These episodes along with the Michael Steinberger episode hopefully are showing people what French wine can be about.

That being said I also believe that there is lake of poorly made French wine that ends up getting imported into this country, Michael Steinberger's book Au Revoir to All That even touches on that.

The true reason American's have the impression that French wines are expensive is because not enough retailers and restaurateurs hype the value priced gems that are out there. I am in the trade and I blame it on the trade.

Wines from the Macon, Beaujolais, Loire, Rhone, Languedoc… are generally confusing to uneducated consumers regardless of their perceived quality to value ratio.

It is up to folks in the biz to get those treats into peoples mouths.

Nice close to a monumental show.

I don't think the majority of Americans necessarily view French wine as over-and-above expensive compared to their US counterparts. Rather, my impression is that most folks simply don't like the French wine they've tried. I think this comes down to two things: (1) the quality of the few bottles available in most common grocery stores (where the average consumer purchases wines), and (2) not to sound the high-dandy, but there's also a lack of sophistication in the general public when it comes to the more terrior-driven styles of French wines that may result in folks being “put-off” on the French wines they *DO* end up tasting. That's sad too because there are so many great French wine values that do express more in the new-world vein and can just destroy the competition for value and quality. If I had to buy my yearly allocation of wine on a $500- dollar budget (hell, I really should impose something like this), I would look no further than France for 90+% of my purchases — that is without a doubt.

It's also good to see you didn't do a post-show wrap up like you did with mike cochran from cult vines. He's so down to earth it's incredible, desperately need to get his book.

Beaujolais . that 71 yeast.. auful.. Love the real thing

I had always heard that Kermit Lynch was kind of quiet, reserved and “grumpy,” but I thought he was absolutely charming on your 3 segments. I really identify with his preferences and observations. By the way, I just paid for 3 Kistler Chardonnays from their mail order: Hyde was $75; Kistler Vineyard was $80; and Cuvee Cathleen was $90. Peter Michael is about the same. On average, these were significantly higher than your estimate. But on the other hand, I would typically prefer a Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay at about half the price.
QOTD: I think most people have the impression that French wines are more expensive than American because of the notoriety of their top wines. The vast majority of French wines just don't get the kind of press that this handful of super great wines get. They don't realize that these top wines are less than a small portion of 1% of the total production in France. The language barrier contributes to the problem. In fact, most Americans don't have a clue even what kind of wine it is when they try to read a French label. For my taste, most French wines in the $25-$50 blow away the American wines in that same price range.

Awesome Thunderness!

QOTD: It really has to do with perception & comfort level. My customers at Trader Joe's in Alameda buy Italian about 3 times more than French because they seem “more accessible” at their price point. Granted we don't the inventory that Mr. Lynch does, but not having the varietal on the label is daunting to many people. I actually had a gentleman in last night who had no idea that Bordeaux was both a blended wine as well as a place. He truly thought it was the varietal's name and was quite surprised to find out otherwise.
Personally, when I can find a good deal, especially from Alsace, I'll grab it.

Awesome show Mr Lynch!
I just opened one of your Pouilly Fume by Regis Minet. Love it!!
QOTD – I think this misperception about French wine being expensive comes from marketing. I have never seen inexpensive Frech wine marketed the way Yellowtail and Mondavi and Kendal Jacckson are.

Thank you for the informative and insightful three part episode with Kermit Lynch. I truely loved this episode. What a wonderful and charismatic man Kermit is. Fantastic show!!!!! The perception of French wine is all in the marketing of the 1st Growths/Grand Crus. The American buying public hear so much about these wines and how wonderful they are, but the average buyer can't afford these. So if the can't afford them they don't want anything less. Thanks again for the great show with Kermit.

very cool guest, got to learn a lot
qotd: bordeaux comes to mind as being a really demanded region that prices are inflated, maybe when people think of french wine they kind of associate that inflation to other french wines as well?

QOTD: French wines have the reputation of being expensive because when you think of France, you think fancy and to the American psyche fancy = expensive. That being said, all it takes a quick drive to a local wine store and you can see that that is not often/always the case.

Outstanding guest. Sir, thank you for taking your time to be on Winelibrary TV. Gary, this was worth all three parts. Well worth the time to watch. Awesome shows.

GV you're awesome – I love when you turn to KL and say “do you like beef jerky?” Classic. QOTD: Bordeaux marketing machine!

Have to comment on this one — great series of shows and tremendous guest!!

QOTD: I think people believe that expensive wine is often French, but do not see that good French wine is not always expensive 🙂

Simply awesome, great series.

QOTD: I do not on any level think that French wines are over-priced on a general level. There are outliers anywhere, and when you exclude them, I find that France offers a better QPR than here in the states, I hate to say it. Maybe its the labor costs, manufacturing, three tier system BS added up, maybe greed for a few, regardless, I find that dollar for dollar, while I can find great deals on both sides, more favorable deals in France emerge when it comes to QPR. We're talking quality at a price point, the US has too much of an extreme and a specific palate that seems to be catered too. And, too many Cali folks think they have a solid gold freak'n outhouse, they're supposed to be our epi-center, they can go fark themselves with some of the swill I see come out.

