Why are you so into Pinot?

I mean, it’s like a thing with you.

Prof. Susan Ackerman asserts that the ‘insurgent candidates’ (Chien Wen Kung liquidates that term [link.]) are “the same sorts of reactionary ideologies as were represented in last year’s elections by [T. J.] Rodgers” [link]. So, what sort of reactionary values does Mr. Rodgers peddle?

As noted below, the San Francisco Chronicle did a story on Rodgers [link]. He’s way into wine. He’s attempting to make America’s best Pinot Noir, and his creation debuted a little more than a month ago in Palo Alto. (I’ll check up on how it went, later.) What kind of man is a Pinot Noir man?

… in fact [Pinot] can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked away corners of the world. And, and only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot’s potential can then coax it into its fullest expression. Then, I mean, oh its flavors, they’re just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and… ancient on the planet. [link.]

That’s Miles Raymond, played by Paul Giamatti, written by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor from the novel by Rex Pickett ( who, according to Payne, is Miles) in the academy award-winning movie Sideways. Not bad virtues for Zywicki and Robinson to emulate, though ‘ancient on the planet,’ I guess, sounds pretty reactionary. Rodgers himself said, “My wines are made the same as Romanee Conti (one of the world’s pre-eminent Burgundy houses) in 1500.” Yikes– stringent! Atavistic, even. Perhaps Prof. Ackerman prefers a sparkling white zinfandel– Chateau Newark, peut-etre?

No, but seriously, take it easy. Peter Robinson said it best in the Valley News: “Needless to say, if her judgment is Todd and I represent throwbacks and some kind of yearning for the 1920s, raccoon-skin coats, all-male Dartmouth, that’s just mistaken. That’s not remotely what we’re interested in.” There’s not much more to say, but sadly many will remain unconvinced.

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