Profound effect on us poor Bordeaux collectors: 25% tariffs imposed by our Great Leader. Remind me: Why do we hate the French, again?

Here's what one major seller of Bordeaux futures states:

On 2019 Bordeaux Futures purchases: ALL TAXES, DUTIES, AND/OR TARIFFS IMPOSED AT THE TIME OF DELIVERY OF THESE WINES TO THE UNITED STATES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUYER AND MUST BE REMITTED PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF THE WINE.

Ouch! It makes no sense to pay a 25% tariff on the 2019 Bordeaux futures. I don't care if the wines are great, or if the wines are a good deal because the USD is a bit higher vs the Euro now. I've checked the prices of what's available now, and they are NOT 25% better.

Why did the Trump administration impose 25% tariffs on French wine? Apparently it was because the EU gives subsidies to Airbus, which competes (unfairly, goes the argument) with Boeing. Um, but how does punishing French wineries address Airbus subsidies? Why wouldn't we just put a tariff on US carriers' purchases of Airbus planes?

And get this, for another dose of how stupid this is: If a wine's more than 14% alcohol, then there's no tariff. Why that limit? There isn't any reason. Some table wines do have 14% alcohol (particularly, warm-weather red wines). Port alcohol levels don't start until you get up to about 19% alcohol. But Bordeaux red wines are usually lower than 14%. So this stupid threshold might force French wineries to amp up their wines, to meet the 14% threshold, which could bring the wines out of balance in the mouth, and make you intoxicated quicker, which is not always a good thing. You could argue that Trump is forcing French wineries to up their alcohol levels, which could lead to more intoxicated-driving accidents. Nice job!

Next point: It was the French who GAVE US OUR COUNTRY, with their military and strategic assistance circa 1776. No US of A, without their help. I don't know about you, but I've always loved the French. And their wines and cooking and art and geography and ...   Is this the right way to deal with them?

Finally, get this: Airbus has a major manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama (see photo). That is in the United States (barely). So this is, IMO, a complex factual situation that has been addressed by idiots, for an idiotic reason, in an idiotic way, with idiotic results.

Photo credit: Airbus

Preserved lemons featured on a charcuterie board we made for friends visiting the farm/winery!

Our good friends and neighbors in Vancouver came out to see the farm in its pretty time of year. We made them a charcuterie board to go with a selection of roses and sparkling wine, and had a fun "physically distant" sort of evening. Life with the virus goes on! The board included my preserved lemons, which are great mixed with olives. Looking forward to making a Moraccan lamb tagine with them! Preserved lemons are easy to make; try some!

2018 Maryhill Rose of Sangiovese

What a charming rose! Yes, it's New World (lots of powerful fruit), but as I tell anyone who will listen: A grape is a fruit, and so a wine should taste like fruit!

Here we have strawberries and cranberries, riding on a lovely acid frame. Not too complex, but who cares? when the effect is so perfect?   It's nice that a 2018 rose can still sing like this. Sangiovese makes great roses (check out Barnard Griffin's Rose of Sangio. which wins every award you can name). Life is better with good rose, especially in Spring.

In order to fit my dinner into "Rose-land," when we were hitting Papa Murphy's tonight for an easy dinner (we usually cook in), I chose something new: Chicken, bacon, artichokes, onion, parmesan, on thin crust with a white garlic cream sauce, with jalepenos added at home, and wow! Perfect with this rose.

Maryhill makes a HUGE slate of wines, and I choose among those--not all are right for me. The Proprietor's Reserve wines are consistently good choices (and not too expensive), but here, in 2018, the "regular" Rose of Sangio is better than the Proprietor' Reserve Rose. But both are good.

If you don't live in the Pac NW, GET UP HERE! The world is changing, environmentally and governmentally, you need to be up here, if you have an open mind. Life is great here.