1999 J. L. Chave “Selection Mon Coeur” Cotes-du-Rhone, Rhone Valley

Mon Coeur (‘my heart’) is the joint project of two friends, Eddie Gelsmans of Wine Library in Petaluma, Calif., and Jean-Louis Chave, the young son of legendary Hermitage producer Gerard Chave. The Chave family has, in fact, been making wine in the northern Rhone for more than 600 years. The 1999 is only the second vintage of this outstanding wine.

It’s made mostly from Syrah grapes. The color is an intense red-violet; the beguiling nose of violets and sweet spices practically jumps out of the glass. With its brilliant, ripe fruit, it has a juicy and youthful pizzazz.

About $19. Available at Mission Wines in South Pasadena, (626) 403-9463; The Wine House in West L.A., (310) 479-3731; The Wine Merchant in Beverly Hills, (310) 278-7322; Conejo Wines in Thousand Oaks, (805) 496-1324; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454; Jonathan’s Market in La Jolla, (858) 459-2677; and WinesPlus.com. If you can’t find this wine, have your local retailer contact the distributor, Adventures in Wine, (800) 870-9463.