Wine of the Week: Chateau Bois Redon 2006

The Chateau Bois Redon 2006 (about $10 at big box stores) is not the superior wine the 2005 was, but at this price it is a reasonable choice for pairing with whatever meats, encased or otherwise, you might be throwing on the grill this weekend.

This red wine of Bordeaux is meant to be drunk young. It is not a candidate for the cellar and doesn't pretend to be. It is soft and fruity, as you would expect of a blend that is 75 percent merlot, but the cabernet sauvignon that rounds out the blend gives it a stiffer backbone and a pronounced whiff of leather at first sniff. It drinks easily, unfussily and would benefit from a slight chilling to somewhere around 65 degrees. Not cold, but not room temp, either.

The 2006 is definitely a casual food wine. Burgers and brats, perhaps accompanied by veggies grilled in foil with olive oil and garlic, are naturals with this light-bodied wine. We haven't tried it yet, but we suspect it would go nicely with down-home Mexican fare like chiles rellenos and beef tamales, and, by extension, with Cuban staples like picadillo. But do drink it with food. This is not a wine for solo sipping.

Colette and John Bancroft. She is the Times' book editor, and he is a freelance writer specializing in food, wine and travel.