Prez Hu of China is guest of honor at state dinner chez Gates tonight. Typical chicken-shit: Gov. Gregoire is official host but event is privately financed. Saving grace: decent wines! Would be hard-pressed to find two more worthy representatives of Washington viticulture than this pair:
* Chateau Ste. Michelle, the 2003 Canoe Ridge Estate Chardonnay
* Leonetti Cellar in Walla Walla, the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Both wines come from mature vineyards with well-identified characteristics; both exhibit the subtle signatures of their terroir rather than the flashy hands of a splashy winemaker. Elegant apple and citrus for the chard; ripe berries and cedar for the cab.
How civilized that our business and political elite can sit down with a visiting potentate without false modesty or phony displays of temperance, even if they did have to drum up corporate underwriting. Ya think the earnest voices protesting Hu's visit could raise a glass to the notion of cooperation, consensus & comity?
Posted by Ronald Holden at April 18, 2006 4:22 PMYa think the earnest voices protesting Hu's visit could raise a glass to the notion of cooperation, consensus & comity?
I wonder what response those same protesters would have if they did the same thing in Beijing?
It was noted that Washington has exported 5 billion dollars of product to China and in return imported 60 billion dollars of product in 2005.
Better start practicing your Chinese and teaching it in public school.
Hu? He the one on first?
Posted by: Allan L. at April 18, 2006 5:32 PM