2005 Penfolds South Eastern Australia Rawson’s Retreat Shiraz-Cabernet

Pencil shavings, cedar, and slight artichoke aromas; full bodied with big jammy black currant, coffee, dark chocolate, and black licorice with a nice finish of the blueberry/blackberry filling of a Dolly Madison turnover. Excellent with our lasagna. Opened for 1 hour. $8; 4 out of 5 stars and a great value!

2004 Joseph Phelps Le Mistral Monterey County

Took an hour to open up and the theme is coffee. Vanilla oak, earthiness, chocolate-covered nuts and blackberries with toasted French oak, espresso and floral notes. Interesting blob of slimy oyster tannins with lots of oak, earthiness, coffee, almost-syrupy blackberry and white pepper with semi-sweet chocolate on the finish. 70% SY, 24% GR, 3% PS. $40; 4 out of 5 stars.

2005 Hewitson Barossa Valley Miss Harry GSM

55%-GR, 33%-SY, 12%-MO; $20; 4 out of 5 stars.

2005 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes du Rhône Cuvee Romaine

Pencil lead, floral cherry, dried herbs; steely, mineral, full-bodied. $13; 3 out of 5 stars.

2006 Madrona Syrah El Dorado Cardanini Vineyards

Medum-dark ruby burgundy; purple candied grape juice, pomegranate, butterscotch, slightly toasted oak, floral carnations and rose with a little Brett, but definitely young; dark fruit, not complex, but structure is just strong enough to make it enjoyable, flavors revolve around a core of toasted vanilla and cinnamon oak. $16; 3 out of 5 stars.