That is all

Kermit rules, Gary great interview, well done

1st: England is north of France, and it never snows in London. Latitude isn't everything.
2nd: Ripeness isn't everything either.

GREAT 3-parter that never got dull, even with all of that camera time.

QOTD: two answers; two valid answers: Bordeaux and Burgundy. These two regions, in general (especially in recent years, since 2005) have created the perception of French wine as inflated and expensive as a whole within the US market.

Great show, Gary and Kermit! Thanks to Kermit for taking the time to do a show for the Vayniacs.

QOTD: I agree with others that say Burgundy & Bordeaux have helped create this misconception. I must also say that I think that WINE in general has an undeserved reputation for being expensive. Americans aren't used to making wine part of their daily lives and part of their meals, like Kermit found in Europe when he went to France. And wine has a general expensive, elitist reputation of being a luxury item. It's not. Everyone buys shoes, some people can afford to buy more expensive ones than others. Same with wine. Wine should be a part of our culture, and I hope that Kermit and Gary succeed in helping to make that happen!
http://www.livefromtuscany.blogspot.com

40 bones in Sweden, but I guess it wasn’t Kermit that got it here 😀

I am a long time lurker but had to come out of my Dark hole to comment on this. I thought this was a Great show, love the fact it was a three parter. Engaging guest made the time fly by. Working for a new wine shop (5 months old now)in Northern Ireland, the owners wish to get into the distribution game(personally I think it is to soon, love to settle the shop first before opening that can of worms) I found it was a real insight into that world and I found it extremely helpful. Love the show and keep up the good work.

QOTD; I feel some of the blame is on the retailers, with independents being pushed out by big chains and supermarkets. You end up with buyers solely looking at price point and ignoring quality issues and what you end up with affordable French wine that to be honest I might not even cook with! then the other is extreme putting a premium on the others because of the brand awareness. If buyers would take the time to find the wee gems out there that are affordable ( and they are out there) I think you would start to see a shift in the perception of the affordability of French wines. Also I don't know what it like there but here retailers need to showcase the wines better by doing in store tastings. To prove to the people that the wines are both high quality and affordable.

FYI; Love Beaujolais and sell the pants off them through in store tastings.

Opps: first comment was a bit long sorry about that. I will try in keep it a bit shorter next time

Great show, Kermit should come back in November.
QOTD; BORDEAUX and Burgundy, great quality unreal prices.

Gary V.

Awesome three part series this week! I have purchased Kermit's wines previously and have been quite impressed. Great interview and discussion about his life in wine. I too am a big southern Rhone fan but have yet to get into the white varietals and will have to look into them in the future. Thanks for the great show!

QOTD: I think the prices are higher for French wine, it is a reality in most markets. French varietals get overpriced because the average wine consumer in the US has no idea what they are buying, making it is easy for retailers, restaurants and distributors to increase the price and most people won't know the difference. The lack of wine literacy in the US makes it easy to keep prices elevated. As Gary said, the best offense for getting stung with high prices is to learn about French wine and be defensive in your purchases so you know what to look for and what you are buying.

Great show Gary, keep up the good work!

I loved the three episodes. Don't drop the adjektives, I love them.

Slurpin' some Franken Silvaner this evenin'….

Juliusspital 2008 Würzburger Stein Silvaner Kabinett trocken/dry.

First thought was white flowers…. it's alive!!!

Comes in a Bocksbeutel bottle…. same shape as a Mateus (you probably all know that one).
But don't ever compare the two. The Juliusspital is great stuff. I give it a 89+.
Try it!
Do it!
“Let's Do This!!!” (Joe; Family Guy)

Awesome episodes. I didn't just watch an interview. It was a conversation. I watched all three right in a row, and the episode breaks were surprising – “oh what? Oh right, this is the internet.” And then we're right back to the stories. An interesting point about the naming the flavors in the wine. I sell the stuff to customers and I always debate how to present it. People want to hear that wine is going to bring interesting little particulars, and they trust me more if I can name a 'touch of hazelnut on the first sip' or something, as if the number of adjectives that apply is a barometer of the quality and makes the wine worth the price. I guess I'm comfortable with the idea that if I throw out what I tasted, then that will get people to think about it while they're drinking instead of just washing down the steak, then I've helped to make the wine worth the price.

As for the perception of french wine, I'm totally a sociology nerd, and I think France has always projected an image of leading haut coture, certainly since Louis XIV. More recently when Americans followed Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn all around Pareeee in the 50s and 60s, that image of silk scarves and enchanted scooter rides all diamond bedecked stuck fast. Fine culture and wine must mean haut prix. For that matter, maybe people want it that way. There's evidence that the brain reacts with more happy chemicals when it's drinking a $50 bottle than a $15 bottle, even if it's exactly the same wine.

All right Sam, be quiet.

would love to see you again Bill!! Hope Wendy can make it sometime too. 🙂