#10 in the Whole Foods Top Ten Summer Wine List - the 2009 Pazo de Serantellos Albariño.

Totally disappointing ending to what started off as a great round of top ten wines from whole foods - the last few have been more than a bit off for me. The Pazo Serantellos I wanted to like, as I have some affection for Albariño, but, it just didn't make the cut for me. Steely and sweet at the same time, it does offer up some nice lemon, grapefruit and grassy notes, but it jumps all around my mouth like a distracted kid, going from toy to toy, leaving no toy the same as he left it. It finally does come together somewhat in the finish, but like taking all those kids and trying to stuff them in a school bus after feeding them all sugar. Just too chaotic for me.

And, to quote my wife - "I've had way worse white wines, but there's no real reason to drink that." 'Nuff said...

What Whole Foods has to say about the wine: Think salty sea air, a paella supper on the beach and this intensely aromatic refresher in hand. Apricot and blood orange notes hint at the expansive flavor of this affordable Spanish White, ideal with Manchego cheese.

What you should do: Buy it? Nope, I wouldn't if I were you. Look, there are some decent whites on this list - Green Truck, Pisato, Sokol Blosser Evolution - go with those, they're worth your money.

My rating: 83

#8 in the Whole Foods Top Ten Summer Wine List - the 2009 Opala Vinho Verde.

Surprisingly low in alcohol at 9%, this wine definitely qualifies as a long, hot day drinker - one that won't knock you over by day's end. With star fruit, lemon, grapefruit and straw, this wine has much more body than it's nearly clear color let's on. Bright acidity and a decent blend of the elements, but leaves me empty on the finish. Also, shows some cigarette tobacco on the finish, like the taste I used to have in my mouth the morning after hanging out in bars that used to allow smoking - knocked it down a couple points for me.

What Whole Foods has to say about the wine: When your laid-back lunch includes ceviche, shrimp cocktail or grilled salmon, don't miss this citrusy Portuguese tongue tingler. So fresh, juicy and easy to throw back that we bought it all! Pour cold and generously with Robiola cheese, too.

What you should do: No need to buy this one. There are plenty of better whites on the Summer Top Ten list that I would pursue them first.

My rating: 85

#7 in the Whole Foods Top Ten Summer Wine List - the 2007 Valdemar Tempranillo.

This one's gonna be short as the Valdemar is definitely my least favorite of the Summer list so far. Packed with over-ripe dark fruit, out of balance and diluted, this effort from Valdemar leaves me empty. I didn't pair it with any food, so not sure on how it pairs, but, on its own, won't be making even my weeknight wine list.

What Whole Foods has to say about the wine: Need an elegant, racy Red? Or a classic sipper with a modern twist? Pair this crowd pleaser's ripe cherry flavor and nose full of blackberries and currants with Gran Queso cheese and cookout classics, from fajitas to burgers.

What you should do: Don't buy it. Just fell flat for me and with so many good wines out there, why waste time on those that don't make the cut?

My rating: 84

#6 in the Whole Foods Top Ten Summer Wine List - the Non-Vintage (NV) Sokol Blosser Evolution Lucky Edition.

So many grapes in this white - Muller-Thurgau, White Riesling, Semillon, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat Canelli, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Sylvaner - that it's hard to figure out which one is dominant. But, if I had to choose it tastes most like a Riesling, then a Gewurztraminer, with a bit of sweetness wrapped around a blend of Meyer lemon, pink grapefruit and pear. Very refreshing, but with the sweetness, I probably like this most when it's right out of the refrigerator and very cold.

What Whole Foods has to say about the wine: The floral aroma and tropical flavors of this juicy, off-dry Chardonnay alternative will knock your flip-flops off. Its blend of nine grapes, including Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer, shines with Mexican or Caribbean food, or with Epoisses cheese.

What you should do: Buy this one. It's a great weeknight white, has a good label and is an interesting blend of a bunch of different grapes - if nothing else, you and your friends can try to pick out which qualities come from which grape.

My rating: 88

#5 in the Whole Foods Top Ten Summer Wine List - the 2007 Concannon Vineyard Petite Sirah Conservancy Livermore Valley.

I'm a big fan of Petite Sirah, but over the years, and as "wine snobby" as this is going to sound, I've become more fond of higher-end Petite Sirah's and less enamored with lower-end. These are big, chewy wines and, if produced poorly or on the cheap, it's a tough glass to get through. So, I've grown to be skeptical of most Petite Sirah under $20 (if you have a few I should try, I'm always open to suggestions).

That said, I was happy to see a Petite Sirah on the Summer list this year and just as happy to see it was from a trusted producer like Concannon. This wine is black as ink (as in, you could shove a lamp into the wine glass and even then you wouldn't see light) and a lush, dense offering, with dark fruit, plum, spice and a massive finish. Tastes a little diluted, but not too bad and, overall, a well balanced and structured wine for the price. First night rating: 88.

