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$12-$13

Nestled in the deep south of France, just beyond the Rhone Valley and on the eastern boundary of the Languedoc region, the Costieres de Nimes has produced wines that have made astonishing progress in recent years, revealing a striking similarity to their illustrious Rhone neighbors. This wine, a blend of 60 percent Syrah and 40 percent Grenache, begins with a characteristic earthiness, plum, dried berry and leather aromas, followed by black cherry, cedar and blackberry flavors. A big, full-bodied style, the wine will improve with longer (five to seven years) bottle aging, and will improve in the glass with some splash-decanting. (Splash-decanting is carefully, yet rapidly pouring the wine back and forth between two glasses several times to aerate it.) Great accompaniment to meats, hearty cheeses and robust dishes such as roast rabbit, lamb and cassoulet. Available at Elio's Wine Warehouse, The Wine Cellar. -- Brenda Maitland

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