cat shepard

@aliaschief Bruce, my song choice would be a Led Zeppelin song. 😎

I hate flying out of MCO. Hope all goes smoothly!

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy thank you for our maps. It is already 70 here and beautiful. But the rain is supposed to cool everything down again this week. It should not get as cold as last week end - and not sure about the winds. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. I wish you could fast forward to your appointment with the radiologist. I can not believe I would be able to handle it. Gym, Aldi, Bindi walks, chores. More floor cleaning! Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Thinking of you & Tana, Terry. May we each find a reason to smile today. *********** 2015 Genesis XII This is our first wine from Georgia. Note: I changed the name, because Genesis X is no longer available. Small vineyard, only 689 cases. Very elusive and quite pricey. If you can find it, it will cost in the vicinity of $65.00. Winemaker’s notes Genesis is our "flagship" wine and also our best-selling wine! The Miller's eldest daughter Elizabeth named it after the first book of the bible - since it was Yonah's first wine they ever made, and it was their beginning. We source these high-quality grapes mainly from Beckstoffer Vineyards in Lake County, California, to capture the taste and style that the Millers wanted to bring to Georgia. These Vineyards produce 3,600 acres of some of the highest quality grapes in the world. Each generation of Genesis is a unique Bordeaux style blend, and technically Genesis 12 would be considered a "Right Bank Bordeaux" TECHNICAL INFORMATION Appellation: 100% California - Lake County Varietal: 40% Merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 27% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc Alc/Vol: 14.6% Harvest Date: Original Genesis was a 2006 harvest. We add some of the previous Genesis to the next one, so it is considered a NonVintage Wine. Bottled: March 2022 Cases Produced: 689 To find the blend for Gen 12 Tristen tasted through 95 barrels to find the best of best--also known as "barrel select". Only 32 barrels made the cut. Gen 12 is made from 3 different vintages, 2015 (10%), 2016 (50%) and 2017 (40%), and aged in majority French oak along with a little Hungarian thrown in to aid in mid-palate mouthfeel.

Safe travels, Dixie!

Thank you Jacqui, Roy, Vanessa, Dixie, Debbie and all our Dailyites for contributing or just reading the Daily to see what is happening. Just a quick visit. Heading out to the beach for a friend’s birthday breakfast. It is quite foggy here. It will be interesting to see what the beach is like. Then a wine tasting and finally wrapping up the day at a neighbor’s for dinner. And somewhere in here I need to fit in Bindi walks & feeding. Praying for all who need support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. May we each find a reason to smile today. ********** Marques De Carceres Crianza Rioja This Rioja sounds lovely. Widely available and reasonably priced. Online prices start at $12.99. Winemaker technical sheet GRAPE VARIETIES Mostly Tempranillo, with small contributions of Garnacha Tinta & Graciano. Selection of small plots from Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa. Low yields from old vines harvested by hand. Mostly clayey-limestone. Plots in Rioja Alta with ferrous subsoil and more limestone in Rioja Alavesa. VINIFICATION The bunches are carefully destemmed for alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature. Maceration with the skins lasts up to 20 days in order to extract colour, aromas and density in the mouth. Malolactic fermentation is completed in new barrels and stainless steel tanks, depending on the plots and areas of origin. When finished, the wines rest in barrels and are racked every 6 months. Wine suitable for vegans TOTAL TIME IN BARREL 12 months in French (60%) and American (40%) oak barrels. The barrels are distributed between 25% new oak, 25% with two wines, and the other 50% with a maximum of three to four wines. VINEYARDS & YIELDS HARVESTING The grapes are hand-picked, prioritizing the order of harvesting according to the ripeness of each selection or area of each village. December 2023. Serve at: 16º C. Alcohol content: 14% vol. 2020 VINTAGE AGEING IN BOTTLE Minimum 1 year of bottle storage in the winery prior to release. Slightly warm year, with accumulated rainfall slightly above the historical average. After the beginning of the year alternated cold and humid periods with dry and warm ones, a warm and humid interval began at budbreak and lasted until the beginning of June. From then on, dry and warm weather prevailed, with storms and occasional showers in mid-July and August. The months from September toNovember tended to be cool and dry, allowing the harvest date to be modulated according to the ripeness of the grapes. A ruby red colour of medium intensity. Complex aromas of black fruits, combined with balsamic notes and delicate, fine, well-balanced oak. The nuances play a skilfully harmonious game. Gentle bouquet of fine leather with a touch of peppermint adding to the freshness in tasting. Well balanced wine that invites enjoyment with each glass. Full-bodied, frisky tannins, delicious in the mouth and pleasantly refreshing. An elegant, harmonious wine, with velvety tannins. JS9292 PTS. / JAMESSUCKLING.COM (Thursday, November 4, 2021) A perfumed nose of mulberries, blueberries, dried herbs, cloves and cigar box. Medium-bodied with plush tannins and fresh acidity. Chalky texture with a crunchy, flavorful finish. Vegan. Drink now or hold. WE8888 PTS. / WINE ENTHUSIAST (11/1/2022)Red-violet in the glass, this wine offers aromas of cassis and flint. Hearty tannins and a touch of smoke support flavors of blackberry, dark plum and anise with a touch of tar. A bright fruit note returns on the spicy finish. (Mike Desimone) SP8787 PTS. / WINE SPECTATOR (May 31, 2022) A crisp, light- to medium-bodied red, with cured tobacco and dried cherry fruit flavors framed by chewy tannins and orange peel acidity. Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano. Drink now. 225,000 cases made, 70,000 cases imported. (Alison Napjus)

