French Wines Not Selling

[TimoMetzemakers]

Originally Posted by Pete G

So do they ask you to play "Stairway to Heaven" in Bordeaux?

Actually, no. They asked us to play "Killing Me Softly" yesterday, but the #1 request has always been "Petite Fleur", and "When The Saints" is a close second

[bassphase]

Originally Posted by Gufenov

No thanks. I don't drink, and I live where they make the best cheese in the world (even if our cows aren't happy) Besides, I believe in supporting my own, be it business or country. "My country, right or wrong" sort of thing."

Unless you're keeping the good stuff for yourselves, I've tasted much better artisan cheese made in the Napa valley here in California--and it pales in comparison to the cheese I've tasted in France..

Your last sentence is scary fascist.......



bob

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by TimoMetzemakers

Well, this is rather understandable. Since the 1960's, every time the US and France are at odds (politically), each country's press launches a very effective smear campaign. As a result, Americans tend to think that French people are rude whiny cowards that lack personal hygiene, and the French tend to think that Americans are a bunch of brutes without culture.

But we should know better than that. In my experience, people are the same everywhere. Yes, there are some cultural differences, traditions are different... but that doesn't really matter. We're all bass players on an international forum (even if there is a majority of Americans here), and we shouldn't allow political issues to divide us.

Well said. Let's have no more talk of "whining" or "Fascism" and get back to "Wining & dining" instead, shall we? One of my biggest gripes about politics is that it always seems to encourage manufacturing a monochrome opponent - the better to sling mud at, my dear - when the truth about any group of real people is actually far more intricate and many-shaded than that.

[FredH]

For whatever reason good French wines are a great deal right now. I love going into traderjoes with my Johnston wine book in my pocket and snapping up bargains, good wines.

Don't get me wrong I still love Cali wines but in my uninformed opinion they are a bit overpriced.

I'm snapping up all the good Bordeaux, Rhone and Burgundy wines I can get my hands on. Viva la French!!! Next summer I’ll be in EU for a couple of weeks visiting with my in-laws and I’m looking forward to a side trip to Paris to eat and drink and look at good paintings. I’m crossing my fingers that the dollar comes up.

[baba]

Originally Posted by Pete G

My friends tell me Virginia wines are worth a look.

They lied.

[pierre]

Hello,
I'm must be the only French reading this thread ?!!
You can see I'm near Bordeaux, just near Chateau Margaux. And all I understand is your hatred of the strangers and the French.

Around me, people don't speak of the californian italian wines as something hateful or so. Contrary we love all the good things and I a think we are curious about those wines also because the french wine is now too expensive even in Bordeaux.
We French are very afraid of the new laws coming from the EU because we may lost our variety of cheese too.
About Iraks I don't understand your majority position. We believe in France that your governement and President just want to preserve his own interest (credibility, petrol, ...).We can not blindfully have help you on this war even we are grateful for ever because the second war.
I think we are different on lot of things, but that must be beneficial and enriching for both. peaceful

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by pierre

Hello,
I'm must be the only French reading this thread ?!!
You can see I'm near Bordeaux, just near Chateau Margaux. And all I understand is your hatred of the strangers and the French.

Some may, but I hate no nationalities, races, or religions; I occasionally get very annoyed with individual idiotic representatives of each of the above, but that's different. I would encourage that everyone here refrain from broad-brush painting in any way, as I feel that broad brushing is and extreme obstacle to intelligent conversation.

Around me, people don't speak of the californian italian wines as something hateful or so. Contrary we love all the good things and I a think we are curious about those wines also because the french wine is now too expensive even in Bordeaux.
We French are very afraid of the new laws coming from the EU because we may lost our variety of cheese too.

This is all on topic and of interest to the subject. Thank you for your insight!

About Iraks I don't understand your majority position. We believe in France that your governement and President just want to preserve his own interest (credibility, petrol, ...).We can not blindfully have help you on this war even we are grateful for ever because the second war.
I think we are different on lot of things, but that must be beneficial and enriching for both. peaceful

Not too long after this thread was started, Jon Packard and I created This thread about our stance on political discussion here at Talkbass. I would encourage everyone to read it before replying.

[Damon Rondeau]

Let's get this conversation back to wine: I agree.

How about this?

French wines are stalling in the market because people don't like them. I love wine. I went through my "Sideways" phase ten years ago.

I have been more disappointed more often by French wine than by wine from any other nation. I remember a great many bottles of Bordeaux that were acidic, nasty plonk and they cost big dollars, too.

Maybe the French wine industry is in the same place the American car industry "used to be" in. Riding the coattails of excellence that preceded them, losing touch with real value as determined by the people that buy the product, on their way to laying off 25,000 people...

Does this mean that I believe the greatness of French wine is a lie? No. There were some divine wines in there. But a bass-playing plebe like me will never find the justification to lay out the dough for the chance of tasting the good stuff.

Italy, Chile, Australia, the USA -- all of these countries give me what I'm looking for. And NO I'm not just looking for a fruit bomb that is the wine equivalent of Kenny G. If what you do is greatness, then bring me a glass of greatness already. Don't bring me a glass of salad vinegar and then complain I don't know enough about wine.

