1998 Greg Norman Estates Coonawarra Cabernet-Merlot, Australia

Australian wines are on a roll. A prime area for reds is Coonawarra, several hundred miles southeast of Adelaide, from where this astute Cabernet-Merlot blend from Greg Norman Estates hails. On the nose, there’s a whiff of new oak (a taste for which Australians and Californians share). In the mouth, the Merlot gentles the Cabernet to produce a round, full-bodied wine with overtones of earth and berries. Renowned golfer Norman liked the wine from this property so much, he ended up buying the estate (in partnership with Australia’s Mildara Blass Wines). This is the first vintage under his name.

About $12. Available at Topline Wine & Spirits, Glendale, (818) 500-9670; Wine House, West Los Angeles, (800) 626-9463; Wine Exchange, Orange, (800) 769-4639; Wine Club, Santa Ana, (714) 835-6485; and Hi Time Wine Cellars, Costa Mesa, (800) 331-3005. If you can’t find this wine, ask your retailer to contact the distributor, Mildara Blass Wines (949) 716-8271.