The Southwest

The Southwest is the last frontier, if such a thing can be said of any region of France. Certainly, gastronomiquely and enologically speaking, the southwest of France is still a throwback to the days when sausage, pate, ham, and cheese plus other delights were made on the farm and sold at the Charcuterie or Fromagerie. Or you could buy them at the farm or market. You could go to the co-op with your jug or plastic container and fill'er up with vin rouge, blanc or rose for a buck or two. A lot cheaper than gas and more interesting than Two Buck Chuck.

The other day friends cooked up the quintessessential southwest meal, Duck d'Olive in a typically braised style with lots of delicious "gravy." Everyone wiped their plates clean with the bread - outrageously good French country cooking. A wine from the Languedoc was the perfect accompaniment. Complex, big and briary with lots of pepper, spice, and fruit. This ten year old was a real treat, real wine from a real place (terroir). Filled your mouth with pleasure and nuance.

Lots of wonderful wines from the southwest- Corbieres, Roussillion, Bandol, Gaillac, Cahors, Fitou, Faugeres, Minervois, Madiran, to name a few. Some of these are still hard to find. Look for Kermit Lynch, Robert Kacher and North Berkeley Wines imports. Charles Neal, too! The best wines have gotten somewhat expensive, sometimes twenty dollars and up, but they are worth it! You can find good examples for much less.