If you are looking for fine French wine and food, consider the up and coming wine region of southwestern France. You may even find a bargain, and I hope that you'll have fun on this fact-filled wine education tour in which we review a local red wine based on the indigenous Négrette and the international Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes.

Among France's eleven wine-growing regions the southwest ranks sixth in acreage. Surprisingly enough this is the first wine that we have reviewed from this region. The most famous alcoholic beverage produced in this beautiful region is Armagnac that many prefer to Cognac. Parts of this region neighbor Bordeaux so don't be surprised if some of the wines are quite good, and yet more moderately priced than many of its world-famous neighbor's offerings.

If you are visiting southwestern France, and you really should, make sure to stop by the village of Bergerac that was not the home of the famous Cyrano de Bergerac who actually lived in Paris in the first half of the Seventeenth Century. The town is beautiful. Market days are Wednesday and Saturday. You can take a guided walking tour of the old city and cruise the Dordogne River from Easter to October. The Cloître des Récollets was a convent and now hosts a wine business. Go a few miles south to the Château de Monbazillac. Their sweet wine is famous but pricey.

Before reviewing the southwestern wine and imported cheeses that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region. Start with Foie Gras Frais avec Myrtille (Fresh Duck Liver in a Berry Sauce). For your second course savor Pipérade Basquaise au Jambon (Eggs, Tomatos, Green Peppers, Onions, and Ham). And as dessert indulge yourself with Gateau Basque (Lemon Shortbread, Baker's Cream, and Tart Cherry Jam.)

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY

All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed
La Forêt Royale 2004 13% about $13.50 (Appelation Fronton Controlé)

Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. La Forêt is a blend of the indigenous Négrette (45%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), and Syrah (25%). The wine goes through fruit-enhancing and tannin-mellowing micro-oxygenation and acid-softening malolactic fermentation. The resulting wine is full of flavors and aromas, including raspberry, blackberry, cassis, dark chocolate, licorice, and a hint of tar. Serve it with grilled steaks, backribs, or gourmet sausages. And now for the review.

My first meal consisted of commercially prepared beef spare ribs, spicy Moroccan carrots, and potatoes roasted in chicken fat. The meat was seasoned with Tunisian Harissa, a very spicy hot-pepper sauce. This was a great combination. The tannins melted in my mouth. I tasted black cherries, chocolate, and a lot of tobacco. The wine was robust and mouth-filling. It held up both to the fat and the strong spices.

The meal included meatballs with harissa, rice, and green beans. This wine was round and moderately long. The chocolate and tobacco tastes were powerful.

The final meal was a commercially prepared barbecued chicken with a paprika-covered shin and store bought potato salad. The wine was a good antidote to the fat. Once again the chocolate taste predominated.

The first cheese pairing was with an Emmenthaler (Swiss Cheese). The wine handled the pairing nicely. It was quite round and strong. On the other hand I barely tasted the cheese. And a goat's milk cheese fairly well denatured this wine.

Final verdict. This wine is a winner. I expect to come back to southwestern France for more wines.

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian, French, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods and spend time with his wife and family. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Among his many web sites he is particularly proud of his new love and relationships site celebrating mostly spiritual and on occasion physical love at http://www.loveamourlove.com

You will find a wide range of articles devoted to various aspects of love, and a special collection of love quotes in both English and French (with translations.) Check out his global wine website at http://www.theworldwidewine.com with his new weekly column reviewing $10 wines.

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