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At $5 a bottle, Chateau Camplazens Terrotica 2001 Syrah is one of the best values around. The winery was launched in 2000 by longtime New Orleans transplants Peter and Susan Close and its wines have earned acclaim for their minerality and silky mouth feel (even on a $5 bottle). "That’s because of the qualities associated with this part of the French Languedoc," said daughter Joanne Close in an interview with 225 in the fall. The winery is situated in the sub-appellation, La Clape, known for its steep elevation changes, wind and overall rough treatment of the vines, which said Close, "suits them just fine."

Grapes “like to suffer. They love temperature swings and . . .intense sun.” Last July, Wine Spectator awarded Camplazens’ 2000 Serendipity Syrah 88 points and gave it a “Best Value” nod. The winery’s highest quality red, the 2000 Premium, won a gold medal at the 2003 International Wine Challenge and was awarded 90 points from Wine and Spirits Magazine. The winery suggests putting up the 2001 Terrotica until 2008 or drinking it now.

I’m not sure I found the rosemary, thyme or juniper that reportedly defines Terrotica’s flavor profile, but I agree to its silky texture and subtle earthiness. I found it for $4.99 at Southdowns Discount Liquor on Perkins and Acadian.

Check out the winery's Web site here.

Note: Chateau Camplazens wines are distributed by Merlin Wines, a boutique wine purveyor based in Baton Rouge and run by other members of the Close family. Consequently, we have a nice representation of Camplazens wines at locally owned grocery and liquor stores.

From bargain wines, we now go to high-priced salad dressings. Cousins Products from Covington makes fresh, worth-the-sticker-shock dressings in a handful of assertive, versatile flavors. Its Creole tomato, a Caesar-like taste punctuated by the sweetness of fresh tomato puree, made them famous, but the peppery bleu cheese and the garlicky, bright green spinach vinaigrette are also noteworthy. What’s most distinct about these dressings is their lack of sugar or salt, which gives the other (very few) ingredients the elbowroom they need to shine. They also make salsa.

Cousins Products is just a few years old and was started when creator Allison Cousin’s husband, Jack, who lost his job. The family needed a source of income so she fell back on her signature bleu cheese dressing to make money, adding other flavors with other ingredients that could be purchased cheaply. After early sellouts at local farmers markets and a surprise phone call from Emeril Lagasse (who loved the Creole tomato) business is good and the dressings are now widely available throughout south Louisiana. In Baton Rouge, check Matherne’s, Calandro’s, Calvin’s and Whole Foods Market in the refrigerated section. They retail anywhere from $6.99 to $9.99.

Check out Cousins Products here.

Eat on.

Share your thoughts about these products and post your favorite recent food finds here.