How The Ruling Class Works For Dummies

If you want a concise primer on how the ruling class functions, [this article](http://socialistworker.org/2009/07/29/who-does-obama-answer-to) will tell you everything you need to know.

>The Russian revolutionary Lenin nailed the real nature of this kind of "democracy" in his short book State and Revolution: "To decide once every few years which member of the ruling class is to repress and oppress the people through parliament--this is the real essence of bourgeois parliamentarism."

2003 Destino Cabernet Sauvignon

**2003 Destino Cabernet Sauvignon (USA, California, Napa Valley)** The nose had black currant and cherry, a little espresso, and some earth and vanilla at the end. The palate was rich and juicy, and had earth, black currant, oak, chocolate, and a good cherry finish. (90 pts.)

Spain vs. Portugal

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=8185) I tasted today:

* **N.V. Emilio Lustau Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Capataz Andres DeLuxe Cream Solera Reserva - Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry**
The nose had raisins, dates, and figs. The palate was sweet and smooth, and had dates, fig, and a raisin finish. (95 pts.)
* **2006 Niepoort Douro Vertente - Portugal, Douro**
The nose had raspberry, plum, cherry, and licorice. The palate was smooth, and had raspberry, plum, cherry, and a licorice finish. (92 pts.)
* **2004 Celler Marti Fabra Empordà Masia Carreras - Spain, Catalunya, Empordà**
The nose had smoke, leather, cherry, and raspberry. The palate was soft, and had cherry, wood, stone, and a raspberry finish. (90 pts.)
* **2007 Xarmant Arabako Txakolina - Spain, País Vasco, Arabako Txakolina**
The nose had orange, stone, and a little lemon zest. The palate had good acidity with lots of citrus fruit, and a mineral finish. (89 pts.)
* **2005 Bodegas Pintia (Vega-Sicilia) Toro Pintia - Spain, Castilla y León, Toro**
The nose had smoked meat, spice, cherry, and blackberry. The palate was soft, and had blackberry, meat, cherry, and a spicy finish. (93 pts.)
* **2003 Quinta do Portal Douro Grande Reserva - Portugal, Douro**
The nose had blackberry, cherry, plum, and cedar. The palate had dark chocolate and espresso, blackberry, and a dark cherry finish. (91 pts.)

2006 Soos Creek Ciel du Cheval Vineyard

**2006 Soos Creek Ciel du Cheval Vineyard (USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain)** The nose had black currant and cherry, a little chocolate, and a toasty oak finish. The palate was rich and thick, and had cherry, black currant, mocha, and a finish of pure vanilla. It was a little hot, but not enough to bother me. (92 pts.)

2006 Argyle Pinot Noir Reserve

**2006 Argyle Pinot Noir Reserve (USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley)** The nose had black cherry and forest floor, a touch of vanilla, and some woodsy herbs at the end. The palate was smooth, with a slight hint of sweetness, and had black cherry, a little raspberry and earth, and a good herbaceous finish. (87 pts.)

2005 Destino Chardonnay Russian River Valley

**2005 Destino Chardonnay Russian River Valley (USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)** I used most of this bottle for cooking, but I did have a glass left over to taste. The nose was overloaded with butter and oak. It covered every other aroma there was, mainly stone and apple. The palate was a little better than the nose, as far as over the top oak and butter were concerned. It was crisp and clean, with apple and stone, and a light background of oak and butter. (87 pts.)

Blaming The Victim

Once again, the ruling class blames us for all the [trouble](http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/jul2009/pers-j18.shtml) this country is in.

> “Government programs alone won’t get our children to the Promised Land,” Obama declared. In other words, black workers can expect no significant social assistance from the Obama administration. Instead, Obama claimed that what is needed is “a new mind set, a new set of attitudes.”

