Weather says it’s time for Pinot Grigio porch sippers

Is it my imagination or is Memorial Day weekend frequently gloomy, rainy and sandwiched between two lovely, warm, sunny weeks? Would enjoy hearing from a local meteorologist or even a “climate denier.”

Climate denier is an interesting concept. According to Merriam-Webster, “climate” actually means, “the average course or condition of the weather at a place usually over a period of years as exhibited by temperature, wind velocity, and precipitation.” Of those who believe words have meaning, who could actually be a climate denier? The pejorative nature of the phrase speaks more to the writer’s opinion than as an accurate description of those who question the current 95% of scientists, some of whom may have initially claimed Einstein or Musk was a quack, who prefer to bruit about the Henny Penny concerns for an uninhabitable Earth.

Here are some predictions to enjoy with your wine, from the first Earth Day 1970 era. NB, Wald is a Nobel winner and Erlich a highly regarded Stanford PhD who wrote “The Population Bomb,” in 1968, and Peter Gunter in 1970 wrote about The Living Wilderness. All those who pay attention and are over 40 have read similar 95% factual eyewash for years. Here’s a short piece from Daily Caller; vet it yourselves: dailycaller.com/2016/04/22/7-enviro-predictions-from-earth-day-1970-that-were-just-dead-wrong. Due to such prognostications and the hysteria they created, I have no truck with either side or most hysterical nannies. Perhaps I’m not learned in this science, erudite enough and certainly can’t model such a large problem on my home computer. I’m suggesting instead we turn the computing over to those clever cryptocurrency miners, who each use enough electricity to power Georgetown, to solve the problem. Oops, the feds were just able to claw back millions of dollars paid in secure crypto by Colonial Pipeline in that (according to 95% of mathematic modelers) unbreakable algorithmic currency. Makes an iconoclast turn to wine. 

It is past time to lay in some porch sippers. Pinot Grigio box wine drinkers should check out Bota at $20; it is worthy. Peach, nectarine, lime and herbal aromas, medium body and refreshing clean finish, ABV 13%. Equivalent to four 750 ml bottles. This can sneak up on one after a hot, sunny day. Go up in quality a bit to J. Vineyard and Winery for a 13.8% ABV, fruit-forward Pinot Gris under $16, 88 McD plus 1 price point. Tropical fruit nose, pineapple, orchard fruits, lemongrass and a hint of jasmine. On the very complex palate observe pears, apples, lime and minerally acidity. The 2019 was stellar and won several prestigious class awards. The 2020 is also top flight. Tried a can of Babe Grigio with Bubbles. A clever marketing tool, and I’ll leave it at that. If you can find Joel Gott Oregon PG, buy under $13. Trop fruit, perfect acidic support, goes great with crab dishes and fluke. Francis Ford Coppola makes wine almost as good as some of his movies. At $13, the Diamond Collection PG is consistently on the money. Look for fruit forward with tangerine, peach and grapefruit flavors plus some mineral notes and a bright acidity, 88 McD. Oyster Bay NZ 2020 belongs on this list. It has 12.5% ABV, complex bouquet of pear, peach, fresh herbs with a bit of ginger. On the palate, citrus, green apple and stone fruit ride a crisp acidity through a very clean finish. We had this with fajitas and on another occasion some lightly curried monkfish. Would also satisfy many Asian recipes.

Here are some misc. labels. Jean-Paul Brun White Beaujolais is unoaked and very dry 100% Chardonnay. Yes, you read that right, a clear Beaujolais 2019, 88 McD under $20. Brun also produces a grand cru classe Morgon, 91 McD around $33. Maison Emile Beyer Pinot Blanc Tradition from Alsace, around $18, has rated McD 89 for the past six years. A lovely aromatic wine with mixed floral bouquet.  I love spicy food and Gewurztraminer, but a proper match is key. Try a 2019, 89 McD, $25 bottle of Anderson Valley Navarro Dry Estate Bottled selection and surprise yourselves. An atypical clean rendition, not your average Cali heavyweight. Look for peach and lychee flavors with bright acidity through its long, clean finish. The 2018 won San Fran International Competition gold. The ‘19 rivals it, and that’s a wrap.