Twenty-five years ago, before Robert Parker and the Wine Magazines and five-figure bottles of French wine, Americans who drank French wine mostly drank three or four kinds. They were cheap, pleasant and Gallic -- what more did one need?
We drank Beaujolais, usually the Georges DuBoeuf; Vouvray (the Wine Curmudgeon has fond memories of B&G Vouvray, which he used to buy at the K&B drug store in Thibodaux, La.); the Bordeaux blends from Mouton Cadet; and Macon-Villages.
Not all those wines have consistently held up over the past three decades, but I'm still drinking the Macon, which is chardonnay from Burgundy made by Louis Jadot ($12, purchased). In fact, it's on sale in Dallas for $9 and I'm going to pick up a case.
Would that more U.S. winemakers understood how to make a consistent, quality chardonnay like this, with the requisite varietal characteristics (green apple and sturdy acid) and no trace of fake oak. Serve it tomorrow for Thanksgiving or with leftover turkey sandwiches. Highly recommended, especially if you can find it for $10 or less.
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