A blend of 100% Syrah that comes from a single plot of northeast facing vines, the 2011 Costieres De Nimes Avec des Si offers impressive purity and focus, as well as medium to full-bodied richness and depth. Cassis, violets, licorice and mineral-tinged herbs all emerge from the glass, and it is an outstanding effort to drink over the coming 5-6 years. Importer: Vanguard Wines LLC - www.vanguardwines.com

A word of warning, the 2009 Costieres de Nimes Avec des Si should be fine with another year or two of bottle age, possibly meriting an outstanding score, but it was reduced when I tasted it, and I only saw it once. This 100% Syrah exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as lots of fruity blackberry and cassis flavors and good body, but the nose is knocked out because of the reductive aspects. There is admirable purity in the flavors (I don’t think the reduction carries that far) and aeration seems to help. Anyone drinking this wine over the near term is advised to decant it. This excellent Costieres de Nimes estate has fashioned an impressive portfolio of 2009s. Moreover, as with just about any wine from this appellation, prices are fair, making this a treasure-trove of value.Importer: Paul M. Young Fine Wines, Los Angeles, CA; tel. (213) 232-5199

A ripe, toasty style, with melted licorice, fig bread and fruitcake notes leading the way for medium-weight plum and currant fruit. For fans of the style. Drink now. -JM

Shows an aroma of crushed red fruits, with rich flavors of plum, raspberry and blueberry. This has a juicy finish, with medium grip that echoes with red berries and dark chocolate. Syrah. Drink now. 400 cases made. -KM

The 2007 reds are all very good wines, with the most simple being the 2007 Vin de Pays Avec des Si. It is a dense purple-hued, modern take on winemaking with lots of oak, which seems to intrude on the wine’s intrinsic character. Nevertheless, it is a well-made effort. One of the Costieres de Nimes’s top estates for quality and value, Mas Neuf is run by Luc Baudet.Importers: Barterhouse, New York, NY; tel. (917) 463-3076; and Paul M. Young Fine Wines, Los Angeles, CA; tel. (323) 222-2003