Volume 2 Issue 16

December 15, 2006

Lettitor
By Heather Holbrook

     I used to have really nice handwriting. But then I became a writer. Although I generate a majority of my musings on a keyboard, I find that between carpal tunnel syndrome, finger fatigue and raising two small children, I don’t have much time or energy to write clearly. My to do lists look like the scratchings of a serial killer. In a purple glitter pen that I found under the train table.
      One of my most prized possessions is a writing instrument made by Monte Blanc that my husband gave to me for Christmas one year. It is a pleasure to write even the most mundane things with this ink pen. I love it more than jewelry. And occasionally I can coax a nice signature out of my right had with it.
      Handwriting has been described as the chirography of a person; the cast or form of writing peculiar to a person, including the size, shape, and style of letters, tricks of penmanship, and whatever gives individuality to his writing, distinguishing it from that of other persons. A lot can be learned about a person’s scrawl; there are scores of handwriting analysis books and websites out there. But you need actual words written on paper to analyze. And this brings us to the practically extinct art of the handwritten note.
      “But I have bad penmanship” is a common excuse. Doesn’t matter. Put down that Blackberry and take the time to scribble a heart-felt sentence with a cheap ballpoint pen, a pencil, anything and you’ll be amazed at the response. You may even get a handwritten note back!
      Now I am not suggesting that you enter the annual Graceful Envelope Contest, sponsored by the U.S. Postal Service and the Washington, D.C. Calligraphers Guild. The international contest awards the best envelopes addressed with hand-executed calligraphy or fine lettering. But try it out on a few neighborhood Christmas cards or a note to your mail carrier just to see if you can still do it. I know you can.
      This is the time of year I bring out my collection of antique 1902 Christmas postcards, all sent within the North Carolina mountain community of Zebra (later renamed Traphill). And it’s a treasure trove of penmanship. Lines among friends were as simple as “Christmas Greetings, love, Alma” with the address nothing more than a full name and Zebra, NC beneath it. But the writing is beautiful. These penny stamped cards are little works of art, in full color with intricate holiday scenes on the back. And I love them almost as much as my pen.
      Think about it; in those days if you did not speak aloud your thoughts to your neighbor, you wrote them down and sent them over. There were no cell phones, no text messaging, no email, no fax. Thank goodness people took time to write love letters, family recipes, and Valentines. Poems in crayon written by a six year old. And we still have boxes of them to prove it.
     This card sending season, I’m certainly all in favor of the computer generated address labels on envelopes and appreciate the convenience of the pre-printed Christmas cards declaring that The Holbrooks Wish You and Yours A Very Merry Christmas. But maybe I’ll get some fresh ink for my pen and add a few personal words next to that to wish friends and family a Happy 2007. And to come visit our islands real soon.

Commando Christmas
by Heather Holbrook

      The Christmas Commandos are a non-profit children’s organization that has existed in the Lowcountry since 1998. Benefiting children who have lost a parent before or during the holidays, parents and professionals of the region volunteer their time and talent with a single mission: to get ready for one big night each year.
      Under the cover of darkness on Christmas Eve, the Commandos head out from their operations center loaded with wrapped presents collected through toy drives and fundraisers. Escorted by local police for safety, the Christmas Commandos hang presents from trees in front of the bereaved children’s homes. There is never a note or a card and every child receives a full Christmas, from Barbie dolls to bikes. The Christmas Commandos receive the names of the children from sources such as Hospice, guidance counselors, churches and members of the community.  The drops include a full Christmas, including fresh baked cookies and a disposable camera so the families can capture the memories.
     The currently cover the tri-county area and each team has between 6-10 commandos on it. Last year it took 6 teams and 22 squad cars to deliver gifts to over a hundred children around the Lowcounty. Since 1998, the idea has grown and now Christmas Commandos has sister projects in Huntsville, Alabama and Wooster, Massachusetts.
     Christmas Commandos accepts both brand new toys as well as tax-deductible donations to ensure that every child has a special Christmas in this difficult time. If you wish to volunteer or donate, you can contact the Christmas Commandos at P.O. Box 2131 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464. Call 216-8325 or email Christmascommand@aol.com or visit their website at www.christmascommandos.org to find out more.

