06/13/06 – Chile

By Jesse on June 12, 2006

Winos,

My apologies for the lateness of this e-mail. You see, I’ve just recently become unemployed, and as the phrase “carpe diem” no longer inspires me like it used to, I thought it probably more important to lay out on my roof for a couple hours today and then to watch the VHS copy of Popular Science’s “The Greatest Science and Technology of the ’30s” than to write the wine club e-mail. I assure you this unabashed hedonism is only a passing phase, and as soon as I have a job, the e-mails will once again be timely. Anyone looking for a writer’s assistant?

Last week’s white-red combo meeting for Argentina went very well, I thought, and I’ve been trying to decide whether a combo meeting would also be appropriate for Chile. At first I was skeptical, because Chile’s output (at least in terms of imports to the US) is much greater — the country ranks third in total volume of US imports, behind only France and Italy, and ahead of Spain, Germany and Australia. Crazy, right? But then as I read more about Chile, I began to think the country might not be deserving of two meetings. First of all, chances are that we’re only going to be able to find four varietals in American stores: Cabernet, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Merlot. The grape known as “Pais,” which was brought over by the conquistadors, is the most widely-planted grape in Chile, but is basically not exported. Same deal with Carmenere and Sauvignon Vert. If you can find any of them, buy them! Other than that, we’re stuck with the four familiar varietals. And the second reason is that apparently the whites just aren’t very interesting. They might be good, but there’s nothing that identifies them as distinctly Chilean. Why bother giving them their own meeting if they’re going to taste the same as what we’ve had before?

SO. Lets do another red-white combo day. Buy whatever you’d like… apparently Cabernet Sauvignon is the best bet for quality, but if you see something else that strikes you as having potential, buy it. And if you see any of those rarely-imported varietals, that might be a really interesting way to spice up the meeting. Otherwise we’re gonna have to get Andy Lang to take his clothes off. Not that that’s so hard, from what I hear. But I shouldn’t say anything more about that. Or should I? Yes. And I will, at the meeting, which will be at Amy’s house in Mar Vista: (address)

We’ll see you crazy kids with your crazy Chilean wines on Tuesday… sometime between the start of the second half and 9 PM.

Jesse