by Cliff Rosenberg » Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:40 pm
As I understand it, the French authorities want to be able to compete with the Australians, in particular, in bulk wines. At that level, oak chips, irrigation, industrial enzymes, and insecticides are all part of the package. There is, understandably, a great deal of controversy over the subsidies granted to producers with high-yielding, low-quality plant material in out-of-the-way zones, especially in the Bordelais and the Languedoc. I haven't seen anything in the current legislation that makes me optimistic that abominations, like the recent refusal to grant J.-P. Brun the AOC agrément for a batch of wine that was identical to one already approved, will stop. It's not immediately apparent to me how, if at all, the new reforms will affect artisinal and fine wine. Do you think that means the more elite, geographical appellations will suffer?
