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Happy Halloween! To celebrate, we tackle the scariest, most terrifying subject matter we could think of: POLITICAL. ELECTIONS.

And America's own election is a scant few days away. So let's watch something that's going to make us laugh and feel GOOD.

ELECTION is the second feature film by Oscar-winning director/writer Alexander Payne (Sideways, The Holdovers) based on the novel by Tom Perrota and starring Reece Witherspoon, Matthew Broderick, Chris Klein, and Jessica Campbell. It was a box office disappointment at the time, but has since gained cult status and Witherspoon's Tracy Flick chararcter has become a pop culture icon.

And this was Dallas' very first time seeing it!

Original Script with original (alternate) ending

Original/Alternate ending from VHS recording

THE WINES:
Dave's Wine Pairing
2021 Private Property Grenache, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey Country, Central Coast, California
Cool climate Grenache, easy to mistake for a Pinot Noir with its lighter color, body, and bracing acidity. If SIDEWAY is director Alexander Payne's Pinot movie, then ELECTION is his cool climate Grenache flick.

Raspberry, strawberry, rhubarb, beetroot, sage, salinity, Private Property is the more affordable ($20 - $30/bottle) second label of Caraccioli Cellars (which does Pinot, Gamay, Chardaonnay, for $40 - $100/bottle). Zingy, fresh, a play of birght red fruitiness + acerbicness to match the lively, cutting satire of the film.

Dallas' Wine Pairing
2010 Château de Sales, Pomerol, France
The 2010 Château de Sales Pomerol is known for its complex flavor profile, featuring subtle notes of red fruits, earth, and spice. This complexity mirrors the intricate plot and character dynamics in "Election," where seemingly simple high school politics reveal deeper, more nuanced themes.

The 2010 Pomerol has had time to mature and develop and aged into itself. The film and the wine are elegant and well structured.
It’s rich, velvety texture because of the Merlot base make this an excellent pairing for the film with is also extraordinarily smooth. This smoothness pairs well with the film's dark humor and the character of Tracy Flick, whose ambition appears smooth on the surface but hides a more intense core. Both this 2010 and the film have a long, memorable finish.

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