Second night rating: 84. I don't know what happened, perhaps I was right about the dilution, but this wine absolutely fell apart for me on the second night, unfortunately reinforcing my initial opinion about lower-end Petite Sirah. My advice is to enjoy it the first night only.

What Whole Foods has to say about the wine: This plummy Red, with hints of blackberry and white pepper, is your go-to wine for grilling. Drink with blackened fish and heavily peppered steaks, or savor with nutty Reserve Gouda for an amazing flavor match-up.

What you should do: I'd leave this one at Whole Foods, unless you're planning to serve the entire bottle the first night. You will be disappointed if you try to drink it the second night - it's almost like it's a different wine, or, more appropriately put, all the weaknesses of the first night, particularly the dilution, dominate on the second night.

My rating: 88 first night / 84 second night.

Wine #4 in the Whole Foods Top Ten Summer Wine List - 2009 Green Truck Chardonnay.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish...or, for today's story, Red Truck, White Truck, Pink Truck, Green Truck. A much more adult story, to be sure, and a theme that Red Truck (started by Cline Cellars and now owned by Dan Leese and Doug Walker) has been riding for quite some time now. Thankfully, the naming hasn't distracted from the wine, which, for the most part, is good across the board, especially considering the low price points. This is my first venture into Green Truck, their line of organic wines, and I'll say that if the other Green Truck wines are like this Chardonnay, I may have found a few new, low-priced go-to wines. The Chardonnay is definitely oakey and not too complex, but overall, the fruit and oak balance each other well. A medium-bodied, rich and well-priced Chardonnay for California that should be on everyone's weeknight white list.

What Whole Foods has to say about the wine: To complement this medium-bodied White, layered with ripe citrus, green apples and peaches, drink it with summer favorites like fish tacos and fried chicken, or with Kilaree Irish Cheddar. These organic grape pioneers use biodegradable corks and recycled paper labels.

What you should do: Buy it! It's a good price point at around $10. And, for those of you who shy away from the over-oaked California Chardonnay's, this is a good compromise - the oak is there, but it won't knock you over.

My rating: 88

Wine #2 in the Whole Foods Top Ten Summer Wine List - the 2008 Malenchini Red Label Chianti...

I don't drink much Chianti so I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for in these wines. I do know, however, that most Chianti's have not been to my taste - maybe a little thin, maybe a little too acidic...I just don't know. This wine, however, is an exception - especially in its price range. Very nice acidity, tart red fruit and a good dose of wood and earth. I paired it with a Turkey Bolognese from Trader Joes and it fit very well, so I think I'll file this under "weeknight wines," especially paired with pasta.

What Whole Foods has to say about the wine: Raise a glass to the inaugural vintage of this rustic, Italian Red. The flavors and aromas of stewed fruit and cherry pie are mouth-watering with summer pastas or hunks of Parmigiano Reggiano.

What you should do: Definite buy. One of the better Chianti's I've tasted in this price range and it matches very well my recent migration to more acidic wines.

My rating: 88

Thought I'd kick off this year's Whole Foods Top Ten Summer Wine List with a Riesling from Washington State. I've been really impressed with the Riesling's coming out of Washington State, with two of the standouts being Long Shadows Poet's Leap and Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Riesling. Both good flavor profiles, nice complexity, not too sweet and great values at under $20.

For the 2009 Plow & Stars Riesling, here are my tasting notes: On the nose, nectarine, apricot and melon - this is a much bigger nose than I thought I would find. On the palate, nectarine, meyer lemon and grapefruit. Not really off-dry, more like semi-sweet. It is smooth as silk, but a little too sweet for my taste. Overall, nicely balanced, mild acidity (would have liked more), with a pretty long finish for a riesling.

What Whole Foods has to say about it: Made with Organically Grown Grapes. This first-release orange blossom and honeysuckle gem leaves us daydreaming about warm, slow afternoons on the farm, or the back porch. Its hint of sweetness and good acidity match up with spicy Thai food and with Humboldt Fog cheese.

What you should do: If you like your Riesling on the sweeter side, not just off-dry, definitely pick up a bottle. Washington is making great Riesling right now and this is a good indicator of what's out there.

My rating: 87

Here marks the end of the Whole Foods Top Ten Holiday Wines review. Hope you enjoyed the write-ups and had a chance to go out and try some of these for yourself. If you did, let me know - would love to hear what you think.

