You won't forget Maison Forget-Brimont Premier Cru NV Brut Champagne if you are wise, a very lovely 91-point French Champagne that won't break the bank. I've seen cases of 12 750s offered under $432. "What am I going to do with a case of champagne?" you may ask. Have a daughter getting married? How about an anniversary, a baptism or graduation party coming up? Champagne cellars and improves with age, my friends.
Forget the canard that white wines don't age well. If you wish to test this, try buying 10-year-old white Burgundy, or most German Riesling or Cali Chardonnay yada yada. Forget-Brimont Premier Cru is a solid buy. Pale golden with great effervescence, the nose is floral with hints of hazelnut, apple and biscuit. The palate is well balanced between aromas and bright acidity. Finishes cleanly and although it stands alone, it will also accompany a light luncheon such as Flounder Bercy or chicken breast supreme. Lobster, absolutely!
Two gold medal New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs were awarded IWC Great Value White: Blind River Sauvignon Blanc 2015, available around $13, and Aldi The Exquisite Collection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 under $9. Aldi also won for Exquisite Collection Cotes de Provence Rosé 2015. It took silver but was named best Rosé priced under 7 Euro. In that range, Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhone Reserve Blanc 2014 is fairly valued under $12. These are medium-bodied, crisp wines. Pale straw-colored, they open to grapefruit nose and finish with a clean citrus note. The 2014 took silver at IWC and bronze at Decanter World. Celliers des Dauphins is aka Union des Vignerons des Cotes du Rhone.
For those who enjoy tannic profiles, such as many Malbec and St. Estephes exhibit, but wish a lower price profile, take a look at Azienda Agraria's Perticaia Montefalco Rosso 2013.These were steel and bottle aged to maintain freshness and fruit. Long-term maceration amped up their color and tannin. Dark garnet-colored, they open to berries and cherries. On the palate they are fresh fruit with good tannic grip. Finishes puckery clean. Great with a charcuterie and sharp cheese platter or wood-roasted lamb, 89 McD, priced under $20. The Perticaia Montefalco Sangrantino DOCG 2011 was rated 93 points in this column earlier. They can still be found under $40. These are terrific now and will continue to improve.
Most Sangrantino has plenty of shelf life. The 2011 vintage is best of the range, from 2005 to date. Most of the other vintages ranged in the 89-90 point category.
In conclusion, here's some recent news. USAG tells Humana and Aetna they can't merge. Aetna drops ACA coverage in all but four states for 2017. Delaware is one they are keeping. UnitedHealth loses $425 million and wants out of healthcare exchanges for 2017.
Small businesses are dropping their plans due to premium increases. Large companies are dropping spousal coverage. Can't drop kiddies under 26, it's the law. Irate stockholders are suing to learn about political donations from health service providers. Healthy young people opt to pay the fine with disastrous consequences to the actuarial numbers, which drive prices. California United Health Group left PPACA. Looks like single payer is on the horizon. After all we can't drop the insurance of "11 million people," can we? Regardless your position, please write or call. Put pressure on your politician to get a remedy. PPACA, in its current form, looks like a train wreck to me. The light at the end of a one-track tunnel is an express train's headlight. Hold the pols' collective feet to the fire. As usual, both sides have thrown up their hands and exclaimed, "We can't do anything until after the election." Obviously we can't hold the pols' hands to the fire or our pockets would burn. Makes a guy want to drink!
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Email John at chjonmc@yahoo.com.
