France has never been known as the home of free speech, but even by the standards of that benighted country this is a new low point:

A French court has just ordered a magazine to pay Beaujolais producers libel damages of $300,000 for denouncing their product as ‘fermented fruit juice’ and quoting a wine guru who referred to Beaujolais as a “vin de merde”.

That’s tough criticism? Those French judges should hear what I have say about Doctor Pepper.

Meanwhile all lovers of liberty – and good wine – should boycott Beaujolais.