For our conversation, we focused on six posts of related articles from my CulturePlacesblog that deal with the fraught issue of group identity and control vs. individual identity and control (click on 'Read More' for the full article). They are used as "homeplay" meant to give focus to our dialogue They were not critiqued for their observations as such, but instead acted as a springboard or spark for our own observations.
Since we were pairing wine with focused discussion I chose an old favorite, Split Restaurant on 4th St. in the Yerba Buena neighborhood to host our gathering (I always want to be close to BART and a large garage)
The Rating System
(95+) I Adore it !~EXTRAORDINARY Platinum Medal -
An exceptional, ravishing wine that sets the standard against which
other wines are judged
(92-94) SUPERB ~ REMARKABLE Double Gold Medal
(90-92) DELICIOUS ~ EXCELLENT Gold Medal-
A complex, concentrated wine that balances lush fruit flavors
with refinement
(87-89) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED~VERY GOOD Silver Medal
Displaying special qualities of finesse and flavor
(85-87) LIKE IT~ GOOD - Bronze Medal
A pleasing wine with varietal distinctiveness
(82-84) OK ~ SATISFACTORY Vin de table
Suitable for Tuesday night dinner
(80-82) NEUTRAL~ FAIR - A simple quaffer worth the price - plonk
(77-79) DISAGREEABLE ~ MEDIOCRE
Not worth the low price
(75-77) DISLIKE IT ~DEFICIENT -
An inferior, innocuous wine that borders on the flawed