Blind Tasting

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=8119) I tasted today:

* **2006 Huntington Cellars Merlot - USA, California**
The nose had cherry, forest floor, and spice. The palate had wet leaves, spice, cherry, and raspberry. (92 pts.)
* **2004 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley**
The nose had raspberry, cherry, earth, spice, and vanilla. The palate had spicy cherry, earth, spice, and vanilla. (91 pts.)
* **2005 Folie à Deux Zinfandel - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County**
The nose had berry, creamy oak, spice, and earth. The palate had sweet berry, toasted oak, cherry, plum, and spice. (90 pts.)
* **2007 Hedges Family Estate CMS - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley**
The nose had rich blackberry, spice, and vanilla. The palate was rich and tannic, and had spice and blackberry. (89 pts.)
* **2007 Daedalus Cellars Pinot Noir Jezebel - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley**
The nose had raspberry, cherry, cloves, nutmeg, and earth. The palate had toast, blackberry, cherry, and creamy vanilla. (88 pts.)
* **2006 Donum Pinot Noir - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley**
The nose had mushroom, floral notes, cherry, and spice. The palate was rich and acidic, and had cherry, floral notes, spice, and raspberry. (94 pts.)
* **2003 Charter Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley**
The nose had black currant, cherry, spice, and earth. The palate was rich, and had black currant, cherry, oak, and a spicy finish. (92 pts.)

2007 Carlisle Zinfandel Rossi Ranch

**2007 Carlisle Zinfandel Rossi Ranch (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley)** The nose had black currant and bramble, a little bit of pepper, and some creamy vanilla at the end. The palate was very soft, and had black currant, raspberry, dust, and peppery oak finish. (93 pts.)

2006 Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Medalla Real

**2006 Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Medalla Real (Chile, Central Valley, Maipo Valley)** The nose had dusty cherry and black currant, along with woodsy herbs, and vanilla. The palate was very dry, and had black currant, dirt, cherry, spice, and a pleasant oak finish. (89 pts.)

1990's Bordeaux

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=8063) I tasted on 7/10/2009:

* **1999 Château Rieussec - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes**
A fabulous nose of apricot, honey, peach, and apple, surrounded by a nice layer of petrol. The palate was sweet with honey and apricot, and finished with apple and petrol. (96 pts.)
* **1992 Château Léoville Las Cases - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien**
The nose had a great raspberry and leather mix, followed by cherry, spice, and a slightly floral finish. The palate had leather, cherry and raspberry, and a spicy oak finish. (93 pts.)
* **1996 Vieux Château Certan - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol**
The nose started with a good dose of dirt that was followed by raspberry, manure, and a hint of vanilla. THe palate was very smooth, and had cherry, dirt, raspberry, and an oaky finish. (93 pts.)
* **1994 Château Mouton Rothschild - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac**
The nose was a little tight, but I did get some cherry, leather, and vanilla. The palate was slightly sweet, with raspberry, dirt, and oak. (92 pts.)
* **1998 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac**
The nose had strong aromas of cherry and wet leaves, plus some raspberry, dirt, and vanilla. The palate was soft and earthy, with some cherry, spice, and vanilla. (92 pts.)
* **1994 Château Smith Haut Lafitte - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan**
The nose had cherry, leather, and vanilla. The palate had cherry, oak, spice, and an earthy finish. (90 pts.)
* **1996 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan**
The nose had peach and tropical fruit aromas, along with a bit of chalk towards the end. The palate had quite a bit of stone flavors, plus tropical fruit, peach, and a chalky finish. (89 pts.)
* **1999 Château Pavie Macquin - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru**
The nose had some sweet raspberry, spice, and vanilla. The palate was somewhat tannic, and had cherry, earth, spice, and oak. (89 pts.)

