Old Mold

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Old Mold

You’ll find some real Old World wines at the new G&C Lurton tasting room in downtown Healdsburg, and I don’t mean that as an approving nod to the winemaking style—I mean the real, old deal.

It’s easy enough these days to speak of Old World vs. New World wines. You don’t even have to know your Right Bank from your Left Bank; just a nod and a wink will do, and identification of the positive attributes of “Old World” wines as, very loosely speaking, dirt and rocks (minerality, for extra points) while raising an eyebrow at the questionable characteristics of “New World” wines, which include such villains as fruit and flavor. Boo, flavor—(all together now) booo!

What isn’t easy is teasing out the thorny issue of style vs. region—is Old World style strictly a matter of place, or winemaking? This tasting room offers a unique insight into that issue. Owners Gonzague Lurton and Claire Villars-Lurton both operate seveal chateaux in Bordeaux, France, and make wine from their Trinite Estate in Sonoma County.

In Swirl, we last met up with this Chalk Hill vineyard when it was owned by Chateau Felice over a decade ago. Planted with a mix of varieties then, the vineyard has gone completely to Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot since the Lurtons acquired it. While they own several big-name chateaux, their Healdsburg outpost is a modest affair, sharing a new tasting room space on Healdsburg Avenue with Sanglier Cellars, the Rhone-centric boutiquers I visited in 2014.

I am so New World, I had to lean in to glean the thickly accented story as told by tasting room manager Pascal Guerlou, who knew the Lurtons back in Bordeaux, where he ran a wine shop, and ran into them again at the French-American school in Santa Rosa. Old World, New World—small world.

But the big surprise is how Old World the Chalk Hill wines smell and taste—even the richer, cassis-inflected 2013 Acaibo ($69) could pass, while the muted 2014 Amaino Trinite Estate Sonoma County ($49) and the more barnyardy 2013 Amaino had me wondering if they import the very barrels from France to achieve this effect.

Nope. Just try the real Old World wines for comparison, like the ethereal, perfumed 2009 Chapelle de Bages ($39), the “second wine” of the Haut-Bages Liberal estate. Despite the Old World style the Sonoma County wines do, indeed, display—these are in the real old mold.

G&C Lurton Vineyards, 422 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. Open daily, 11am–6pm. $15–$29. 707.473.8556.

Dabbing Doubts

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Dabbing Doubts

Once upon a mid-summer’s eve in 2014 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, I found myself among the masses, waxing poetic about the virtues of cannabinoid therapeutics when I came across what was dubbed “Dab City.”

Entering the gates of this pop-up metropolis, I witnessed a dystopian future: the inebriated stumbling aimlessly about, consuming cannabis in such large quantities it rivaled a spring-break bender with cringe-worthy hip-hop providing the soundtrack to patients receiving medical care from paramedics for overingestion.

Clearly, smoking was no longer what it used to be.

A “dab” refers to a concentrated cannabis extract. These extracts are created through solvent-based processes such as CO2 (safe) or butane (not recommended due to residual solvent issues) or through nonsolvent practices used pressure and heat (known as “rosin”). They are generally inhaled using glass pipes, referred to as “rigs,” that are heated using a hand-held blowtorch or an electrical heating device.

Dabbing is an excellent way to rapidly ingest large amounts of cannabinoids, namely THC. That stated, there are several major concerns regarding this cultural expression of cannabis consumption.

First is the prevalence of butane extracts. Even within scientifically constructed closed-loop systems, there is evidence of residual solvent in extracts produced in this fashion. It is highly recommended that user explore safer extract methods.

Second is the temperature at which people dab. Generally it appears that most practices involve excessive heat for larger “hits” and bigger exhaled “clouds.” THC and most terpenes (the aromatic compounds that convey unique sensory effects) have a boiling point of 314 degrees Fahrenheit. When heated beyond this point, terpenes will degrade, reducing the entourage effect and resulting in having to consume more to get the same effect.

Third, and the most important, is that scientific study demonstrates that chronically excessive THC consumption results in down-regulation of endocannabinoid system receptors. A National Center for Biotechnology Information study titled “Care and Feeding of the Endocannabinoid System,” states that a down-regulated receptor “is not functional.” This could result in clinical ECS deficiency, signs and symptoms of which are lethargy, metabolic disorders, migraines and depression.

Fortunately, down-regulation is reversible through abstinence—and responsible use of marijuana.

Patrick Anderson is a lead educator for Project CBD.

Letters to the Editor: August 2, 2017

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Letters to the Editor: August 2, 2017

Utility Bill Baloney

Dave Canny (“Letters,” July 26) can pitch it however he wants. PG&E manipulated a massive increase in its charges to residential users this year. The CPUC is more or less owned by PG&E and the “interest groups” that were supposedly involved in the rate changes clearly had only one interest in mind: PG&E’s!

