2005 Domaine Les Grands Bois ‘Cuvee Les Trois Soeurs’

Not everybody espouses the idea that rose belongs only to summer. Here in L.A., we can drink it practically year-round. This is a great little $10 rose from the Cotes du Rhone. Not to be confused with the rouge of the same name, it’s a blend of Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault that’s a pale, clear salmon-rose in color and with a light, flowery scent. The fact that the wine is unfiltered contributes to its sense of character and place. Not to worry, it’s quite dry -- all the better for holiday birds and such.

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Quick swirl

Region: Rhone Valley

Price: About $10

Style: Dry and fragrant

Food it goes with: Roast chicken and turkey, grilled or pan-seared fish and shrimp. And bouillabaisse.

Where you find it: Topline Wine & Spirits in Glendale, (323) 665-8484; Mission Wines in South Pasadena, (626) 403-9463; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454 and (800) 76WINEX.

-- S. Irene Virbila