illustrated with 8 Maps drawn specially for this volume by Rafael Palacios
with an Introduction by Samuel Chamberlain
Here is the only book yet to appear in either French or English that explains in detail – in many cases with the help of tables – those perplexing intricacies of the French systems of labeling, nomenclature, and classification. The reader is guided by an expert through this confusing forest of names, and alerted to the all too frequent misuses of such terms as Grand Vin, Grand Cru, Monopole, ect. including the favorite trick of putting a high-sounding trade name on a bottle of purely communal wine to mislead the consumer into thinking it comes from a well-known vineyard.
Another unique feature of this book is that the wines are listed and presented on the page in such a manner that the reader may use the same pages as a “cellar book” and wine diary, adding his own discoveries to the authoritative comment of the author. There are roughly 5,000 French Wines which merit either a vineyard name or a communal designation. How to choose among this myriad of labels? the French Wine drinker’s sensible rule of thumb is: Since one will never know them all, learn to recognize the best. This book enumerates and discusses the 900 traditionally best vineyards or wine producing communes of France and, in contrast to other books on the subject, the wines catalogued are not merely the better ones of Bordeaux and Bergundy’, but those of all the other principal regions, including the Rhone, the Loire, and Alsace. In an appendix the author has also included a list of several hundred of the “lesser” wines of Bordeaux – wines which are not ranked with the “greats” but nonetheless enjoy a high traditional rating among the French and which, in view of rising prices, will be seen more and more on American and British markets.
The reader will also find a vintage chart for all the important wine districts of France, covering a span of sixty years (1900 – 59) a chapter assessing Cognacs and Armagnacs; and some highly sensible counsel on the selection, care, and serving wines.
by Creighton Churchill
Introduction by Samuel Chamberlain
illustrated with 8 maps by Rafael Palacios
typography, binding, and jacket design by : Warren Chappell
Vintage Hardcover – 1st Edition – 1961
387 Pages + large index
Published by Alfred A Knopf
Condition:
In Good Condition for the age. Includes Dust jacket in fair condition with moderate wear, including tears around the top edge of the spine., and edges / corners. Spine of DJ is discolored. Book itself is good with minor wear on the outside cover, mostly around edges and corners. Inside is good and other than inside title page, the rest of the pages have no writing or markings. Pages 281 to 290 have a large crease, but does not affect reading.
N- 716