The 1999 Chateau de Campuget Red is crafted from equal proportions of Grenache and Syrah. According to this estate's American importer, Robert Kacher, the keys to this wine's success are moderate yields (Grenache at 35 hectoliters per hectare, Syrah at 43 hectoliters per hectare), and the fact that the Grenache was harvested at sur-maturite levels of ripeness. Its sweet dark fruit aromas lead to a rich, fat, dense, and tangy character packed with jammy black currant flavors. Medium-bodied and supple, this superb value will benefit from a year of cellaring for its somewhat tight, yet concentrated core of fruit to fully develop. Projected maturity: 2001-2004.Importer: ROBERT KACHER SELECTIONS, 2015 Vine Street NE, Washington, DC 20018; tel. (202) 832-9083; fax (202) 529-2579

This wine is nearly outstanding. When measured by points per pennies, this is an extraordinary value. Made from a blend of 55% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Merlot, and tank-fermented and aged, it is a surprisingly complex, rich, opulently-textured wine displaying a deep ruby/purple color, sweet, black cherry, kirsch, pepper, and spice in a medium-bodied format. Crammed with fruit, extract, and glycerin, it comes across as sumptuous on the palate - amazing for a $7 dry red from southern France. This fleshy, vividly ripe and pure wine should drink well for 3-4 years.This wine may be even better than my point score. Chateau de Campuget is one of the stars of the up and coming appellation of Costieres de Nimes. This wine, tank-fermented and aged, is exciting because of its wonderfully pure fruit, texture, and purity.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083

The nearly outstanding 1996 Costieres de Nimes Rouge is a blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Grenache vines are 50-years old, and it is that varietal that seems to dominate the wine's personality. The dark purple, opaque color is followed by sweet, expansive aromas of kirsch, tobacco, pepper, and spice. Medium to full-bodied, with superb richness, terrific purity, and layers of fruit, this is a gutsy, exuberant, impeccably well-made, dry red that should drink well for 4-5 years.I find it ironic that importer Robert Kacher, who is justifiably renowned for his portfolio of top-flight Burgundies (aged largely in new oak casks), does especially fine work in under $20 wines that never see one day in oak! The Domaine du Campuget wines are tank-fermented and aged. Excellent values.The wines reviewed in this segment are the finest Campuget wines I have yet tasted. Many readers are already familiar with the glorious wine bargains that this domaine has produced in the past from this region, just south of Avignon in the Mistral-beaten, lunar-landscape-like area that is the corridor between the southern Rhone valley and Languedoc-Roussillon. Many of our nation's small quality importers have discovered that the finest wines of Costieres de Nimes merit serious attention. Prices are still a bargain, but do not expect that to last long given today's international wine market.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083