Little James’ Basket Press, France

Louis Barruol of Chateau de Saint Cosme in Gigondas has done a beautiful thing. By sourcing young Grenache from top vineyards in the Rhone Valley, he’s produced a lush, juicy Rhone red that sells for an astonishingly low price for the quality.

Barruol enjoys the freedom of making a 100% Grenache outside any appellation ground rules. Little James’ Basket Press is bottled unfiltered and unfined and sold as a nonvintage wine. It’s a winemaker’s little conceit, a playful, delicious wine for everyday drinking that shows off Grenache for the classy grape it is.

Enjoy with charcuterie, grilled sausages and chops, soupe au pistou or lasagna.

Quick swirl

Region: Rhone Valley.

Price: About $10.

Style: Lush and juicy. Easy drinking.

Food it goes with: Steak frites, grilled sausages and chops, lasagna.

Where you find it: East Beach Wine Co. in Santa Barbara, (800) 656-9463 , www.eastbeachwine.com; K&L; Wine Merchants in Hollywood, (323) 464-9463, www.klwines.com; Mission Wines in South Pasadena, (626) 403-9463, www.missionwines.com; the Wine House in West Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731, www.winehouse.com; and Whole Foods markets.

-- S. Irene Virbila