2008's best budget, splurge, unusual and sparkling wines

It has been a good year. Well, an interesting year. Wines have been the anchor, a glimmer of hope and respite for our weary bones. We are living in a unique moment when an unprecedented quality and value for money exist in the markets, grocery stores and independent wine shops. Here are a few of the top picks from 2008. Enjoy!

Best for $15 and less

2007 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($13.49) - The color is platinum gold. The aroma is a nice blend of grapefruit, fresh-cut green herbs and grass. The taste is bursting with grapefruit and offers a lingering, clean finish. 90 points

2006 The Chard by M. Cosentino, California ($12-$15) - This wine is a classic light gold, and the aroma has all the Chard qualities we know and love: a little oak, fresh bread and sweet butta. The taste has a good mouth feel from the wood, and all those nice aromatic qualities show up as little restrained hints in the finish. 90 points

2006 Wattle Creek Sauvignon Blanc, Mendocino, California ($12-$14) - With a superbright and clean color with a burst of white gold, this wine's aroma is mineral with delicate citrus and grapefruit. The taste is stunning. The flavors are complex and perfectly balanced without any overripe aggressiveness. 90 points

2006 Calera Pinot Noir, Central Coast, California ($12-$15) - The color has a beautiful light clear color like the inside of a ripe plum. The aroma is classic Pinot with black cherry ice cream, violets, a hint of wild strawberry and some earth tones. The taste has great fruit acidity and concentration with a clean, pure, focused finish. 90 points

Best splurges

2006 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California ($46) - The color is beautifully light with a pink and purple hue on the rim. The aroma has a youthful grip to it. The fruit in the aroma is almost like an intense concentrated powder. The taste is all there, with warm and elegant dark cherries, good acidity and a length that can only come from the cool long growing season of the Sonoma Coast. 94 points

2005 Caduceus "Primer Paso" Syrah/Sauvignon Blanc/Muscat, Cornville ($54.99) (300 cases produced/California grapes) - The color is an elegant vermilion and deep blue on the rim with a dark garnet in the center. The aroma has spice, dark ripe berry fruit and smoke - all in balance, with a subtle complexity. The taste has chewy berry fruit right up front, good acidity and freshness, pink peppercorn spice with a long fruit acid finish. Amazingly restrained and more food-friendly than most California reds out there. 93 points

2006 Miner Vineyard "Simpson Vineyard" Viognier, California ($20.99) - The color is vibrant and shiny, with pure intense green-gold. The aroma is tropical, white peach and melon with some spice to give it an edge. The taste is big and lush with some heat from the sunshine and spice that gives it structure. The finish has a touch of green pineapple and good tartness. 90 points

Best unusual wines

2006 Lioco Indica, Mendocino County, California ($18-$22) - A blend of old-vine Carignan (87 percent) and Petite Sirah (13 percent), the color is hugely intense and gorgeous garnet red with a purple hue. The aroma is woodsy with powerful cassis and currant tones. The taste begins with a lovely structure and intense young berry fruit that falls short in the finish. 89 points

2006 Uvaggio Vermentino, Lodi, California ($10.99) - A light white gold in color, it has floral and sweet green tones in the aroma. The taste is lip-smackin' fresh with good character and balance. 87 points

Best sparklers

Taittinger Brut "La Francaise" Reims, Champagne, France, ($53) - The color is straw yellow with very fine bubbles. The aroma is slightly toasty with faint, clean Chardonnay fruit and mild citrus pop. The taste is the kind I want more of: subtle and balanced in every way with a clean, refreshing finish. 90 points

Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir, Sonoma County, California ($13.50) - The color is a very subtle chiffon pink with bright silver tones surrounding it. The aroma has delicate freshly baked bread with some light red berry. The taste is crisp and has a lovely concentrated red fruit and citrus quality. This wine competes very well with the bubbles from France. 92 points