Five wines to uncork for empty nesters

In the blink of the eye - 18 years - the nest is empty, uninhabited, vacant. That bittersweet toast to your new status as empty nesters surprisingly turns festive when you realize with social media blaring there’s no way to disconnect from your kids - even if you tried. The nest may have a smaller population, but there’s as much chatter as ever, thanks to Facebook, Instagram, texts and tweets. So uncork this lineup and celebrate the fact that “empty nest” has become an obsolete term. This day and age disconnecting is simply impossible. Amen to that.

Artezin, 2015 Mendocino County Old Vine Zinfandel, 14.7%, $18. A big boy zin with snappy fruit - brambly black cherry with a hint of raspberry - and sassy spice. Full-bodied. Edgy.

Balletto, 2014 Russian River Valley, Chardonnay, 13.3%, $28. A lovely chardonnay that manages to be both lush and balanced. Tasty notes of ripe apple, melon and mineral. Crisp acidity. Lingering finish. Impressive.

Edna Valley Vineyard, 2016 California Rosé, 13%, $14. This is a pretty rosé with bright acid coupled with notes of raspberry, strawberry and mineral. Supple texture. Nice length.

Markham, 2014 Napa Valley Merlot, 14.2%, $25. This is a pretty merlot, weighted to red fruit. Bright, lively cherry coupled with a kiss of vanilla and a hint of dark chocolate. Firm tannins. Nice length. Striking.

Hanna, 2016 Sonoma County Rosé, 12%, $22. This floral rosé reels you in with aromas of white flowers and rose petals. On the palate there’s tangerine, strawberry and grapefruit - lively flavors. Refreshing.