Glass of Wine VIN DE PAYS

a valuable resource for your cellar!
You will save dollars
and still be well satisfied
Many wine drinkers seem unaware of the Vin de Pays classification. Literally, it means "Country Wines". In practice, it means a category of wine that the French government has decreed to be superior to ordinary table wine. There are a number of requirements which need not concern us too much, but among them are that the wine must not be blended and must have some kind of geographical identity.

It is true that you will not be buying a fine vintage wine. There will be nothing to impress the wine snobs. What you will buy is a bottle that will be useful as a house wine. Especially impressive are the Chardonnays, which will have a minimum of "monkeying" or "doctoring" (you may taste some oak, but nothing overwhelming - more like what we think a Chardonnay ought to be). You will be able to find something you like in both reds and whites.

Here in Louisiana these wines sell for $5.95 at most super markets, but by shopping around a bit, you may even find them for less. Try them, and we think you will agree that they represent outstanding value.

Here is a list of our special favorites. We expect them not to vary much, and have not been disappointed. There might be a slight variation from year to year, but not enough to worry about here.

CHARDONNAY

George Dubouef   Vin de Pays d'Oc
Clean and smooth. Light nose, pronounced fruit, especially citrus. No oak mentioned on label, but just a hint. Very well balanced. Dry and crisp. We prefer it to a run of the mill California Chardonnay.

SAUVIGNON BLANC

B & G   Vin de Pays du Jardin de la France   (Loire)
100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Light nose develops slowly. Beautiful color & texture. Smooth - fruit, herbs, grass. Lack of oak (hooray!). A food wine. Slightly bitter undertaste (rather pleasant, actually). Fine value. Hard to find.

Fortant de France   Vin de Pays d'Oc
Pretty bottle somehow adds to the enjoyment. Clean, crisp, not quite dry. No oak evident and not much grass. Amber color. No nose to speak of. Very drinkable and a fine value.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

George Dubouef   Vin de Pays d'Oc
Stronger nose than many California versions. Tannins evident, but subdued. Will stand up to fairly strong foods. Rich, lush fruit.

MERLOT

B & G   Vin de Pays d'Oc
100% Merlot grapes. Drink young at room temperature. Very smooth. Nose is quite evident. Rich ruby color - nice fruit. No great length. Tannins well in balance. Prefer this to George DuBouef version.
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