WINES.
The wines of this country, should at first be but sparingly taken, for, on account of their acidity, an ordinary use of them at the outset, will frequently occasion considerable derangement of the digestive functions, but when persons become sufficiently accustomed to them, they constitute a light and wholesome beverage.
It is indeed worthy of remark that the wines of France, rank before those of other countries for their Purely vinous qualities, and so multitudinous are their diversities, that it is confidently affirmed there is no variety in the world which might not find an approximation to some one or another of her growths, and which invariably are manufactured according to well-fixed scientific principles.
The wines grown near Tours, are divided into three classes, namely, what is called rouge noble, vin du Cher, and rouge commun.
Those of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil, Joué, Saint-Cyr, Chambray, and Saint-Avertin, are the most esteemed growths of Touraine.
The Champigny of Richelieu, and Clos-Baudouin of Vouvray and Rochecorbon, are also much in request. These red wines if of a genuine quality, are remarkable for their flavour and soft bouquet, which is balmy to the palate, and moderately taken are wholesome and exhilarating.
The price of the best Bourgueil is from one hundred and thirty francs to one hundred and fifty francs per barique, of about three hundred and fifty bottles; and the Joué and Chambray from eighty to ninety francs per barique. Some tolerable effervescing white wines are produced in the neighbourhood of Tours, the prices of which are a little under the red, but they are for the most part heady and treacherous, and want the perfume and vinosity of Champagne.
The highly esteemed rose coloured champagne may be purchased for seven francs per bottle, very tolerable may be had for three francs, and the recently, and most successfully Champagnized red Joué for two francs. A very good effervescing wine is grown on an extensive scale at Villandry, about twelve miles from Tours, and which is exported in large quantities to Russia.
Of the sounder, most delicate and recherché of the red wines to be readily obtained at Tours, we may particularly enumerate Bordeaux—which even when prepared for the English markets, still possesses the fine qualities of the pure wine;—and Burgundy, of which, the Romanée Saint-Vivant, and Romanée Conti, are the best and most perfect. It may also be observed that the vin crémant d'Ay which is the least frothy and fullest bodied of the effervescing wines, is held in high repute, being grateful and stomachic.