The most I’ve ever paid for utilities in previous years, in far colder month’s than last winter’s, was $220. This year our bill was more than $330 one month and has been high since then. I’ve written to everyone from state senators to the Better Business Bureau to PG&E itself about this. The answer is always the same as the one Canny pitches. The changes are legal and were made to “encourage energy conservation.” Baloney! The changes are the way PG&E is collecting the huge fine they paid after the San Bruno fire. Is no one connecting the dots on a fine they were forbidden to collect from their consumers?

I don’t use PG&E for gas or electric. Sonoma Clean Power and Tiger Gas both confirmed (as did PG&E) that my costs had not risen for the energy itself. The huge increase in my bill was from the “tiers” adjustment PG&E made for delivery. In their responses to me, PG&E always avoided mentioning “delivery” charges. Strange omission!

The extra hundred bucks charged this winter was entirely a result of the “tier” adjustments, which reduced bills for big power users (the “interest groups”) and “may” increase some bills for residential users. Or simply stated, “Let the little guy pay our fines—forever after!”

For starters, we need a truly independent CPUC.

—Arthur Hills

Santa Rosa

Violator

Kenneth Bareilles has a track record for destructive land use in Humboldt County (“Battle for Felta Creek,” July 26). It’s a shame that he can (apparently) continue to get CDF approvals for logging after his record of violations. It appears he is holding Felta Creek hostage and essentially demanding a buyout, or else he will log in an extremely sensitive area. The following is some recent history from up here in Humboldt: http://bit.ly/2hi7EaU

—Humboldter

Via Bohemian.com

Make
America Grate

I think your paper, its extreme left politics and proponents of cannabis are prime examples of the decline of our society (“What Would Trump Do?” July 5). It’s no wonder that your paper gets smaller while the Sonoma County Gazette is bursting at the seams!

—Pat Morris

Sonoma

Write to us at le*****@******an.com.

A Farce Awakens

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A Farce Awakens

Actor and writer Brittany Law—a “life-long Star Wars fan”—was thinking about Episode VII: The Force Awakens when a bizarre idea occurred to her at roughly the speed of light.

“I was watching the movie,” Law recalls, “and I suddenly realized, ‘This would make a great musical!'”

She was as serious as a Mynock chewing on a power cable.

“It just seemed interesting to think of what songs the different characters would sing at key moments,” Law says. “I loved the idea of Kylo Ren singing a ballad about being pulled back and forth between the light and dark side of the Force, or Rey singing about missing her parents. It’s perfect material for a musical.”

It took Law a year and a half, but now, thanks to a perfect-fit collaboration with Healdsburg’s Redwood Theatre Company—and a successful IndieGogo campaign—The Farce Awakens: A Musical ‘Star Wars’ Parody has opened with a series of free performances in Healdsburg.

“It’s got the same plot and same characters as The Force Awakens,'” explains Law, “except that it’s a comedy instead of a drama—with songs.”

The cast of 11 includes Law as the heroine, Rey, Kot Takahashi as Poe Dameron, Ezra Hernandez as Kylo Ren, and Isaiah Carter as Finn.

The theater company, which lighting designer Trevor Sakai describes as “very DIY,” has devised clever and gleefully silly effects to take the place of the movie’s eye-popping visuals.

“The Storm Troopers use super soakers for blasters,” Sakai says. “But we did get our hands on some truly impressive light sabers,” he adds.

According to Law, one need not have seen the original film to appreciate the humor of the play.

“You can be only vaguely familiar and still enjoy yourself,” she says. “Even if you’ve never seen any of the Star Wars films, you can appreciate it as an entertaining take on science-fiction genres.

“It’s pretty funny too,” she adds, “and every joke comes from a place of love. The Farce Awakens is our way of celebrating our love of Star Wars.”

‘The Farce Awakens’ runs Friday–Sunday (with one Thursday,
Aug. 10) through Aug. 13, at
Redwood Theatre Company,
440 Moore Lane, Healdsburg. Thursday–Saturday, 7:30pm;
Sunday, 2pm. All seats are free, but reservations strongly recommended. redwoodtheatrecompany.com.

July 27: Show of Shows in Monte Rio

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July 27: Show of Shows in Monte Rio

If variety is the spice of life, things are going to get pretty spicy along the Russian River this week, as the Monte Rio Variety Show returns for its 106th annual extravaganza of music, comedy and live theater. The show has featured world-class entertainers ranging from Merv Griffin and Bing Crosby back in the day to current stars like Clint Black and Zac Brown. While the lineup is always a surprise, the event also boasts a barbecue dinner and raffle, and all proceeds benefit the local school foundation and fire services. Thursday, July 27, at the Monte Rio Amphitheatre, 9925 Main St., Monte Rio. 4:30pm. $15–$30. monterioshow.org.

