Reynaud’s inexpensive reds include the 2008 Vin de Pays, a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and tiny amounts of Syrah, Cinsault and Counoise. It is an attractive berry-scented wine with lots of earth, underbrush and autumnal notes. Medium-bodied and spice, it is ideal for drinking over the next several years. At his home estate, Emmanuel Reynaud (who has been producing the Rayas wines since 1997) has nearly 100 acres of vineyards from which he makes a wonderful array of value-priced reds and whites.Importer: Martine’s Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400

The delicious, light ruby-hued, medium-bodied, lush, heady 2006 Vin de Pays exhibits loads of framboise and cherry fruit with hints of roasted herbs and spice in the background. Chateau des Tours is Emmanuel Reynaud’s (the nephew of the late Jacques Reynaud as well as the winemaker at Chateau Rayas and Fonsalette since 1997) home estate. His wines are always complex, aromatic efforts that never possess much color, but offer plush, full-bodied textures as well as plenty of personality. All of these cuvees are fairly-priced, especially the Vin de Pays and Cotes du Rhone. Both the 2006 and 2005 Vin de Pays are blends of 70% Grenache and the rest Counoise and Cinsault. There are 2,000 cases of the top cuvee, the Rayas-like Vacqueyras, a 100% Grenache cuvee made from fruit grown in pure sandy soils.Importer: Martine’s Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400

A sleeper of the vintage, the knock-out 2005 Vin de Pays offers classic kirsch liqueur and licorice aromas as well as a lush, full-bodied personality. It is loaded with flavor, texture, and length. The Cotes du Rhones, which are nearly all Grenache, sell for a song (about 10 euros at the estate). They are reasonably close imitations of the great Chateau Rayas.Chateau des Tours is Emmanuel Reynaud’s (the nephew of the late Jacques Reynaud as well as the winemaker at Chateau Rayas and Fonsalette since 1997) home estate. His wines are always complex, aromatic efforts that never possess much color, but offer plush, full-bodied textures as well as plenty of personality. All of these cuvees are fairly-priced, especially the Vin de Pays and Cotes du Rhone. Both the 2006 and 2005 Vin de Pays are blends of 70% Grenache and the rest Counoise and Cinsault. There are 2,000 cases of the top cuvee, the Rayas-like Vacqueyras, a 100% Grenache cuvee made from fruit grown in pure sandy soils.Importer: Martine’s Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400

The 2004 reds include a delicious 2004 Vin de Pays. Chateau des Tours is the family estate of Emmanuel Reynaud, the nephew of the late Jacques Reynaud as well as the winemaker at Chateau Rayas since 1997. His Cotes du Rhone and Vacqueyras are two of the best value picks in the southern Rhone. His 2005s are all successful. A blend of 50% Grenache and the rest Counoise and CinsaultImporter: Martine's Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400

The 2003 VDP, which is a tank-fermented and -aged cuvee of mostly Grenache with about 20% Cinsault, 10% Counoise, and 5% Syrah and Mourvedre added in, is soft, medium ruby in color, elegant, and surprisingly tasty and round. It is an ideal bistro/brasserie wine for uncritical quaffing (although it is actually better than that) with plenty of kirsch, raspberry, and peppery notes. Importer: Martine’s Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400