James Governor's Monkchips

On Open Office as Jacob’s Creek

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Go Mr. Robertson. Tackling the high migration cost argument, with respect to the good enough.

It’s kind of like the situation that French wine found itself in recently. For a very long time, French wine was perceived to be the best in the world, and sellers were able to charge a premium based on that perception. Over time, various competing sellers popped up with much, much lower costs – Chilean, Australian, and Italian wines, for example. For a variety of reasons (some political, some price based), people started trying out the alternatives over the last few years and discovered two things:

  • The alternatives weren’t worse – they were at least as good
  • The alternatives were a lot cheaper

I don’t agree with James that all other wines are at least as good, but then again I don’t drink Chablis every day.

7 comments

  1. Of course not *all* wines are on the same level than the top French Wines but, most southern Europe countries have wines better (OK, just as good) than the top French wines.
    Next time you come to Portugal I’ll prove it to you 🙂
    PS. Is there any viruses for OpenOffice?

  2. You know, a (real) Chablis can be quite nice with a rich seafood risotto (if you can’t find a nice Viognier) or as a less sweet alternative to a gewurztraminer… The fact that something called “Chablis” was put into boxes and shipped to supermarkets is unfortunate; it’s like condemning parmesan because of the sawdust that gets shipped in shiny green cans by Kraft…

  3. i do like viognier – its very floral. seafood risotto eh? will have to give that a try.

    seems like wine is a more popular topic than open office… 😉

    and re OO no Jaime i am not aware of any specific viruses for the platform.

  4. It’s very hard to do this having lived in France for 7+ years and then moved on to Spain without sounding like a wine snob – believe me I am not. And I don’t come from a wine drinking background. Jim will attest to that

    Most British wine drinkers ‘seem’ to want an easy, predictable style for anytime anywhere guzzling. New World wines and others do that admirably.

    In France, you absolutely marry wine with food. To do otherwise never rarely does the wine justice. For instance, a Muscadet Sur Lie is perfect with oysters, yet like vinegar on its own – €2 at any French supermarket

    A chilled Saumur Champigny is fabulous with foie gras and other rich starters or chocolate desserts – €2.5-4.5 in any supermarket

    Some of the Languedoc reds coming out of the Lezignan area are superb with red meats – €3-6 in any supermarket. They used to be regarded as ‘blending fodder.’

    Many ‘vins de pays’ used as an early evening aperitif are dirty cheap as well.

    Indeed, whenever I spoke with French folk about good wine, they rarely pointed me towards bottles costing the equivalent of more than £6/bottle.

    The industry has many problems, much of which is tied up with the restrictive AOC system and the now almost incomprehensible labelling system. The great chateaux have elevated certain wines – like Petrus – to ‘works of art’ status. In the process, both domestic and export prices generally have escalated. Pterus is at nose-bleed levels. Tax, increased costs, the 35-hour week – the list of obstacles, many of which are self created – is long. Very sad to see.

  5. I am a wine snob and while it’s true that French wines need reforms (appellations are overcomplicated, etc..), it’s still a guarantee that what you drink is a natural product. On the high-end, very little can touch it (Italy, Spain maybe, maybe Chile).

    On the other hand, “coca-cola wines” made for the undiscerning ones (strong in basic flavours, not much palate to follow) will have oak chip macerated into and up to 20% of added water, etc… Going forward, it’s quite obvious which direction Australian and Californian producers want to take wine: towards an industrial product.

    My conclusion? It broadens the wine market and there will always be a market for people who like to drink good wine but yes, French wine makers will not spare a reform. But where else can you find a great bottle by accident under £5?

  6. I really must remember Ludovic’s words nex time my octogenerian neighbour hands over yet another Coca-Cola (TM) bottle full of local moscatel. Like said CC product, you can clean all manner of coins with it. And it’s not bad at stripping varnish either.

  7. hey den did you see your recommendations over at 173 DL?

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