Well, they had the great Jonathan Demme direct the conclusion of The Killing. No matter what you think of the ending, it is still another great example of how television is competing hard on an aesthetic level with actual cinematic releases. The delightful Red Rooster Hen House Sly White ($14) is ideal for contemplating it all, perhaps enlivened with a friendly discussion and some garlic prawns. A blend of sauvignon blanc, riesling, pinot gris, sémillon, chardonnay and, yes, orange muscat.
The fact that any decent pinot noir can appear on a retail shelf for under $20 is surprising. But the Peller Estates Private Reserve, Okanagan Valley ($14) is positively astounding at the price. It’s not an overwhelming, jammy wine, but it delivers some pretty serious varietal character, and plenty of drinking satisfaction, especially with some salmon or chicken. It’s an adaptable wine, so even grilled pork chops would be fine.
