Click Wine Group, a privately held, Seattle-based company that owns and imports wine from around the world, features a great selection of recession-friendly vintages with average prices of between $10 - $13. Their Global Wine Collection consists of signature varietals from world-class appellations with easy to pronounce (and sometimes amusing) names and appealing, consumer friendly packaging aimed at taking the intimidation out of wine. They have something for virtually every palate and summertime occasion.

Fat Bastard Chardonnay:

To craft Fat Bastard Chardonnay, grapes are sourced from all over France's Languedoc-Roussillon region. The golden yellow wine with pale-green tints has expressive stone-fruit aromas with soft floral undertones and well-balanced citrus and acacia notes. Soft oak gives warmth and balance to the palate. Serve with fresh crab or shrimp, or with a roasted pork tenderloin and vegetables. Try also: Rosé.

2 Up Shiraz:

Named for a popular game of chance in Australia, 2 Up is an elegant, intense and exceptional quality Shiraz that is hand-crafted from a blend of grapes carefully selected from highly prized local vineyards. According to Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate, 2 Up represents "the type of wine value that simply can't be found in California." Goes well with Italian dishes, ribs, and grilled meats such as aged beef and lamb.

Root: 1 Cabernet Sauvignon:

Chile is one of the very few grape growing regions in the world where original European rootstocks have survived, producing the intense fruit flavor and authentic varietal character of Root: 1 wines. Rich ruby color with aromas of ripe berries and soft plum are followed by tastes of black cherry, soft vanilla and dark chocolate characterize their Cabernet. Artfully accompanies grilled meats, ripe cheeses, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine and chocolate. Try also: Chardonnay.

The sudden rise in the price of Chateau Lafite 2008 proves that wine critic Robert Parker's influence remains strong. Parker gave the 2008 high marks in the Wine Advocate newsletter saying that it compares favorably to both the 2005 and the 2000. Almost immediately the price jumped. Decanter reports that according to Liv-ex, Chateau Lafite was trading at £2000 per case but jumped to £3,500 after Parker's words (it later went back down to around £3000).

Many people have said that while the 2008 is better than was expected, it's not extraordinary. Parker's enthusiastic endorsing of the vintage has wine sellers concerned afraid the chateaux may raise their prices because of Parker's endorsement. Such a move could prove risky in this fragile wine market. And as always when discussing Parker many wonder if one man should have so much power.

Oenophiles mark your calendars for October 23: wine mystic Robert Parker will host an exclusive tasting featuring Bordeaux wines from 2005, what Parker says is "the greatest vintage produced during my thirty year career." For $2,000 per person ($1,000 of which is a charitable donation toward Culinary Institute scholarships), tasters will sample 18 wines, including all five of the Premiers Grand Crus from the Left Bank, which are currently priced at $75,000 a case.

Check out Robert Parker's website to learn more about the wines he favors and to search over 100,000 tasting notes from Parker's extensive database.

Bordeaux chateaux are starting to release their prices for the 2007 vintage but there is already bad news. The emperor of wine, famed wine critic Robert Parker has slammed the latest vintage handing out low scores and branding the vintage as overpriced. Wine buyers often look to Parker's scores to see if they should buy wine futures which are sold two years before a vintage's release. In his vintage review titled "2007 Bordeaux: Who Will Buy Them and at What Price?" he has basically told buyers not to bother unless prices are lowered dramatically.

The news is devastating for some Bordeaux producers for whom Parker's scores may mean less sales. Certainly his advice carries considerable weight and may influence wine dealers not to purchase simply because they are afraid they won't be able to sell to wine collectors in the long run. Should any one man have this much power?

Parker gave only three of his coveted 100 point scores this year and all three were for whites, Chateau Pape Clement white and Haut-Brion, were both marked 96-100, and Chateau Climens, a sweet white tasted by Parker's British sidekick Neal Martin, got 98-100. Even Bordeaux's top five, first growth wines didn't even hit 95 with Chateau Margaux earning a 92-94, Chateau Haut-Brion a 91-94, and Mouton-Rothschild a 90-94. Chateau Lafite and Chateau Latour both got a 90-93.

If you are an oenophile, you are doubtlessly familiar with the name of Robert Parker. If you are a Parker fan now you can tell the world with a special Parker-themed tie that includes small images of wine glasses, bottles, grapes, the letters "RP100" (in honor of his famous 100 point wine selections) and his favorite bulldog. Parker's proceeds will go to benefit the Wine Advocate Fund for Philanthropy to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the AppleTree Institute. If you order from Capital Ties they throw in a snappy pair of Wine Advocate cufflinks. The tie sells for $65.

Washington wines are getting much more appreciation lately. Recently the 2002 and 2003 Cabernet Sauvignons from Quilceda Creek Vintners of Snohomish became the first wines from Washington state to receive 100-point ratings from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. In over 25 years of wine tastings, Parker has only given his top rating to less than one percent of the thousands of wines he has tasted. Wines from noted vineyards such as Screaming Eagle, Penfold's Grange, Harlan Estate and Chateaux Margaux have been given this honor.

Quilceda Creek is a small, family-owned  winery that recently celebrated their 25th vintage. Alas if you are looking to taste these delicious wines you are going to have to hunt around. The wines, which both cost in the mid $80s, are sold out. They produce approximately 3,400 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon each year which always sell out quickly. You might want to get on their mailing list, in 2007 the winery will offer mailing list customers its first Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the winery's estate vineyard on Red Mountain.

Chateau Montelena, a Napa Valley winery, has just released their 2002 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is the 25th bottling of Chateau Montelena's Estate Cabernet, making it one of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignons in the region.  The 2002 growing season produced a crop of small, highly concentrated berries resulting in a richly-flavored wine.  Wine god Robert M. Parker Jr. awarded the 2002 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon a score of 95 points  and the winery is featured in Parker's latest book "The World's Greatest Wine Estates." The wine sells for $95 per bottle.