A perennial best buy in the pages of The Wine Advocate, the medium ruby-colored 2000 Chateau Cascadais is a wonderful value. Its lead pencil and black fruit aromas lead to a medium-bodied character of juicy blackberries, spices, and cassis. This fresh, well-balanced, elegant wine also possesses a long, flavorful finish. It should be consumed over the next 3-4 years.Importer: Simon N Cellars, Charlottesville, VA; tel. (434) 977-4476

The 1998 Chateau Cascadais Corbieres is reminiscent of a Bordeaux costing $25.00 to $30.00. It is owned by the proprietor of Chateau Tour Haut-Caussan, one of the Medoc's perennial over-achievers. Blended from Syrah, Grenache, and other assorted varietals (no Carignan), it reveals an amazingly sweet, cassis, and spicy oak-scented nose. On the palate, it is soft, satin-textured, medium-bodied, and displays lovely cherry, mocha, and blackberry flavors. Anticipated maturity: now-2003. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; (202) 832-9083.

This estate, owned by the proprietor of the well-known Bordeaux cru bourgeois, Tour-Haut-Caussan, has produced a knock-out value in this full-bodied, spicy, rich, complex 1992 Corbieres. The forceful, fragrant nose of cedarwood, cigar smoke, and spicy, black-cherry fruit is followed by a medium to full-bodied, surprisingly rich, fleshy wine, with muscle, glycerin, light tannin, and a heady finish. It will offer an impressive, beefy mouthful of well-made red wine over the next 2-3 years.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083. A best buy.