The Wine Commonsewer

The Kings Of Trans Fat

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

Ever notice that as things change it turns out that all the old experts didn't know their collective backsides from breakfast. Remember how trans fats were going to save our arteries from the scourge of animal fat? Then it turns out that margarine is a lot worse than butter.

You notice that eggs are out of jail these days as well, full of Omega 3 fatty acids and all sorts of health benefits.

Essentially, the entire government and medical establishment campaign against eggs came about because eggs contain 210 mg of cholesterol and the RDA is 300 mg, the assumption being that cholesterol laden foods would contribute to high plasma cholesterol levels and, ultimately, heart disease and stroke.

OTOH, Trans fats and their substitutes are fake, which should be your first clue. Think: Twinkies with that filling that is pretty much Crisco and sugar. 

And for those of you with a lot of time on your hands, here's a list of the 246 trans-fattiest foods you can eat.

As Always,

TWC

Ben Franklin on Wine (& God)

We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage in Cana as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, and which incorporates itself with the grapes, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.

Mortgage Insurance Premiums = Mortgage Interest Paid

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

Mortgage insurance is a racket, we all know that. But sometimes, for some borrowers paying mortgage insurance premiums means the difference between owning your own place and spindling twelve rent receipts every year.

The CONgress has taken some pity on us mortals. Subject to limits that kick in for folks whose overall income is 100k plus, it may be possible to treat mortgage insurance premiums you paid during 2007 as home mortgage interest.

The mortgage insurance must be paid in connection with home acquisition debt, the mortgage insurance contract must have been issued after 2006, and you must have paid the premiums before 2008 for coverage in effect during 2007. You can deduct mortgage insurance premiums on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 13.

In English, acquisition debt means you borrowed money to buy the house. A refi to buy a boat, pay off Junior's college, or to pay off the maxed credit cards doesn't fly.

As Always,

TWC

Hard Days Night

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

It is Lennon & McCartney week on American Idol and it reminded me of a sweltering, smog-choked summer afternoon, the likes of which we don't ever see anymore, when Paige dragged me off to see this movie at a long ago defunct movie palace in rapidly decaying downtown La Puente. It was awesome.

We had just spent a glorious week floating the Colorado River in innertubes that were more patch than tube, so the temps didn't faze us much. But Dude, it was smoggy.

As Always,

TWC

2006 Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

Toyed with the idea of creating a special category just for No Star's wine reviews. Thought I'd call it Spillable-Swillable-Refillable™. Also thought we ought to have a category called The Cheap Wine Commonsewer Speaks. The trouble with that is we've got so much debris on this site that it would create more confusion than it resolved. Maybe it's time to divest or spin off some of the extraneous stuff. [shrugs]

But for now, we have to be able to point the winos to a specific thread in order that they can wet their beak. Wish it was different.

Meantime, here's the latest from No Star.....

What’s wrong, friend?  You say Sideways ruined any chance of finding a drinkable Pinot Noir at an affordable price?  Au contraire, mon frère!  It is true the movie increased sales of Pinot, sending prices skyward, but values can still be found.

I was perusing the wine selection at the local Safeway, with an eye on the $21 dollar 2006 Duck Pond Pinot Noir that has become one of my favorites. The wallet said no. 

Closer to the floor I spied a 2006 Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir for $7.98, or just $6.98 with a Safeway card!  I figured it would be a California wine, but the label revealed that this wine hails from northern Italy.  I thought this is a bit farther south than the premier Pinot growing areas of Northern Oregon and France’s Burgundy, but perhaps close enough.  Safeway card in hand, I headed for the checkout stand with some sharp cheddar, smoked salmon and a box of Keebler™ Town House® Flipsides™ crackers (butter cracker on one side and pretzel on the other).

Normally, with an inexpensive, untried bottle of wine, I decant the wine.  However, uncorking the Pepperwood Pinot released no off or medicinal odors and I was both hungry and thirsty and in no mood to wait. The color is a medium garnet with very little separation.  The nose of this Pinot is a bit fruitier than what I expect.  The flavor of strawberries came on very strong and I flashed back to my 21st birthday and a Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill hangover (and the sweet young thang next to me).

The strawberry rush lasts but a second, then the tastes of raspberries and Bing cherries appear.  After several seconds, the fruit is wrapped in cloves, tannins, and oak.  There is an earthiness to this wine’s finish that took me back to the forests of western Washington after a rain shower.

Pinot is classically paired with salmon and the Pepperwood was a good match for my late evening repast.  The Keebler pretzel crackers are fun addition (TWC Note: Sez You!).  This wine isn't nuanced with subtle flavors, but what do you want for seven bucks? 

On the No Star™ Spillable-Swillable-Refillable scale, the 2006 Pepperwood Pinot Noir is swillable and refillable.  In fact, I enjoyed the second glass more than the first as the strawberry flavor became better balanced with the other fruit.

TWC wishes to thank No Star for his appearance here today and to remind him that at two glasses he was just getting started.

As Evoir,

TWC

Grandma Does St Patck's Day

Gentle Readers,

Ma is 80 and still dancing. She came by it honestly I suppose. I hear tell that my grandma was a flapper until she found Jesus. Or maybe it was the three kids. Ma's daddy was a poker player with an ever-present hip flask, a ready grin, and a love of dance. His excesses could get him work as a poster child for today's health fascist movement and, accordingly, he left this world about a half century ago.

As ever,

TWC