robjame

Robespierre - Sorry. Thank you for the reference. Would those restrictions even include watering because I don't think I've ever seen an irrigation system in France.
FlyFish - care to amplify on this a little? "It can, however, be done - just ask Piero Antinori, or better yet go out and get a bottle of Tignanello and see what can be achieved by breaking the rules."

Robespierre

You make an excellent point, FlyFish. The "minimum quality" rubric covers it nicely.

SuzieC

RE: Muscadet...

My wine guy was tallying up my purchase and came to a couple of bottles and said, "Ick! How can you drink this stuff? Its like getting grapefruit juice in your eye!"...

Made me laugh at the time.

.

cigalechanta

rapo, I posted th url above. There's also an article on Australian wines in that section.

FlyFish

robjame - I was referring to what's come to be called the "Super Tuscan" phenomenon, which is of course with reference to Italy rather than France, but the point is the same. The Italian DOCG (equivalent to French AOC) regulations require winemakers to follow strict formulae if they wish to label their products with the well-known names that consumers look for. Piero Antinori knew he could make better wine by breaking the rules, so he created a wine called Tignanello which at the time could only be labelled "Vino de Tavola" because it didn't comply with any DOCG definition. Antinori knew exactly what he was doing, however, and it didn't take long for savvy wine drinkers to catch on. Now the Super Tuscans (other producers got into the act and Antinori now has others as well) are among the best and most expensive wines in the world. The Italian wine laws eventually were modified to recognize this. Here's a better explanation from the Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Tuscan.

I have no doubt that the same thing is happening somewhere in France, but I honestly don't know where. As I said, it's a bold move and financially risky.

SuzieC

well... names have been named..and recommendations recommended...

I have had some just plain beautiful tasting non-name, from a jug, table wines... they are not shameful.

A vintage wine with bad company could taste pretty darned rotten...a table wine with great company, or a great view... is delicious.

WOW...a zen moment!

ekscrunchy

Flyfish. What you write is interesting. For those who are less familiar, these "supertuscan" blends are very expensive and very popular in the US, but many Tuscans in the wine business, including at least one maker of these wines will tell you that they are made for export, particularly to the US market and that the prices are inflated because of the name recognition they have developed. Yes, I know that Wine Spectator gave Sassacaia a very high rating. I am not taking a stand either way on this; you offer a good example in Antinori. I guess we are off the subject here!

mjs

I think the original question is difficult to answer as my reply would be somewhere along the line of It depends.... Do often rely on the sommelier in restaurants that have one in France. Bordeaux I tend to like in some years include Calon-Segur, Clerc-Milon, Pavie, Lascombes, Monbousquet, Leoville-Barton, Reignac, Smith-Haut-Lafitte, and Pape Clement. My list for Barsac/Sauternes include
Rieussec, Lafaurie-Peyraguey, and Suduirat. My champagne prefence is for Bollinger Grande Anne and Krug. Have been enjoying Clos des Pape , Patrick Lesec and Janasse in the Rhones. Have not established any major preferences in Burgundy but have been doing alot of exploring here recently with Magnien, Lignier, Lafarge, Fevre etc. Lastly, do enjoy Nouveau beaujolais if I am in France in November.

luveurop

I tend to like anything from the Champagne region.

hopscotch

Burgundy Passetoutgrains