Wow. Just Wow!

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy, thank you for our maps. I appreciate both of your efforts. Today is also the first Full moon of the year. We all need to stand outside & howl tonight. Did people really believe this would work? (Don’t just read the item circled). Now chocolate and wine might work for me, but cheese? Vanessa thank you for keeping up with all of us. Praying that you get permanent relief from your pain. SOON. Gym, Bindi walks, chores. I have started cleaning the grout of my tile floor. It is laborious work, but the results make it worth it. I started in 3 high traffic areas and finished three tiles in each area. My hand started cramping after that. We will see how far I get today. Prayers for all who need our support. @ger_77 Gerry, keeping you & Maurice in my prayers. Thinking of you Terry & Tana. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today. *********** Kim Crawford Illuminate Sauvignon Blanc This is the wine that put New Zealand wines on the map for me. Immensely sippable and refreshing. You can find it almost everywhere. And it is definitely priced to try and enjoy. Online prices start at $10.99. Winemaker’s notes A refreshingly new take on the wine experience, Kim Crawford Illuminate New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc White Wine is light in style, yet satisfyingly flavorful. This Kim Crawford sauvignon blanc bestows aromas of passionfruit and guava with hints of citrus. The full flavor and crisp acidity of this elegant white wine are highlighted by a fresh herbal and citrus finish. Carefully chosen, sun-ripened New Zealand grapes undergo cold-soaking prior to fermentation and treatment with Spinning Cone technology, which removes a portion of the alcohol without impacting the aroma or taste of this New Zealand white wine. The result is a lower calorie*, reduced alcohol wine with satisfying aroma and taste in each glass of wine. Compared to Kim Crawford's original sauvignon blanc with 120 calories per serving and 13% ABV, this easy-drinking, lower alcohol wine has only 70 calories per serving and 7.0% ABV, yet this 100% sauvignon blanc wine still boasts Kim Crawford's signature quality and style. For optimal enjoyment of this delicious wine, serve chilled. Make it Amazing® with Kim Crawford wine. *Per 5 fl. oz. serving of average analysis: Calories 70, Carbs 2.8 grams, Protein 0.13 grams, Fat 0.1 grams. Please enjoy our wines responsibly.

Bruce those pineapples look amazing!

@ger_77 Gerry, I echo everyone who urges you to get Maurice medical help ASAP. Keeping you both in my prayers.

I know Amazon has them ,but you might find a cheaper option.

Ahem. Jacqui & Rich - I can NOT believe you left off the most important day of all! Though given its recent weather, it is just starting to re-earn it’s Sunshine State nickname. 😎

Very elegant, Sandi!

