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We collect wine. We drink wine—a lot of wine. We love wine. And, we're fortunate to get paid, although not very much, to tell others about the wines we love. Each month, we select a top wine and then two "best bets" to be featured in one of our local newspapers. We have fun doing it and we like to think our down-to-earth approach helps others enjoy wine the way we do--as a prelude and an accompaniment to our evening meal.

The wines we feature are widely available and almost always are priced below $20. But please remember that not all wines are available in all markets, and the prices we list are only approximate. Wine prices vary dramatically from city to city and even from store to store in the same area.

With that in mind, we hope you too will enjoy some of the wines we have in the past several months. Among some of our top choices are:

1998 Thierry and Guy Fat Bastard Syrah ($12 - $14). This wine with the unusual name comes from France. This is a really good wine with peppery and dark fruit, especially blackberry, flavors. Although made from the same grape, French Syrah tends to be drier than Australian Shiraz. This one is moderately dry and has some nice oak flavors. It's an easy drinking wine and a good value for the price. This is a wine you can easily serve with vegetables dishes like saut�ed or grilled eggplant or eggplant Parmesan. Wild mushrooms, grilled or in a ragout, are another good match. It will also hold up to ethnic dishes like ravioli, tortellini or other filled pastas topped with a hearty meat sauce and burritos, tacos and enchiladas. Also try it with beef stew, calves liver, barbecued chicken and mild Cheddar or brie.

1998 CJ Pask Hawke's Bay Gimblett Road Merlot ($20 - $22) is a little pricier than most wines we suggest. But this New Zealand offering is worth the money. The aromas of oak, dark berries and plums fill the glass. Quite dry for a Merlot, it has nice rich tannins and dark berry and plum flavors. There's a hint of tobacco on the finish. This wine has the vibrance and fruitiness associated with young wines paired with a complexity of flavors beyond its years. It's great now and probably will be even better in a few years. Pair it with dishes filled with mushrooms and herbs, pork roast, veal chops, grilled salmon, tuna or swordfish. For an unusual treat, try it with Chinese take-out foods like teriyaki chicken or beef or Mongolian beef.

1998 Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz ($11 - $12) Here's a perfect example of how well the Australians can make wine that's not only delicious but very affordable. Wine Enthusiast gave it an 89 rating and named it one of its Top 100 Best Buys in 2000. We couldn't agree more with their decision. This is a meaty, very flavorful wine that has multiple layers of fruit including rich blackberries and red plums. A hint of mint adds a nice touch to this well balanced red that combines gentle tannins with bold acidity. Medium bodied with a jammy nose, slightly reminiscent of prunes, it offers a lot of bang for the buck. Enjoy just sipping it or pouring it at the dinner table. Beef is a natural with this Shiraz. It will be perfect with a simple steak and equally at home with the richness of a filet mignon or a nice slab of prime rib. The acidity in the wine will help cut the rib's fattiness. Lamb is another good match. And, don't be afraid to serve it with hearty pasta dishes in rich tomato sauce. Sharp Cheddar and other strong-flavored cheeses are other good matches. It would be perfect with a slice of pâté.

1999 Nectar Valley White Merlot ($5 - $7) WOW! We don't find many wines at this price to recommend. But we couldn't pass this one up. It was a real shocker. Since we aren't big fans of White Zinfandel, we didn't expect much, although we liked its orange-pink color. Its fruity nose enticed us as well. And we were pleasantly surprised to find that the berry and cherry flavors were crisp and clean. Nectar Valley's White Merlot is a well balanced, light wine which feels slightly thick in your mouth and lingers on the tongue. It's not nearly as sweet as most White Zinfandels and a good move up for White Zin drinkers looking to explore drier wines. Served nicely chilled this is a good brunch wine, especially if you have a creamy quiche or other egg dish on the menu. It's a natural match for fruit and should stand up well with light chicken dishes, especially if they have a fruit sauce. It should also compliment mild fish and seafood dishes.

Since we can only list one top wine each month, we have to relegate our other choices to the "best bets" category. Sometimes the decision is tough, but that's what we get paid for. Try some of these wines. We don't think you'll be disappointed.

1999 Jacob's Creek South Eastern Australia Chardonnay ($9 - $11) This relatively inexpensive wine will fill your nose with the aromas of sugared fruit and a little bit of wood. Both also add to the flavor. It's an especially fruity, medium-bodied Chardonnay with just the right amount of oak. Mellow and smooth, it's a little sweeter than we usually like our Chardonnays. But the nice balance of fruit, acidity and oak make it easy to drink and perfect with roasted chicken or turkey and all the trimmings, including a sweet potato casserole which will make the wine taste drier. Save a little or open another bottle to sip while enjoying some fresh fruit, like apples and grapes, after dinner.

1998 St. Supery Chardonnay ($15 - $17) You'll find the lush aroma of almonds and citrus fruit in this buttery Chardonnay which feels slightly thick on the tongue. Smooth and mellow, it is rich in the flavors of sweet grapefruit and other citrus fruits and ripe pears. For a simple meal or as a starter, pair this lovely Chardonnay with French onion soup, New England clam chowder or oyster stew. Chilled chicken or lobster salads are other good matches. So are most any seafood dishes or lean fish.

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