Sonoma Reds and Whites

Here are the [wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=8057) I tasted today:

* **2006 Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc Estate Bottled - USA, California, Sonoma County, Chalk Hill**
The nose had peach, nectarines, grass, and a hint of stone. The palate was very grassy, and had nectarines, peach, and a pleasant stony finish. (93 pts.)
* **2005 Tor Chardonnay Wente Clone Durell Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast**
The nose had butter, lemon zest, stone, and a little peach. The palate was crisp, and had lemon oil, peach, cream, and a nice mineral finish. (93 pts.)
* **2005 Stonestreet Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley**
The nose had pencil lead, blackberry, wet leaves, smoke, and a little oak. The palate was rich and juicy, and had blackberry, cassis, smoke, earth, and a graphite finish. (92 pts.)
* **2007 Stuhlmuller Vineyards Chardonnay Estate Bottled - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley**
The nose had apple, honey, citrus, peach, and pear. The palate was crisp, and had lemon oil, honey, pear, and a good citrus finish. (92 pts.)
* **2006 Fitch Mountain Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley**
The nose was peppery and had black currant, blackberry, and spice. The palate was rich, and had pepper, blackberry, spice, and a black currant finish. (90 pts.)
* **2006 Murphy-Goode Merlot - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley**
The nose had loads of blackberry, woodsy herbs, spice, and a bit of oak. The palate was soft, and had bramble, spice, blackberry, and a nice herb finish. (89 pts.)

2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

**2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast (USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast)** The nose had cherry and raspberry, nutmeg and mushroom, and a little oak at the end. The palate was soft and slightly sweet, and had cherry, earth, raspberry, spice, and a vanilla finish. (92 pts.)

Barbeque Reds and Whites

Here are the[wines](http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=8020) I tasted today:

* **2006 Moorilla Riesling White Label - Australia, Tasmania**
The nose had fresh ground spice, citrus, pencil shavings, and some floral notes. The palate was crisp, and had citrus, spice, graphite, and a floral finish. (92 pts.)
* **2007 Paraiso Vineyards Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands**
The nose was very jammy, and had strawberry, cherry, raspberry, and a slight hint of earthiness. The palate was soft, and had a lot of minerals, some herbs and earth, and a good finish of cherry, raspberry, and strawberry (92 pts.)
* **2006 Rockpile Winery (Mauritson) Petite Sirah Madrone Spring Vineyards - USA, California, Sonoma County, Rockpile**
The nose had raspberry, pepper, cherry, stone, and vanilla. The palate was soft, and had stone, rasp berry, spice, pepper, and an oaky finish. (92 pts.)
* **2007 Substance Malbec - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley**
The nose had raspberry and chocolate, earth and spice, and a little vanilla towards the end. The palate was herbaceous, and had cherry, earth, mocha, and a very spicy finish. (90 pts.)
* **2005 Edmeades Winery Zinfandel Chase Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Redwood Valley**
The nose had cherry and raspberry, spice, and a bit of vanilla. The palate was rich, and had jammy raspberry, cherry, spice, and a little vanilla. (89 pts.)
* **2006 The Four Graces Pinot Gris - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills**
The nose was very creamy and had peach, lemon zest, tropical fruit, and a little hint of minerals. The palate was crisp and slightly sweet, with a bunch of acidity, some peach, lime, tropical fruit, and a stone finish. (87 pts.)
* **2007 Robert Biale Zinfandel Black Chicken - USA, California, Napa Valley**
The nose had raspberry, cherry, pepper, and vanilla. The palate was soft, and had dark berries, cherry, and a great vanilla finish. (94 pts.)
* **2005 Penfolds Shiraz RWT - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley**
The nose had grilled meat, graphite, pepper, earth, blueberry, and blackberry. The palate was smooth, and had earth, pencil lead, blueberry, blackberry, and a peppery finish. (93 pts.)

2008 Fiddlehead Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Goosebury

**2008 Fiddlehead Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Goosebury (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley)** The nose had tropical fruit, lemon zest, dry grass, and a little stone. The palate was crisp and clean, and had lemon, stone, grass, and a nice tropical fruit finish. (91 pts.)