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy, love both sets of maps. Lots of work involved - thank you! It is 63 and looks to be as beautiful a day as yesterday was. The moon & Venus greeted Bindi and me on this morning’s walk. I wish I had taken a few pictures of the moon, since this one has a weird green light on it - aliens perhaps? The early morning light makes Venus look less bright than it is. Vanessa, though I am glad you heard from the radiologist (after getting a nudge or two from the neurosurgeon), I sure wish your appointment was sooner. Probably not quite as much as you do, but close. Praying that it sets you on the path to permanent pain relief. And lots of quality sleep. Gym, Bindi walks, chores. I need to plan the appetizers I am bringing to a neighbor’s on Saturday. We will be gathering there after attending a wine tasting at our favorite wine bar, so I want something that I can prep ahead and cook fast. Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain and debilitating conditions, grieving the loss of a loved one, the caregivers, and those in a funk. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! ********** Korbel Extra Dry California Champagne This sparkling wine might not have the pedigree that others have, but it consistently gets very good ratings from consumers & critics, is easy to find - and if you want to buy enough for a big party is priced right. And how many other wines have we seen with “tutti-fruitti” personalities? It might be a tad too sweet for me. Tons of distributors with prices starting at $11.94. 87/100, Wine Enthusiast Critic tasting note: "A tutti-frutti personality makes this wine easy and approachable. It's lightly sweet and smells and tastes floral and peachy."

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy thank you for our maps! Rich thank YOU for picking Beer Can Appreciation Day! 64, no breeze, light marine layer, some peachy color to the clouds. Life is good. Bindi really enjoyed our morning walk. So did I. Vanessa, I am so sorry that sleep is eluding you, and that the folk who are supposed to be helping you are not communicating. It is hard to build trust with someone. I hope things improve fast. Bindi walks, branch patrol, chores, and HIIT will keep me busy. Heck I need HIIT badly after yesterday’s delicious lunch at the new beach restaurant. 😎 Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, the caregivers, those in a funk. Terry, hope you had a wonderful birthday. Thinking of you & Tana! Cheers to all who are celebrating! @Cruising-along Happy Birthday, Carolyn! May we each find a reason to smile today. ************ Barboursville Vineyards 2019 Octagon Red (Virginia) This Virginia red blend sounds lovely, has lots of fans, but is a bit pricey. I found one place that sold it for under $50, but I suspect the shipping would bring the cost a bit over that mark. Note - one critic asks us to wait until after 2024 to enjoy it. Online prices start at $47.94. Winemaker Notes Attractive deep garnet color, elegant aromas of blueberry, black currant, fresh flowers and dry herbs, the structure expresses medium body, silky tannins and a cool, refined finish. Drinkable now, yet with a long future and evolution in the mouthfeel and aromatic profile . It is very reminiscent of the stellar Octagon 2009 from a vintage considered by many Virginia winemakers as "the perfect one". 94James Suckling A perfumed nose of spiced cherry, sliced plum, cardamom, clove and suede. Medium-to full-bodied with silky tannins. Concentrated but not overdone, with a array of nicely ripened red fruit and berries washing very the palate. Subtle length here with the fruit lingering on the palate for a long time. Lovely spicy complexity. Drink or hold. 92Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2019 Octagon is a blend of 62% Merlot (a big hike this year over the last I saw), 34% Cabernet Franc and just 4% Petit Verdot, aged for 12 months in 40% new French oak. It comes in at 13.4% alcohol. Despite that Merlot-dominated blend, to me this seemed more controlled in the flavor profile today by its Cabernet Franc. It is a touch herbaceous with some charred veggies on the nose and palate. Yet this is wonderful overall. It coats the palate and shows fine structure too. The firm finish would seem to suggest that this is built to age and develop. Here, you are going to have to have the patience to wait. This is going to be splendid, but it sure isn't today. More than most of the wines in this Virginia report, this seems to have a long life ahead and seems likely to reward cellaring. I'd bet it will be at peak closer to the end of the decade, not to say you absolutely have to wait quite that long. Best after 2024. 92Wine Enthusiast Dark garnet in the glass opens up with dark fruits of black cherries, sun-dried tomatoes and dried parsley. The palate brings those plus some hints of celery leaf.

Wow! Welcome aboard Ryan Charles! 10 lbs 10 oz!

Wonderful news, Terri. Boy do you deserve some me time. Glad your cruise is coming fast.

Lenda at the risk of dragging this out - could you flow chart this for me?😜

Maureen - glad to read you had a little me time!