The short version of all this: the quality is highly variable and bad French wine is as bad as it gets.

Let my ancestors roll in their graves. I got it off my chest.

'nother glass o'that Spanish wine, s'il vous plait.

[Freddels]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

I would encourage that everyone here refrain from broad-brush painting in any way, as I feel that broad brushing is and extreme obstacle to intelligent conversation.

But what about drummers and trombone players?

[mister_k]

Originally Posted by Damon Rondeau

Does this mean that I believe the greatness of French wine is a lie? No. There were some divine wines in there. But a bass-playing plebe like me will never find the justification to lay out the dough for the chance of tasting the good stuff.

I've found (being myself a broke a$$ musician in an expensive city) that the best hope you've got is to locate a good shop with pleasant and personable staff. They're likely getting the oppurtunity to taste a lot more than me, so I try to get clear on what I like with them. As a result I've found bold, strong representitives of many varietals from an assortment of geographic regions.

I don't have time to do the research, so I rely on the pros.
Of course, I have to admit that my sister was for a time an employee of a TERRIFIC wine shop on the east coast (Moore Brothers) who specialized in imports of high quality and reasonable cost.

I am thirsty!

time to get my tastebuds home.

P.S. Between you and me, I've been enjoying the South American stuff these days.

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by FREEBIRD

But what about drummers and trombone players?

Well, sure, you can rag on drummers and trombone players - as long as the ones you're ragging on are not specifically all of one race or nationality or something.

[John Sprague]

broad brushing is and extreme obstacle to intelligent conversation.

If you have heard me play with brushes, you would agree to the truth in this statement.
Best,
John
Melting-pot American Mut
Lifetime member of the Drooling Drummers Union
Favors Port Wine after dinner.

[larry]

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

One of my biggest gripes about politics is that it always seems to encourage manufacturing a monochrome opponent - the better to sling mud at, my dear - when the truth about any group of real people is actually far more intricate and many-shaded than that.

Well said.

[FredH]

The way I see it is there are good wines the world over. Yes I love Chilean/Argentinean wines and aussie shara’s are great values for VERY good wines (by the way check out the Ports and Rieslings coming from the land-down-under). And Spain and Italy have always had good offerings. I love them all, much too much if you ask my wife.
But when you see Chatunuef-du-Pape Telegraph 2001 going for less than $10 a bottle while Beringer reserve sells for $80 you have to wonder why people aren’t snapping the French stuff up? I mean yea Beringer is great but it’s still just wine, stuff you drink with food… Same for Silver Oak and Chalk Hill yea they’re good, but come on instead of three bottles of that and I can get a set of Velvets AND three bottles of ‘tele’. When you factor in shipping you have to really wonder what’s going on…
I remember when USSR invaded Afghanistan (poignant, no?) and people where pouring Stolichnaya down the gutter…

[STRONGBOW]

Originally Posted by Pete G

So do they ask you to play "Stairway to Heaven" in Bordeaux?

No, but that's where I saw Claude Bolling with Pierre Michelot (and drummer) swattin' it out one time....a big Castle outside of Bordeaux.

Now being somewhat of a confirmed frankophobe myself, I still must stand up for the wine. There's nothing like a great Bordeaux (Chateau Leonville Poyferre St. Julien is my personal favorite and -- usually -- reasonably priced stateside at around $49 - $60 a bottle. The Chateau Leonvile Barton St. Julien is nearly as good for around $10 cheaper). Slides down like silk....simply marvelous, baby!

And similarly, while I think Castro is a pig and a tyrant, let's face it, there's nothing like a good Monte Cristo... I used to get them in Panama from the Cuban plumbing store at USD $25 a box!!

Likewise....those Belgians who run the European Union who have declared economic war on us....they know how to brew beer! And there's nothing in the world like those Belgian monastary brews...

And those Brits-- they drive you nuts with their kippers and grilled tomatoes for breakfast alright and their sausages seem to have an inordinate amount of sawdust or something in them-- but by God I don't care! There's nothing like good old Bangers And Mash!

[perytojie]

Originally Posted by TimoMetzemakers

each country's press launches a very effective smear campaign. As a result, Americans tend to think that French people are rude whiny cowards that lack personal hygiene, and the French tend to think that Americans are a bunch of brutes without culture.

you're right timo and this last Bush/Chirac disagreement on "the war effort in Iraq" just raised the good-old hot-headed fr-us war.... anyway, i guess the French government was right to oppose the war as the vast majority of people in France disagreed with it. (i guess it reminded the French people of the Gulf War a bit too much)

anyway we're speaking wines here!! i love red ones, especially Bordeaux's. i love'em heavy, fruity, opening up your nostrils, tasting long in mouth, finally if you can drink it all night long and wake up the next day without a headache, then it's the perfect wine!!!

[seanm]

Originally Posted by mje

(BTW... "Sideways" isn't about mid-life crises; it's about alcoholism, something I missed until a friend initmately familiar with AA pointed this out. Even the name- "Sideways"- is a term from the recovery community that refers to a certain type of alcoholic behavior)

Could you describe this behavior? I tried to google for it but all my queries ended up with thousands of references to the movie