Below is the wrap-up of my results. At the end of the full tasting, I was more often in the "buy it" camp than not. All ten are in order of preference below, along with my "What you should do" notes for each:

2008 Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir, Valle Central
Did I mention that you should buy this wine? Well, it's worth saying again. If you like Pinot Noir and good deals, this is the one for you. It's around $6 and an incredible Pinot Noir for that price - the QPR is off the charts on this one. My rating: 89 (I give it a 90 rating for wines under $10)

2008 Pisato Montepulciano
Buy it. Well worth having some around the house. After all, you know of any other sub $15 bottles of Organic Italian wine? Yes? Good, go buy this one. No? Well, good, go buy this one. My rating: 88

2008 Paso a Paso Tempranillo
Buy this wine. It's always nice to find a good Tempranillo and the quality of this wine, especially for the price, is high. My rating: 88

2008 Los Vascos Domaines Barons De Rothschild (Lafite) Special Selection Sauvignon Blanc
BUY IT! It's just a nice take on Sauvignon Blanc. Some good complexity, but an easy drinker at the same time. And, given that sweeter wines tend to find their way through the clutter more over the holidays, this was a nice surprise and a drier alternative. My rating: 88

2008 M. Chapoutier Belleruche Special Selection Cotes-Du-Rhone Blanc
Getting hard for the Whole Foods wines because I'm preparing to go next week and buy a bunch of these. This one's no exception. I would buy it. It's a good value, a nice wine, from a trusted producer who clearly cares about the world around them. If you had to pick up only one, I would probably err on the side of the Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir, but if there are a couple you can afford, this is also a good one to have on hand. My rating: 87

2007 Helfrich Gewurztraminer
Buy this wine in time for Thanksgiving. It will be a great one to kick off your night, especially with some good, rich cheeses, as Whole Foods suggests. The sweetness of the wine should be offset by the robust cheeses. My rating: 87

2008 Santa Julia Bonarda & 2008 El Coto Special Cuvee Rioja
Buy the Santa Julia and try it out, but if you want to get a Tempranillo, I would go for the Paso a Paso - just more bang for the buck on that one. Santa Julia rating - 87; El Coto rating - 86

2008 Marques De Riscal Rueda Seleccion Especial
Buy it. I think this is a timely wine and one that you can have with Thanksgiving dinner. A relatively light and refreshing wine, it would be a nice complement to the Helfrich Riesling, which is sweeter, but definitely a nice wine to pair with pre-dinner cheeses. Plus, between the two wines, you'll impress your guests with your international wine savvy. My rating: 86

J. P. Chenet Blanc De Blancs Frut
First off, I wouldn't take my advice on sparkling wines. If you have a keen eye for them, definitely buy it and see what you think. All the Whole Foods holiday wines are affordable. It won't be what we crack open for a special occasion, as I've had many champagnes that are better and feel more festive, but it's good. My rating: 85

2006 Red Truck Zinfandel Mendocino County
Don't buy this one. As I said, the producer used to be higher on my list and I don't know if it's just the Zinfandel that's throwing me off, but not my favorite. Plenty of other good ones on the list (like the Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir and the Paso a Paso Tempranillo) for you to choose from. My rating: 84

2008 Sutter Home Muscat of Alexandria
If you like sweet Muscat, definitely try this. If your palate is more like mine and prefer dried wines, you may want to try the 2008 Ca' del Solo Muscat from Bonny Doon - it's a beautiful, well balanced, drier Muscat that kept me going back for more when I first tried it. If you like cheese, find a way to get ahold of some Mount Tam or Rogue blue - these will certainly not disappoint. My rating: 82

I'm not much of a sparkling wine connoisseur. I know what i like when I taste it, but you can put most any sparkling wine in front of me, as long as it's not too sweet, and I'll probably like it enough to raise a toast at a wedding or at the stroke of midnight new years eve. But, I'm not one to analyze it and pull apart all the different elements - not even sure why except it may have something to do with bubbles getting in the way of the flavors and aromas. Let's just say that I wish I knew more about this category, but, for now, with so many other types of wines to explore, I'll leave it at "I know what I like when I taste it."

The short story is this - this a perfectly fine sparkling wine...nothing special, nothing too sweet, nothing too bubbly (in fact, just a few less bubbles than a lot of champagnes, which is good in my book since I lean more toward Prosecco for that very reason) and definitely not the best sparkler I've ever had. But it's fine. It's got a nice dry aroma, no attack on the nose, with a clean, light-yellow color and a dry finish.

What Whole Foods has to say: The value-minded—and utterly delicious—French Sparkler is back! Fine bubbles and a golden hue make this delicate but powerful pour refined. Whether you pair its apricot and buttery brioche notes with Bon Homme Brie from Normandy or Hervé Mons Camembert cheese, pour for a toast or sip after a long day, it always shines.

What you should do: First off, I wouldn't take my advice on sparkling wines. If you have a keen eye for them, definitely buy it and see what you think. All the Whole Foods holiday wines are affordable. It won't be what we crack open for a special occasion, as I've had many champagnes that are better and feel more festive, but it's good.

My rating: 85

NOTE: this sparkling wine was sent to me as a free sample.