News (in their Aug - Sept 2008 edition). Additional notes from the Wine Spectator: "Smooth and supple, with graceful plum and black cherry fruit that goes down easy. Elegant and polished. Drink now through 2011." (Web Only, 2008) Rosenblum's "Rominger" Syrah is co-fermented with a bit of Viognier. Because it's a highly stressed vineyard site the fruit features high levels of tannin and benefits from co-fermentation because it smooths out any harshness. At this price you should be focusing on grabbing some while you can.

2007 St. Supéry Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc ($13.99)

91 points and two stars from the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: "This brisk, slightly pungent, intensely varietal Sauvignon Blanc is long on concentrated, kiwi-like fruit and its lack of oak allows its very deep fruit to shine through from beginning to end. It is fleshy and beautifully balanced in a rich and always refreshing style, and it is just the thing for washing down flavorful shellfish preparations. Try it with the likes of savory crab cakes or classic Oysters Rockefeller." (09/08) 91 points from Wine & Spirits Magazine: "The powerful green fruit of this sauvignon needs air to settle down, or a year or two in bottle to mellow. It has the scent of an exotic desert succulent plant, while lime and mineral character develops in the glass. For chicken schwarma and other spicy white meats." (06/08)The St. Supery Sauvignon Blanc is like your favorite chair, book, record or movie: you know it will always be there ready to accept you without hesitation or question. From the onset this is Sauvignon Blanc, unmistakable and pronounced with aromas of gooseberry, musk, lime peel and wet quartz. Vibrant and refreshing the instant it hits your tongue with flavors of Meyer lemon, cut grass and guava with a return of the stony cut found on the nose. Building in ripeness to a tropical styled finish of passion fruit, mango and the bite of quince, this is easy to like and even easier to drink. (Bryan Brick, K&L)

2006 Penley Estate "Phoenix" Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra ($14.99)

91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Phoenix was aged in 35% new oak. Purple-colored, it has an enticing bouquet of spice box, cassis, and black currant. Sweet, ripe, and layered, it has 1-2 years of aging potential but can be enjoyed now. Penley Estate has turned out four exceptional values in the 2006 vintage." (08/08) 90 points Wine Spectator: "Lithe and appealing for its transparency and pretty currant and berry flavors, shaded with hints of earth and herb, hinting at aromatic tobacco as the finish lingers effortlessly. Drink now through 2016." (10/08) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Deep ruby. Spicy redcurrant and cherry aromas are deepened by smoky tobacco and loam. Dusty minerals add grip to fleshy red berry and cherry flavors, which become deeper and sweeter with air. This carries 15% alcohol but betrays no warmth. Finishes with lingering sweetness."

2006 Windsor Sonoma Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($16.99)

91 points Wine Spectator: "Intense and concentrated, full-bodied and still a bit raw, this delivers a complex mix of pear, apple, spice and honeysuckle, ending with a long finish that offers a glimpse of smoky marshmallow. Drink now through 2011. 2,262 cases made." (Tasting Highlights, Dec. 8, 2008) 91 points and listed in the "Top Value California Wines" Issue of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2006 Chardonnay is classic Californian in its display of assorted tropical fruits, full-bodied opulence, superb purity, good acidity, and long finish." (08/08) Everybody, including Robert Parker and our wine-hardened, overly critical, Euro-centric staff has raved about what a great value this is. With notes of cornmeal, fresh pear and undertones of dried honey and toffee you know instantly what you're getting yourself into. From the get-go this is big and rich, full of bold aromas and flavors like buttercream, warm popcorn and baked red apples. But where this really stands out is its dryness. There are so many borderline sweet chardonnays on the market today under $20; it is like a sea of sugar out there. But the Windsor Sonoma remains staunchly dry throughout and has plenty of texture and toasty oak to boot. We only have 90 cases of this workhorse, get some while you can. (Bryan Brick, K&L)

2005 Robert Mondavi Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon (Was $35) ($24.99)

93 points from The Wine News: "Violet hue. Pretty nose with tobacco, leather and plum scents. Nice blend of black fruit and graphite have the great backing of cedar-laced tannins. Tart, drying notes on the finish with hints of maple and focused tannins. (Oct/Nov 2008)" Since 2002 the Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville District has been one of the best cabernets in Napa Valley dollar-for-dollar. With scores of 91 points Parker for the 2002, 93 points Parker for the 2003 and 93 points Wine Spectator for the 2004, the Mondavi Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon has been garnering praise not only from retailers, but also the wine press. 79% its grapes are sourced from the famed To Kalon vineyard, while the remaining fruit comes from nearby vineyards on the Oakville Bench. When this amazing grape source is coupled with the fine winemaking of Genevieve Janssens the result is one of the better Cabernet Sauvignons under $40 in the marketplace today. It's a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% each Malbec and Merlot, aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Seductive nose of juicy berries, violets, earth and black truffles. On the palate the wine displays the tell-tale Oakville flavors of blackberry, plum, black olive and chocolate nuances. There is excellent balance, structure and harmony here with enough oak to give it a rich, subtle flavor without overwhelming the layers of complexity.

2006 Laetitia Arroyo Grande Reserve Pinot Noir ($34.99)

95 points Wine Enthusiast Magazine: "Laetitia's best reserve ever. In a word, gorgeous. There's a soft silkiness, a caressingly smooth mouthfeel that just seduces the palate into submission. Then the deliciousness sinks in, all red currants, cherries, mocha, licorice, pepper and smoke, set off with fine acidity and tannins. So compulsively drinkable, you can't keep your hands off it." (12/08) Located just four miles from the Pacific, Laetitia's Arroyo Grande Valley Vineyard is in one of the coolest growing regions in the state. Combine the climate with the vineayrd's low-vigor soils and you get a complex, aromatically explosive wine with chalky tannins, distinctive minerality and refreshing acidity that's ready to drink now.

2005 Kilikanoon "R" Reserve (Elsewhere for $95) ($59.99)

94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2005 Shiraz 'R Reserve' spent 27 months in 100% new French oak hogsheads and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Crimson/purple, it has enticing aromas of toast, smoke, vanilla, spice box, pepper, black cherry and blackberry. Layered, opulent, and long, with well-concealed tannins, it will begin to unwind with 5-7 years of cellaring and provide pleasure through 2030." (10/07) 94 points Wine Spectator: "Velvety, graceful and generous with its cherry, licorice and cocoa flavors that swirl through the finish with hints of cardamom and clove. Not a powerhouse, but this has tremendous focus and a sense of elegance. The tannins are well-submerged. Best from 2010 through 2020. 50 cases imported. " (10/08)