July 1, 2003

The terrorists have won!  

Witness, from the New York Times:

French wine sales to the United States, once French winemakers' most promising market and now one of their greatest competitors, are going down the drain.

"It's clear from our American distributors that there is a hesitation to promote French wines for the time being," said Bruno Finance, sales manager for Yvon Mau, one of Bordeaux's largest wine merchants. He said French wine was losing its share of some other markets. "But as of today, the only place there is such a big loss is in the U.S."

My dad must buy a case of wine every time he comes to Chicago, but on the last visit he didn't even look at a cheap French wine I suggested (Domaine Clavel Les Garrigues 1999, if you're interested) because nobody at home will drink it. Tells you something about Indianapolis.

Truthfully, for the most part I've hardly ever been excited about a French wine - that is to say, good French wine is apparently way out of my price range. But interestingly, if French wines are priced higher than similar wines from, say, the US, won't this infomral freeze-out just push up prices here?

MORE: Jeff Cooper's gone and reviewed an 85 Bordeaux for his wine of the week.

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