Robert V. Camuto

 Yesterday I returned to Chateau Pradeaux in Saint -Cyr-sur-Mer (Bandol) for a generous vertical private tasting led by Cyrille Portalis, Pradeaux's  stubbornly individualistic owner/ vigneron (featured in Corkscrewed). The tasting proved that Pradeaux's mourvedre doesn't just evolve over time, it goes through fascinating personality changes as it deepens and shows off its age. A crusty bottle of '61Pradeaux (seemed about 80 in human years), was a bit wobbly,  but was still lucid and engaging. See video and more images.

The Obama administration made another bold commitment to American values abroad this week by renouncing the more than decade-old US policy of insisting that our trade partners eat hormones with their Happy Meals -- and like it or face stiff consequences.

Corkscrewed author Robert Camuto has lived in France eight years, and has spent a lot of time on the road in the country's wine regions as a wine and epicurean travel writer.  In this Q &A he shares some personal suggestions for a rewarding wine trip in France.  

Q: Do you have a favorite wine region of France?

Getting the Bojo Workin' . See the CHOW VIDEO HERE.

More CHOW VIDEOS by Robert: 

• What's wrong with calling them dessert wines?
  
• So what's a "good year" anyway? 
  
• What does "organic wine" mean?
  
• Have sulfites been demonized?

Read full article in the Sydney Morning Herald or in the Washington Post

By Robert V. Camuto
Special to The Washington Post

A French court comes down hard on more than 50 Beaujolais growers in doping scandal involving a simple white powder: sugar. Read Robert Camuto's news  article in the Wine Spectator.