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12/20 points. 2000 Montevina Fume Blanc. Price $5.47 at Winco. First, let me say that this wine was not chilled and the wife already had this open when I came home. Very light blonde
color and the nose is full of green apple and citrus. The palate supplies much the same, but with hints of mineral and lychee. It's a bit flabby, too warm? Or maybe the acid levels are a tad low. A good wine for the money. It would go well with very light foods or just as an aperitif. A nice inexpensive summer wine.

12/20 points. Price $5.99 at Raleys. 1999 Buena Vista California Cabernet. Very dark red fading to a bright pink rim, nicely saturated in color. The nose reveals blackberry and wood. The blackberry follows, but it is followed by cherry cola and raspberry. The mid-palate is rather hollow and the acid level is somewhat short, making the wine a hair flabby. The finish is rather short and one dimensional. Taking into consideration the price point, this isn't a bad wine for the money.

14/20 points. 1998 Kenwood Jack London Vineyard, Zinfandel. Price $9.99 at Costco. Very clean, clear garnet in color. This has a peculiar nose of wood and tar. In the mouth, good blackberry and raspberry flavors are followed with pretty astringent tannins. Finishes with blueberry? Nice!

13/20 points. 2000 Buena Vista, California Sauvignon Blanc. Price $4.99 at Costco. Very pale good with hints of green. The nose has indistinct scents of citrus and very slight apple. In the mouth, this wine wakes up a little. Nice flavors of green apple and white peach linger on a medium finish. It's a little more full in body than it's sibling I reviewed earlier, and not quite as crisp, but still a good wine, especially at just under $5.00! I would buy this as a work-horse white. I think almost anyone would find it enjoyable.

15/20 points. 2000 Hardys Nottage Hill Chardonnay, South Eastern Australia. Price $5.99 at Albertsons. Wow, the name is quite a mouthful! Good gold color with hints of green. There is only a a slight nose to this. In the mouth, it is a different story. Good levels of apple, pear, and mineral are nice and fresh if short lived. There's just a touch of oak, not over-oaked, in the finish, which is slightly tart. On of the few chardonnays I've found that I truly like. This is a terrific wine for the money.

18/20 points. 1998 Pepperwood Grove, California Pinot Noir. Price $9.99 at Raleys Supermarket. This is an exceptional wine for ten dollars! Very dark, almost inky black turning red at the edge. Crushed red fruits greet the nose with just a hint of briar. The mouth feel is thick, full and has good grip. Gobs of rich red fruit greet you in the mouth. Berry, berry, berry follows in the mid-palate and finishes with just a hint of smoke. An absolutely stunning wine for the money!

16/20 points. 2000 Mad Fish, Western Australia Chardonnay. Price $11.49 at Costco. Ok, here's a wine for all you ABC'ers out there, you know who you are, you guessed it! NO OAK! Very pale yellow in color, it's another chardonnay with those hints of green. The nose is very distinct with crisp green apple, citrus, and lychee. The green apple is even stronger in the mouth and is well supported by the acid level. It finishes medium long with lychee and rose petal. A perfect wine for those who want no wood in their wine.

12/20 points. 2000 San Andre's, Sauvignon Blanc, Lontue Valley, Chile. Price $2.99 at Trader Joe's. Very, very pale yellow color with a pleasant nose of citrus, lemon peel, and slight amounts of grass. Flavors of lychee and generic citrus follow. The acid level is fairly brisk, but surprisingly, the body is just a little watery. It finishes with herbal flavors, if a bit short. Very acceptable for $3.00!