Languedoc: A French rebel

France’s Languedoc region specializes in “adventurous wines for adventurous palates,” said Dave McIntyre in The Washington Post. Long the source French diners turned to for “drinkable everyday plonk,” the region has become the go-to place for ambitious vintners who wish to experiment. The results can be startling.

2011 Abbaye Sylva Plana Les Novices ($18). A tremendous value, this inky blend of cinsault, grenache, and carignan is “firmly grounded” and well-balanced.

2009 Mas Bruguière La Grenadière ($33). Think “lavender and thyme carried on a Mediterranean breeze.” It should get even better with age.

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2011 Domaine Mont de Marie Vertigo ($18). This aptly named syrah-carignan blend “has an energy and a tension, as though it were walking a high wire.”