July 28: (Dis)Order Up in Santa Rosa

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July 28: (Dis)Order Up in Santa Rosa

I can’t listen to Virginia hardcore punk band Fried Egg without thinking of those PSAs in the ’90s that ended with, “This is your brain on drugs.” The hard-boiled band is currently on a West Coast tour in support of their sizzling new seven-inch record, Back and Forth, and stopping in Sonoma County for a massive concert and art show. Joining Fried Egg is a side order of North Bay bands including Acrylics, Rut (releasing their own seven-inch), the Goochers and new outfit Hose Rips. Local artists are also turning the show into a haunted house of performance pieces and art displays on Friday, July 28, at Refuge Church, 525 Fifth St., Santa Rosa. 7pm. $7. 707.542.1065.

July 29: Nice Time in Yountville

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July 29: Nice Time in Yountville

The upcoming inaugural Be Kind Napa is a simple, peaceful and friendly display of togetherness sorely needed in today’s world. The concept originally came from New Yorker Laurie Phillips, who wore “Be Kind” buttons and gifted them to strangers. Now the kindness is spreading to the North Bay and the community is invited to join the movement. Be Kind Napa opens with a nonpolitical kindness walk through downtown Yountville that leads to the Napa Valley Museum, where family-friendly activities, presentations, music, ice cream and cookies keep the positive vibes going on Saturday, July 29, gathering at Veterans Memorial Park, South Washington Street, Yountville. 9:30am. Free admission. bekindnapa.com.

July 29: Cultural Bash in Jenner

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July 29: Cultural Bash in Jenner

The North Bay’s rich history of Native American, Russian, European, Alaskan and other diverse communities is found in the food, music, art, crafts and more at the Fort Ross Festival. The daylong affair features diverse performances, including the San Francisco Balalaika Ensemble, East Bay women’s vocal arts ensemble Kitka, Pomo and Miwok dancers Su Nu Nu Shinal, and Sonoma County accordionist Laurie Lippin. Artisan crafters will be offering demonstrations, Lagunitas Brewing Company will be hosting the beer garden, and an international food bazaar brings the flavors of the world to town on Saturday, July 29, at Fort Ross State Historic Park, 19005 Hwy. 1, Jenner. 10am. $20 per car. fortross.org.

Hugs, Not Hate

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Hugs, Not Hate

The poet Mark Eckert and I were attending one of the free concerts that take place throughout Sonoma County in the summer a couple weeks ago—I won’t say where because Mark and I thought the band really stunk.

Mark started making undecipherable, indescribable gestures to signify his disgust, which made me laugh. The man standing in front of Mark turned around, and he must’ve thought Mark was mocking him. This crusty old-timer, with his San Francisco Giants cap, long, curly white hair and goatee, plenty of meat on his bones and a T-shirt that read “Guns don’t kill people—people kill people,” suddenly grabbed Mark in a bear hug and said in his ear, loud enough for me to hear, “I’m friends with Sonny Barger.”

Then he looked at me. I rolled my eyes as if to say, “I’m with Stupid, please don’t hold it against me,” and Crusty said, “I like your hat.” (Thank God I was wearing my Giants hat!) And for the rest of the concert, we were all best buddies!

I think I learned something from that guy, something to pass on. Next time you find yourself in presence of someone with whom you don’t agree (I don’t agree with Crusty’s T-shirt) or you think you have grounds for a potential conflict, like maybe they disrespected you, grab them in a big bear hug and tell them something straight from the heart that you think they might need to hear. “Sonny Barger is my friend” is good. So is “Be the change you want to see.” Or maybe “Jesus said, ‘Love your enemies.'”

Or tell them, “You’re not going to catch the Midnight Rider.”

Richard Nixon ended his resignation speech on Aug. 9, 1974, with these words: “Always remember others may hate you. But the ones who hate you can’t win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself.”

Don’t hate Trump and his supporters or anyone else with whom you might disagree or have grounds for conflict. Like Trump, Nixon and their supporters, you and I, too, can destroy ourselves with hate.

David Madgalene is a poet-lyricist who lives in Windsor.

Open Mic is a weekly feature in the ‘Bohemian.’ We welcome your contribution. To have your topical essay of 350 words considered for publication, write op*****@******an.com.

Terminal Beach

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Terminal Beach

Think of the different battlefronts in World War II. Now choose the one you are the gladdest that you missed. The Golden Staircase in New Guinea? Saipan? The London Blitz? That great engineer of cage-rattling cinema, Christopher Nolan, convinces you that Dunkirk ought to be way up on the list.

On the cusp of May and June 1940, some 400,000 troops of the British Expeditionary Force were pushed to the sea at the resort town of Dunkirk by the sudden collapse of the French army. A character describes the soldiers, lined up and waiting to be ferried back home, as “fish in a barrel.” It’s more like machine-gunning a sardine can. Strafing planes and dive bombers decimated the crowd waiting for rescue.

