The 2000 Cotes du Ventoux (60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Carignan aged in stainless steel) exhibits a dense purple color as well as a sexy, ripe personality crammed with currants, blackberries, and cherries with a hint of smoke (although no wood is utilized). This corpulent red is best drunk during its first 2-3 years of life. This is a sensational value.My aging curve on this wine may be conservative. Why? No Ventoux estate has ever before produced wines this concentrated and balanced.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083

The 1999 Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee Nadal (equal parts old vine Grenache and young vine Syrah) offers dense cassis and cherry liqueur notes, along with licorice and espresso. Medium to full-bodied and silky, with gobs of fruit, it should drink well for 4-5 years. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083

Note: This luxury cuvee can only be differentiated in appearance from the estate's regular bottling by its back label. The dark ruby/purple-colored 1998 Cotes du Ventoux Serine offers an expressive nose of super-ripe black raspberries and hints of leather. This tight, well-structured, and concentrated wine is crammed with loads of black fruits. Full-bodied, powerful, and tightly wound, it displays ripe tannin in its long and supple finish. It will require cellaring before reaching its potential. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2006. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; (202) 832-9083.

The peppery, black-cherry-scented 1993 red wine was fashioned from a blend of 45% Syrah, 50% Grenache, and 5% Cinsault. Offering attractive, ripe fruit, medium body, a smooth as silk texture, and a heady finish, it is a solid, mouthfilling, easy to understand red wine for drinking over the next 2-3 years.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083. All of these wines are best buys.