Merlot Needs a Hug
by Matt Norton

      You remember Merlot? You should, because it was the best-selling red wine in the United States for a number of years starting in 2000, and the grape received winemaking’s top honor in 2003 when Wine Spectator named a Merlot its wine of the year for the first time (a 2001 Paloma Merlot Spring Mountain District). But that all changed in 2005 when Miles, the wine snob character in the instant movie classic Sideways told his friend Jack before a dinner date: “If anyone orders Merlot, I’m leaving. I am NOT drinking any … Merlot.” Sideways earned an Oscar and Merlot became a fashion disaster for anyone paying attention. Ordering it demonstrated a sure lack of sophistication.
      Almost instantly, sales of Merlot faltered while sales of Pinot Noir, described by Miles as “haunting, brilliant, and thrilling”, shot up dramatically. It is hard to believe that a movie would have such an impact on a large industry like the wine industry, but the wine industry is particularly susceptible to trends and fashion. Consumers are still largely unsure of themselves when picking wine and there is an enormous amount to choose from.
      So what is Merlot, how does it differ from Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, and why did Miles recoil at the thought of having to drink it? In the United States, wines are typically named after the type of grape used and so Merlot is a type of grape that lends its name to a variety of wine – as does Cabernet and Pinot Noir. A Merlot is typically softer, sweeter, smoother, and less bitter than Cabernets or Pinots, but Cabs and Pinots are thought of as being more complex, flavorful, and elegant than Merlots. When you ordered “red wine” or a “house red” in a restaurant, you were probably served Merlot. Merlot has never really been in vogue for wine enthusiasts because it is thought of as being less complex and challenging. But because Merlot is more accessible to most palates, it became a shooting star in the roaring ‘90s, when domestic wine sales exploded. Ironically, Merlot was itself trendy and fashionable and represented California cool, evoking images of sipping it while hot air ballooning over Napa Valley. Unfortunately, Merlot was a victim of its own success. As its popularity increased, the rush to grow and produce it met the demand, but the result was an overabundance of below average wine flooding the market, and hence, a legitimate reason for Miles’ reaction.
      But with every misfortune, there is opportunity. And in this case, the winner is the consumer. As Merlot sales have slowed in the last two years, inventory has increased and prices for Merlot, even very good Merlot, have remained steady or have fallen while prices for varietals with more star power like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Syrah have risen. Fluid ounce for fluid ounce Merlot is a bargain because comparably rated bottles of Cabernet and Pinot cost more. And when Merlot is good, it is very good. For most of us, there is nothing wrong with a smooth and easy drinking wine without the punishing bitterness that sometimes accompanies a Cabernet or the thinness experienced when drinking some Pinot Noir. A good Merlot is the kind of wine that your dinner guests will say “that’s good … very smooth” and you’ll have done your job as host or wine selector.
      There are other advantages to drinking Merlot. A Merlot is generally ready to drink on release and it does not need to be properly stored for years to reach its peak like Cabernet. And Merlot is heartier than Pinot and isn’t as difficult to produce. Because Merlots are generally younger when served, they do not need to be decanted (opened up to the air) nearly as long before drinking, like Cabs and certain other red wines.
      The Sideways filmmakers had a sense of humor about their decision to slam Merlot. In the movie, Miles swirled and sipped his most prized wine, a 1961 Chateau Cheval Blanc, out of a Styrofoam cup in a diner. As it turns out, the Cheval Blanc is a red wine blend of Merlot and a Cab Franc, another varietal Miles criticized in the movie. It is ironic that the filmmakers portray sad sack Miles as a joyless loser, a total wine jerk, and seemingly incapable of making a single right decision, and yet it is his opinion that has tanked a grape.
      The magazine Wine Spectator (“WS”) uses a 100-point system to rate wines. A wine receiving a rating of 85-89 is considered to be “very good, a wine with special qualities” and a wine receiving 90-94 points is considered to be “outstanding; a wine with superior qualities and style.” Some of the better Merlots available locally right now that cost less then $30 a bottle include a 2004 Tamarack Merlot (WS–88, $14, Earth Fare); 2004 B.R. Cohn Sonoma Merlot (WS-not yet rated, $29.99, Whole Foods); 2003 Whitehall Lane (WS–not yet rated, $25.99, Whole Foods); 2003 Columbia Crest Merlot Columbia Valley Grand Estate (WS–90, $9.99, Piggly Wiggly and Harris Teeter); 2002 Hogue Merlot Columbia Valley Genesis (WS–90, $14, Piggly Wiggly); and 2003 Chateau St. Michelle Merlot Columbia Valley Indian Wells (WS–89, $16.99, Piggly Wiggly and Harris Teeter). For a splurge, try a 2000 Northstar Merlot Columbia Valley (WS–92, $50, Harris Teeter) or a 2004 Shafer Merlot (WS–not yet rated, $43.99, Whole Foods). And remember - most wine shops and supermarkets will give you a discount of 10-15% if you purchase wines by the case.
      For most of us, wines are something to be enjoyed, not exalted. Merlot needs to polish up its image, but until that happens, take advantage of its temporary misfortune and drink up at a discount. I know that Pinots and Cabs are “in” and are safer choices. But in another film classic Gone with the Wind, Charlestonian Rhett Butler says: “If you have enough courage, you don’t need a reputation.” So throw caution to the wind and serve or order a bottle of your old pal Merlot. Just don’t tell your friends what they’re drinking.
Matt Norton is a resident of Sullivan’s Island and a local wine enthusiast.