By golly, I used my decoder ring in an attempt to figure out what “Joh” was that coincides with Handwriting Day! Today is John Hancock’s birthday! And now I know that my trusty ring is not just meant for wine. 😎

@DWAliaschief Sue, I hope you have a wonderful birthday. Happy New Year! I also hope this is not a duplicate, since this is the second time I have tried to post this! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

@smitty34877 Terry - a whole new decade! Do something fun today. For you. ❤️

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Rich, thank you for leaving us in great hands! Roy, thank you for our maps! It was already 62 with a very light breeze when Bindi & I headed out this morning. I am happy that whoever borrowed Florida this past weekend returned it! Or maybe I was driving all wrong in Winter weather. Who knew I should do it with cake. 🤔 Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. I sure hope the folk you will be seeing can eliminate the pain and let you get a great night’s sleep. Gym, Bindi walks, lunch with friends at the new beach restaurant that is doing a soft opening to test out their menu and then chores and more Bindi walks. Camouflage Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those suffering from pain and debilitating conditions. Those grieving the loss of a loved one. The caregivers. And those in a funk. @Cruzin Terri Terri, hope the folk at Mayo can help. I understand your issue with medical care up where you live. Here it is Advent Health. But they are ok for ordinary care. Give them something unusual and they are stymied. So we go to the same Mayo Clinic that you do. Thinking of you & Tana, Terry. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! *********** Mollydooker Maitre D’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 I used the 2021 vintage info since that is the most distributors have in stock. This Australian Cab, is easy to find and has lots of fans. If you are trying to keep to wines with lower alcohol content, you probably should steer clear of this one. Love the name. Online prices start at $27.98. Winemaker’s notes The Maitre D’ was named after Sparky, who put himself through winemaking college as a left handed waiter. A deep blend of red and purple colours and abundant aromas introduces us perfectly to this beautiful Cabernet. Rich and complex in flavour, notes of cherry and blackberry transition to mixed herbs, bramble and mocha, complemented by a delicious dimension of sweet fruit. Soft smooth on the palate, the 2021 Maitre D’ balances flavour and structure perfectly. TECHNICAL NOTES: The grapes were grown on the Coppermine Road, Long Gully Road, Ryan Road, and Gateway vineyards in McLaren Vale, and the Joppich vineyard in Langhorne Creek. Barrel fermented and matured in 88% American and 12% French oak, using 33%, new 30% one year old and 37% two year old barrels. The required Marquis Fruit Weight™ for the Lefty Series is 65% – 75%. The Actual Fruit Weight for 2021 The Maitre D’ is 67%. Alcohol: 15.5% Wine Spectator 90

@StLouisCruisers Sandi - you feel like a snitch, really? For helping out a neighbor, or anyone for that matter. Even if the driver reported it, how would anyone know until Amazon contacted your neighbor? Get that “snitch” notion right out of your head. @marshhawk that was my favorite Italian hotel. Amazing location, wonderful breakfast and so close to that Gelato! *************** Blue Springs State Park has already counted more than 1,000 manatees this past weekend. Not sure how clear the pics will show them, so I will try posting them without reducing their size. 🤞🏻 BTW a group of manatees is called an aggregation. 😎

Gerry Thank you for letting us know about Deb. I remember that ordeal as if it were yesterday. And how wonderful John was to her Mom & Stepdad who had to be evacuated from Australia when their World Cruise came to a sudden halt.

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy, thank you for taking care of our maps. Boy, after two days of a brutal wind, this morning’s early walk with Bindi was a pleasure. The fact that it was 45 when we headed out certainly helped. Vanessa, thank you for taking care of our lists. A never ending task. I really appreciate your taking this on. Praying that you find a path to permanent pain relief soon. Gym, Bindi walks, chores. Just an average Monday. Prayers for all who need our support. Especially those dealing with pain, debilitating conditions, grieving the loss of a loved one, the caregivers and those in a funk. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today. ********* Ferrari-Carano 2019 Trésor Red (Sonoma County) After dusting off my trusty decoder ring, I discovered that this red blend has quite a few fans and is a bit pricey. I found several online distributors with most offering it outside my budget. I found one online distributor offering it for $44.95 - just barely inside my budget. Would love a taste, though. Winemaker Notes The 2019Trésor is soft and elegant.Aromas of wild berries,cola and caramel lead to silky plum, mocha and vanilla flavors. Notes of cedar and black cassis glide across the palate in a long and expressive finish. Trésor complements lamb and beef that is roasted or braised. Pair with beef stew, filet mignon, a maple bacon cheeseburger, grilled flank or sirloin steak.Try Trésor with strong-flavored cheeses like Gorgonzola or sharp cheddar. Blend: 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Franc,7% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot 94 Wine Enthusiast A nicely firm texture holds together vivid black currants, blackberries and mint in this full-bodied, dark and assertive blend, which is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon. Ample tannins match the outstanding ripeness of the fruit for good balance despite the wine’s obvious heft and power.