1997 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (About $25)

Experienced cooks can pretty much tell how something will taste from its smell. In this Cabernet blend (with small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc), you can detect a little cedar, a little toasted oak and a little vanilla, all carried by the fine scent of ripe red berries. It invites you take a sip.

This is not one of those blockbuster Cabernets, so it won’t overwhelm the Thanksgiving turkey. It’s restrained and elegant, medium-bodied and surprisingly round in the mouth, with enough grip that it can age for a while if you don’t get around to uncorking it this Thanksgiving.

Available at fine wine shops. If you’re unable to find this wine, ask your retailer to contact the winery at (800) 963-9454.