The 1999 Estate Reserve is a blend of 55% Shiraz and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. It boasts an opaque ruby/purple color as well as a gorgeously plump, fleshy texture, sweet cassis fruit, and toasty wood notes. There are layers of concentration, terrific opulence, and a lusty, heady finish. Drink it over the next 7-8 years. Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (888) 472-5283

The nearly outstanding 1998 Estate Reserve (a 700-case blend of 75% Shiraz and 25% Cabernet) boasts aggressive sweet oak in addition to jammy black currants, berries, and smoky aromas as well as flavors. With admirable plumpness and fatness, it provides a succulent mouthful of fruit, glycerin, and alcohol (about 14%). Readers punch-drunk from some of the excessively high prices for New World wines should definitely check out Scarpantoni.Importer: Dan Philips, The Grateful Palate, Oxnard, CA; tel. (888) 472-5283