2002 Glen Eldon Dry Bore Shiraz

A rich, juicy Shiraz from the Barossa Valley, the 2002 Glen Eldon Dry Bore Shiraz is a deep, plummy red, laced with flavors of blackberries and currants, chocolate and peppercorns. Velvet in the mouth, it’s a live wire, with a bright acidity and lingering finish of spice and vanilla.

Pull the cork on this one for a braised lamb shank with beans, a roast goose or a celebratory standing rib roast. Save a bottle or two for later. Give it a few years, and it should be drinking even better.

Quick swirl

Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia

Price: About $25

Style: Full-bodied and lush

Food it goes with: Braised lamb shank, roast goose, standing rib roast

Where you find it: Malibu Village Wines in Malibu, (310) 456-2924; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454 and (800) 76WINEX; Wine House in Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731; and Woodland Hills Wine Co. in Woodland Hills, (818) 222-1111

-- S. Irene Virbila