Monday, July 5, 2021

Dan Berger: Wine True or False

 There are a lot of sayings about wine that simply aren't true. However, a few are true even though no one really ever tells you which is which.

    Usually, when we ask an expert, we end up getting a correct answer but without the proper explanation. Here are a few common ones.

    -- Red wine is better with age.

    Occasionally true. But the way wine is being made these days, it is less likely to be. One rule of thumb is to drink most wines young because they offer the most fruit.

    However, certain wines that are made to be aged are truly magnificent when they have been properly stored and served at an optimal moment. These are specialty wines, and they don't come along often. When they do, they're usually expensive, which makes them appealing only to those who have developed a taste for them.

    -- Cabernet sauvignon is tannic, bitter and astringent.

    Mainly true. But the way it is being produced these days, many such wines are softer and easier to enjoy when they're young. Some people still find cabernet to be too astringent, and they opt for the softer approach you typically get in a merlot.

    -- All rieslings are sweet.

    False. We all detect sweetness differently, so what might be dry to you could be sweet to me. But more and more these days, we're finding rieslings that are dry. Germany, the spiritual home of the grape variety, produces many wines designated as "trocken," which have enough acidity to be called dry and are great with food.
    -- Champagne and other sparkling wine should be served very cold.

    True, although some wine lovers prefer such wines just slightly cooler than cellar temperature. Most sparklings have a small amount of sugar added, helping to moderate the high acid content. Chilling them well helps make them a little more enjoyable.

    -- Drink most rose wines as young as possible.

    True. Roses are a special kind of white wine with a slight amount of color that indicates a higher level of fruit should be visible. But aging them rarely gives them enough added complexity to justify the loss of fruit.

    -- All great white wines are crystal clear with nothing floating around in the bottle.

    Pristine, crystal clear white wines are the goal of every winemaker, but not every wine is at its best when it's so clear. All the processes winemakers use to keep white wines crystal clear are potentially likely to detract from aroma or flavor. 

    I know many winemakers who worry about such things and are happy to release wines with stuff floating around in them as long as they know that making it clear would harm the aroma or taste.

    Indeed, if you see crystals in a bottle of chardonnay, that's an indication of a high quality wine that the winemaker simply refused to process to remove the crystals because he or she knew that to do so would harm it.

    -- The more you pay for a bottle of wine, the better it is.

    False. The factors that lead to a wine's high price often have little to do with its quality.

    Wine of the Week: 2020 Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough ($15): Many New Zealand sauvignon blancs sell for between $12 and $20. This one is among the best. Its aroma has bright kiwi, lime and faint tropical fruit notes. The entry is soft, but the finish is dry and perfectly suited for firm seafood such as grilled halibut.
    

To find out more about Dan Berger and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM

2 comments:

That'sMisterDeplorableToYou said...

In vino veritas.

True

Anonymous said...

" The entry is soft, but the finish is dry "


A comment like that would get one hurt ... (at most Deer Camps in the Deep South ).


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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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