North and South Cali, People Roads and Wine (archive)

: Being a former New Yorker and French wine drinker (back in 62-65) I accept your challenge to bmv and mv on the California to French comparison. Now just to level the playing field, what French wine do you currently drink? You are aware that back in the mid 70's the best California wines beat the best French wines (both white and red) in a blind tasting conducted in France. If you come out to Northern California we will arrange a blind tasting for you. That will be after we've finished playing on the track.

Aha...I had no idea you are a former NYer! (Gosh I love New York!)
I will have to do both North and South Cali, and points in between I think? I will have to start mapping where everyone is. I believe mv and bmv are North (and I hope to see them Scottish folk dancing?), I want to visit friends in Stockton as well... (there is one cave in particular I would like to invite myself to) there's Dinan in Mountain View (I used to live in Los Altos when I worked at Stanford- nice mountain road near there, I think I know a great restaurant, the Bella Vista?) and Boxster/Z3 Runs in Malibu, BobF (if he is still offering to let me drive his M) and I am not even sure where you are, and Thunderhill, John! Then there is JonM and Jon Shafer, Sylvie and Kathy, bmwclubla... and who was it who was posting those gorgeous roads last week???... I hope Robert the Boxster guy will be having another Malibu Run and show me the secret road(s)...

I think I would have a heart attack just looking at your M Roadster on the track! (I am willing to risk it!)

Maybe I will have to rent a z3 and drive it up and down the coast..? Poor me! Rough job but someone's gotta do it. (grin grin grin) Actually I think my gal pal has a japanese roadster (not an S2000) of some kind in also in Stockton, maybe she'd like to play...

My comedy teacher is moving to LA in two weeks and opening a new club (we hope)... he gets married in April but that is too long to wait...
And I have another friend on dialysis in LA... gotta visit him too.

Now about the wine...
I know the Cali wines won all those awards but I can't figure out why. Cali wines are even more expensive, which suits me as I like the French better.
Mostly I think I dislike Cali wines because their sulfites give me hives. Sulfites are in French wine as well, but i *think* the French don't add sulfites, they are naturally occurring and I can handle the naturally occurring sulfites. I am partial to dry red wine, robust and fruity and fragrant- but without a "berry nose" not sweet at all. Also not so fond of tannin on my teeth.

I would call Chateauneuf de Pape one of my all time faves, along with Pinot Noir, anything from Tuscany, and while we are in Italy, Chianti Chianti Chianti!!!!

I am tired of Merlot, French or otherwise.

White wine- which is off my diet so I rarely drink it- first pick is Pouilly Fusse of course, and I still have a bottle of Blanc de Blanc Domain Ott in the fridge (it's probably been there too long :( )

Bottom line is I usually like any French or Italian table wine (Mouton Cadet is my standby in red or white) and just can't drink any Cali wines at all without feeling sick :(

Don't even think of Chardonnay! :D (uck ptui)

Meanwhile, on the odd wines... I have recently fallen in love with an Israeli wine, of all things. If you can find a bottle of Barkan Reserved 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Galil, give it a whirl (I had to buy a case, and I will buy another!) It's surprisingly wonderful imho.

I took a wine course a while ago and at the end there was a blind taste test of 5 Champagnes. My usual fave, Christalle, I picked as number 2 to a Spanish sparkling wine! I think I was swayed by the Spanish bubbles, they were firmer and tinier and more fizzy...

Gosh this was fun :)

I should be out driving but I have to clear my desk first so I am just stalling dreaming about Cali and wine...

:D
Yes I should be coding the Z3 Girls, Z3 Guys and Z3 Garages too... ah well

http://www.time4r-r.com/CA/Half_Moon_Bay/_Half_Moon_Bay_Restaurants/_half_moon_bay_restaurants.html#BellaVista

Follow Ups:

Rachel you must come to the REAL NoCal..m aka PacerBoy 12:16 7/03/2000 (1)
- BTW Pouilly Fusse is Chardonnay..nt aka The guy who has a wine expert friend 23:46 7/03/2000 (0)
So many wines! So little time! more y2kguru 11:29 7/03/2000 (0)

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