Nolan divides the film into a triptych: one hour with patrolling Spitfire pilot Farrier (Tom Hardy); one day with Mr. Dawson (Mark Rylance), captain of the pleasure boat The Moonstone, one ship in the motley armada requisitioned by the Royal Navy; and one week with some nigh-mute soldiers who have an unspoken compact to escape together.

In different combos, these soldiers pose as medics, surviving one shipwreck after another. Part of the ordeal is hiding in a ship, waiting for the tide to rise, with bullets busting through the bulkheads—it’s as much of a wringer as the scenes in Das Boot when the water pressure blows out rivets like .45 slugs. Dunkirk is an ordeal in which every facet is stomach-turning with tension.

Nolan’s film misses the grim humor in Len Deighton’s histories of the war, or some other indication of how the Dunkirk Miracle proves the importance of being lucky over being smart. Winston Churchill propagandized a humiliating retreat as a brave regrouping, in one of his noblest speeches—his words are read aloud haltingly from a newspaper at the end of the movie.

The film’s final shot is of a survivor’s look of wonder, realizing the size of the feat. One could just as easily have finished with a caption: “And then the war began in earnest.”

‘Dunkirk’ is playing in wide release in the North Bay.

Old Mold

You'll find some real Old World wines at the new G&C Lurton tasting room in downtown Healdsburg, and I don't mean that as an approving nod to the winemaking style—I mean the real, old deal. It's easy enough these days to speak of Old World vs. New World wines. You don't even have to know your Right Bank from your...
Read more

Dabbing Doubts

Once upon a mid-summer's eve in 2014 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, I found myself among the masses, waxing poetic about the virtues of cannabinoid therapeutics when I came across what was dubbed "Dab City." Entering the gates of this pop-up metropolis, I witnessed a dystopian future: the inebriated stumbling aimlessly about, consuming cannabis in such large quantities it rivaled...
Read more

Letters to the Editor: August 2, 2017

Utility Bill Baloney Dave Canny ("Letters," July 26) can pitch it however he wants. PG&E manipulated a massive increase in its charges to residential users this year. The CPUC is more or less owned by PG&E and the "interest groups" that were supposedly involved in the rate changes clearly had only one interest in mind: PG&E's! The most I've ever paid...
Read more

A Farce Awakens

Actor and writer Brittany Law—a "life-long Star Wars fan"—was thinking about Episode VII: The Force Awakens when a bizarre idea occurred to her at roughly the speed of light. "I was watching the movie," Law recalls, "and I suddenly realized, 'This would make a great musical!'" She was as serious as a Mynock chewing on a power cable. "It just seemed interesting...
Read more

July 27: Show of Shows in Monte Rio

If variety is the spice of life, things are going to get pretty spicy along the Russian River this week, as the Monte Rio Variety Show returns for its 106th annual extravaganza of music, comedy and live theater. The show has featured world-class entertainers ranging from Merv Griffin and Bing Crosby back in the day to current stars like...
Read more

July 28: (Dis)Order Up in Santa Rosa

I can’t listen to Virginia hardcore punk band Fried Egg without thinking of those PSAs in the ’90s that ended with, “This is your brain on drugs.” The hard-boiled band is currently on a West Coast tour in support of their sizzling new seven-inch record, Back and Forth, and stopping in Sonoma County for a massive concert and art...
Read more

July 29: Nice Time in Yountville

The upcoming inaugural Be Kind Napa is a simple, peaceful and friendly display of togetherness sorely needed in today’s world. The concept originally came from New Yorker Laurie Phillips, who wore “Be Kind” buttons and gifted them to strangers. Now the kindness is spreading to the North Bay and the community is invited to join the movement. Be Kind...
Read more

July 29: Cultural Bash in Jenner

The North Bay’s rich history of Native American, Russian, European, Alaskan and other diverse communities is found in the food, music, art, crafts and more at the Fort Ross Festival. The daylong affair features diverse performances, including the San Francisco Balalaika Ensemble, East Bay women’s vocal arts ensemble Kitka, Pomo and Miwok dancers Su Nu Nu Shinal, and Sonoma...
Read more

Hugs, Not Hate

The poet Mark Eckert and I were attending one of the free concerts that take place throughout Sonoma County in the summer a couple weeks ago—I won't say where because Mark and I thought the band really stunk. Mark started making undecipherable, indescribable gestures to signify his disgust, which made me laugh. The man standing in front of Mark turned...
Read more

Terminal Beach

Think of the different battlefronts in World War II. Now choose the one you are the gladdest that you missed. The Golden Staircase in New Guinea? Saipan? The London Blitz? That great engineer of cage-rattling cinema, Christopher Nolan, convinces you that Dunkirk ought to be way up on the list. On the cusp of May and June 1940, some 400,000...
Read more
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