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+--- Thread: Mistake in "The Fifth Harmonic": No spoilers (/thread-788.html)
Mistake in "The Fifth Harmonic": No spoilers - Biggles - 03-16-2005
Mr_Falcon Wrote:I am still in the middle of reading the Fifth Harmonic, and I am ejoying it quite a bit. Kind of an adventure/wilderness story, and I enjoy those a lot. I am still about halfway through it, but I noticed a mistake in the first part of the book.
After the protagonist discovers he has only a short time to live, he goes and visits Bordeaux. Totally understandable, as I am certain I would do the same thing. While there, he visits the Entre Deux Mers region, and talks about smelling the smells of the Sauvignon blanc crush. What a great thing to experience, IMO!! He then witnesses a lunar eclipse that changes his life.
Well, for those who don't know it, this lunar eclipse really happened. On August 11, 1999 this famous event occured over the Bordeaux region, and was even commemerated with a special engraved bottle released by Chateau Lafite. (As an aside, 99 Lafite is an average wine- don't waste your money. Nice bottle, though). Here is the problem: In all of Bordeaux, including the Entre Deux Mers, the harvest did not start until September 5th. The main character could not have smelled the crush, because the crush was still four weeks away. No grapes were picked before August 11th, because the rains had been very heavy up to the day before. (Of note, the eclipse marked a 3-4 week spell of clear weather, which ended in a bad hailstorm on Sep 5th, which was the start of the harvest. As a result of this odd weather pattern, 99 Bordeauxs are not the best of wines.)
Anyway- I love the book so far, as I love all of Dr Wilson's books. Just though I'd point this out for those who like to be extra geeky, like me.
So, did you like Sideways?
Mistake in "The Fifth Harmonic": No spoilers - Marc - 03-16-2005
Biggles Wrote:You have my word as an attorney.
An attorney who owns a Tracfone?
Mistake in "The Fifth Harmonic": No spoilers - Biggles - 03-16-2005
Marc B. Wrote:An attorney who owns a Tracfone?
Damn right! You'll never track me down with GPS.
Mistake in "The Fifth Harmonic": No spoilers - Mr_Falcon - 03-17-2005
Biggles Wrote:So, did you like Sideways?
An interesting question, because it relates back to the original thread, because the movie had a (likely intentional) continuity wine error in it as well.
First about the movie: I am not a movie fan. I went to see this because my wife dragged me. We saw it at the old theater in Oakmont (ever been there?) which is a nicer venue then a new-style multi-plex. The movie itself was OK, IMO.
However, there were many things the audience found funny that I did not realize were jokes. At the beginning, the main character is talking about malalactic fermentation in the barrel. People in the theater were laughing at him, because the director was trying to show he was a wine snob. Me- I was listening to his opinions (which I agreed with). I had no idea he was being shown as 'snobby'. However, later on the director put in an error to show that he indeed was a wine snob, and did it so the wine geeks like myself would see it as well. He stated he hated Cabernet Franc. Later on, he states his most special bottle is a 61 Cheval Blanc. Well, guess what grape constitutes about 1/2 of the blend in a 61 Chevel Blanc? So, he didn't know as much as he pretended to know. And that is snobbery.
Mistake in "The Fifth Harmonic": No spoilers - Mr_Falcon - 03-17-2005
Biggles Wrote:So, did you like Sideways?
Also, this line is destined to become a classic:
"If anyone orders a fucking Merlot, I'm out of there!"
FWIW- wineries all over California have been pulling up their Merlot for some time and planting other grapes, especially syrah. Merlot does not make a good solo grape in wine (with a couple of extremely notable exceptions). FPW fans should be familiar with one of the very few merlots that does stand on its own as an exceptional wine. Guesses??
Mistake in "The Fifth Harmonic": No spoilers - Biggles - 03-17-2005
Mr_Falcon Wrote:Also, this line is destined to become a classic:
"If anyone orders a fucking Merlot, I'm out of there!"
I LOVED that line!!! I had a former partner who really liked merlot. I never thought it held a candle to a good "Cab Sav". I think merlot became chic in the '90s. I've been drinking Cabs since the '70s (before I was legal). I don't give a crap about what's chic or popular; I just love Cabs.