T Minus 7

It has been almost four years since I made a trek to Napa.  Next weekend will be a great time with more wine and food than I should or can consume (I will need to walk 20,000 steps a day to stay even on weight).

Miner Diner on Saturday.  Lunch and blind tasting at Chappellet on Sunday. Finishing off the trip with a day on Spring Mountain at Terra Valentine and Fantesca.

In between there will be stops at other favorites and my e-mail friend Jim Kimmel is having some of his great Chardonnay and Merlot delivered to my hotel.

Hopefully I have not forgotten how to blog from my phone.  It should be a great weekend.  I am in training tonight with a great Chardonnay from Fantesca.

Chris, You Can Stop Spinning Now.

What's wrong with this picture.  I guess that's a loaded question, but I best get on topic.  No, this is not a young Rush Limbaugh (although there are similarities).  This is the Governor of the great State of New Jersey.  He doesn't have enough to do right now so he is encouraging (probably too nice a word) businesses to abandon Illinois for "business friendly" New Jersey in advertisements on Illinois radio.

The Tax Foundation reports New Jersey ranks 48th on the list of states with the best tax climate.  Illinois was 23rd, but with the recent tax increase has dropped to 36th. With a business tax rate of 9%, New Jersey does have 0.5% lower business taxes. However, the Tax Foundation also reports that New Jersey has the highest state/local tax burden in the nation.  In fact people who make more than $40,000 a year will pay higher income taxes in New Jersey than in Illinois. I guess Chris forgot to put this in is advertisements. 

I don't like paying more taxes, but those who live in glass houses....

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

I spent the last month reading the Stieg Larsson "Millennium" Trilogy. Great read and great author. If you enjoy"smart" mysteries, don't miss them. Definite page turners. They made my spare time easy to use up.

Last night I took a chance and went to see the Swedish Movie based on the first book, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. WOW, what a ride. It is long , 152 minutes, but worth the time. It is sub-titled, but I had no problem keeping up with the action. The

cast is great - Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace deliver outstanding performances. It's full of surprises, a bit violent and a bit heavy with sex (but so are the books), still I highly recommend the movie.

The next installment, The Girl Who Played With Fire, is due out on July 9. See both before some US version with Will Smith and Angelina Jolie messes up the karma.

Let's not forget the Book.

Larsson created a masterpiece, but adding to the mystique he died before any of the series was published. There is even a dispute over a mysterious Fourth book between Larsson's family and his long time girl friend. Nothing like adding more intrigue to the talk.

Under any circumstances, see the movies or read the books. You will be glad you did.

Another Great Under $20 Cabernet

I have been off for a while so I will start slow.

Just experienced a great new wine, Educated Guess from Roots Run Deep Winery (http://www.rootsrundeep.com/educated_guess.html). Besides the catchy name it tastes great. I really get excited when I find these types of gems.

From their spec sheet:

T H E N U M B E R S

100% Napa Valley

85% Rutherford and St. Helena

15% Yountville, Oak Knoll and Calistoga

85% Cabernet Sauvignon

6% Merlot

7% Cabernet Franc

2% Petit Verdot

12 Months French and American Oak (60% New)

25,000 Cases Produced (Bottled June 2009)

$20 Suggested Retail Price (UPC Code 8-98079-00100-0)

T H E S T Y L E

Wow, what can we say about our Cabernet Sauvignon? It’s rich, ripe and focused with juicy blackberry and cherry fruit, cocoa and hints of mint all tied together with a creamy french vanilla middle and a finish that in a word is . . . lingering. Educated Guess fills all the requirements that a serious cabernet lover is looking for, while remaining fun, approachable, and food friendly!

They owners say it better than me. It will be great with the filets I am getting ready to prep.

I hope you find this one.

Congress Keep Your Hands Off My Wine

Under the guise of "preventing an alcohol epidemic", a special interest group (the National Beer Wholesalers Association) has convinced a couple of congressmen to introduce HR-5034. For more information on this bill from Wine Spectator click here. The bill was introduced by representatives Bill Delahunt (D Mass), Mike Quigley (D Ill.), Howard Coble (R N.C.), and Jason Chaffetz (R Utah). If they represent you, perhaps you want to think twice this November. Amazing that Democrats and Republicans will work together on this, but they can't find a way to work together on Healthcare Reform or Financial reform.

Another good blog on the bill can be found at Vinography.

I don't know about you, but I don't want my rights limited to line the pockets of distributors. Please reach out to your congressman and ask them not to support this bill. Here is a link to find and write your congressman.

By the way I borrowed the neat cartoon and the political adage from a real blogger, Jeff Lefevere. You can catch him at Good Grape: A Wine Manifesto.