2000 Mas de Boislauzon Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Cuvee du Quet’

This cuvee shows why Chateauneuf-du-Pape is southern Rhone’s most fascinating wine. Powerful yet elegant, it has a hint of violets and kirsch in the nose and tastes intensely of wild dark berries. The texture is satiny, with ripe tannins and a long, layered finish. It’s a very clean, contemporary wine with none of the funk you sometimes find in Chateauneufs. Given the superb quality of this special cuvee, it’s an extraordinary wine at a great price.

*

Region: Southern Rhone

Price: About $50

Style: Full-bodied, but elegant

Food it goes with: Beef daubes, grilled lamb or pork chops, game

Where you find it: Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463; Vintage Wines Limited in San Diego, (858) 549-2112; Wally’s in West Los Angeles, (310) 475-0606; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454; and Woodland Hills Wine Co. in Woodland Hills, (818) 222-1111.