2004 Chateau Guiot ‘Numa’ Costieres de Nimes

A stunning red from the still-undervalued Languedoc region in southern France and a producer who consistently turns out interesting, well-crafted wines. Chateau Guiot’s ‘Numa’ is 100% Syrah from old vines and in this case, that’s no exaggeration -- the vines are all more than 50 years old. Numa is the Roman name given to the eldest son of each generation of the Cornut family, proprietors of Chateau Guiot. Numa, the wine, is inky and concentrated, lush with fruit and perfumed with blackberries and wild herbs.

Bold and vivid, it’s built for food, and particularly food with vibrant flavors. In this season, that might be a pork roasted with wild herbs, braised duck legs or a daube with olives.

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Quick swirl

Region: Languedoc

Price: About $18

Style: Bold and bright

Food it goes with: Pork roast, braised duck legs, daube with olives

Where you find it: Beverage Warehouse in Marina del Rey, (310) 306-2822; Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463; Wally’s in West Los Angeles, (310) 475-0606; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454 and (800) 76WINEX

-- S. Irene Virbila