2005 Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac-Leognan

On the palate, this Chateau Carbonnieux is all cool, steely fruit -- a gorgeous example of the Bordeaux blanc. Sauvignon Blanc fleshed out with 30% Semillon, the 2005 carries a hint of lime and minerals and has a long, lovely finish. Served slightly chilled, it’s tremendously food-friendly.

Open a bottle with Kumamoto oysters on the half shell, with a sumptuous chilled seafood platter, or with spiny lobster. It plays well with silky smoked trout, too, and like most Sauvignons, loves fish in a sauce, maybe a beurre blanc kissed with lime. A great wine for the price.

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Quick swirl

Region: Bordeaux

Price: From $35 to $42

Style: Crisp and concentrated

Food it goes with: Oysters, chilled seafood platter, smoked salmon or trout, spiny lobster, fish in beurre blanc.

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Where you find it: Hi-Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463, www.hitimewine .net; Wine Connections in San Marino, (626) 289-1066; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454 and (800) 76WINEX, www.winex.com; the Wine House in West Los Angeles, (310) 479-3731, www.winehouse .com; and Woodland Hills Wine Co. in Woodland Hills, (818) 222-1111, www.whwc.com.