A New French Paradox

Two interesting news items out of France in the last couple of weeks 1.) the 2005 vintage rocks, so better get your futures now (especially if most of your $$$ is in American real estate, b/c that bubble's going to burst any day now, you know) and 2.) the French government finally acquiesced and will soon allow their vitners to "flavor their wine w/ wood shavings." This of course being a cheaper alternative to that centuries-old tradition of aging wine in oak barrels.

I was struck by the juxtaposition of these two tidbits b/c they are emblematic of the two sides of the French dilemma. On the one hand, French wine, particularly Bordeaux, continues to rule the land in terms of classic reputation, veneration generation, and ability to command outlandish retail prices. On the other, the use of such a modern day convention as wood shavings is a very real caving to the onslaught of 21st century trends they've been resisting for the past decade. Have the French been pulled down a peg, or will there be renewed vigor in their resistance to modern wine business practices as the 05 vintage once again glorifies their name?

Are the wood shaving riots just around the corner?