cat shepard

Sandi thank you for staying us off! Rich, thank you for making sure we still had a place to gather while you cruise, though I protest today’s quote heartedly. It was 10 degrees warmer this morning - that’s more like it! The sky was just getting a tint of color when Bindi and I returned from our walk. It is supposed to get up 8n the 80s today! Vanessa, thank you for sharing our Cares & Celebrations. Just one class at the gym this morning, then Bindi & Emma walks, more tax prep and then some prep for tomorrow- having some friends over for dinner. That should keep me busy. Boy, there are some mornings I know I resemble this look! Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! *********** Villa Maria Cabernet Sauvignon Hawkes Bay Ngakirikiri Gimblett Gravels 2020 Imagine having to list this wine on a wine list! Or ordering a glass of it! I hope it has a nickname. But since it is out of my budget range, I probably do not need to worry. I found no info on the 2020 vintage- not even on the Winemaker’s site. Lucky all released vintages have excellent - superb reviews. I used the 2019 vintage info. A few online distributors, none in North America. Prices for the 2019 vintage start at $81.38 + shipping! Winemaker notes Our icon wine Ngakirikiri is a presentation of the very best of Villa Maria’s holdings in the Gimblett Gravels appellation. Produced in only the most exceptional vintages with painstaking attention to detail, it is a highly aspirational project and arguably the most comprehensive and focused wine Villa Maria has ever produced. ‘Ngakirikiri’ in Māori, refers to the unique gravel soils that define the Hawkes Bay, Gimblett Gravels growing appellation, a befitting name for this stony Hawkes Bay vineyard sited on what was an ancient riverbed. The Gimblett Gravels sub-region is a majestic site with a reputation for beautiful and thought-provoking wines. Tasting Notes Upon pouring, this deep ruby coloured wine yields notably intense and pure aromatics of cassis, complex wood spices and floral violet scents, with fragrant dried thyme, graphite and clove nuances also vying for attention. Layers of concentrated flavours are revealed across a medium to full bodied frame, with optimally ripe fruit and hints of black olive and cigar, all wrapped by fine-grained tannins and supportive oak, enhancing texture and richness from start to finish. This age-worthy and age-worthy wine will benefit and gain additional complexity from careful cellaring over the next 15-20 years.

Gorgeous pics, Rich! Thank you for sharing!

Oh Oskar! There is sheer joy in that gallop!

Oh Jack! That face! And Sam is hugging your DW! Damn, I got something in my eye. Would something like this be an option for Sam?

Sandi thank you for getting us started! Rich, thank you for making sure the Report & Daily continue while you tour the World! The Eastern sky is just starting to get light. And it is a bit nippier than yesterday. 42 but once the sun comes up that will change quickly. Hoping the wind of the past two days dies down. Vanessa, thank you for tending our Cares & Celebration lists. You do it so well that Roy is really able to relax and focus on getting better. Just Zumba, Bindi & Emma walks, change the batteries in my last two smoke detectors and continue tax prep. If the wind dies down, I might head out to the yard to get rid of some dead vegetation. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand I have tried this SB and it is decent. I prefer it with food, though. The last vintage with critic reviews is the 2019 vintage and it had very good reviews. Consumers also give it very good reviews. Easy to find - the 2021 vintage’s price starts at $10.49. Winemaker Notes Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc is vibrant and refreshing with tropical fruit flavors like pineapple, elderflower, cantaloupe, citrus, and herbal notes. Always fresh and crisp.

Sandi, thank you for starting us off so faithfully each day. Rich, love that we can enjoy your travels with you, but you made sure we were taken care of so well while you were traveling! Vanessa, thank you for so diligently keeping track of us. @AncientWanderer Maxine, I tried Nasicort yesterday and could not believe the difference it made. Thank you again. My neighbors and several friends last night said that this was the worst pollen season they had ever experienced. But for the first time in five days, I did not have a hacking cough episode. They are so bad, I was I kept testing myself for COVID the first three days. @StLouisCruisers sorry about your bump. I agree, pry those eyes open! And GO REN! How exciting. Bless his parents for supporting his dream. It's cold and dark here. 48 this morning. Bindi has no desire to go out. But we had a great bedtime walk last night. And I had a great visit to our Beachfront Winery. The wind was blowing off the water, so once the sun went behind the trees, we didn’t stay long. It was wonderful seeing everyone. @summer slope Dixie, sorry that giving Bailey his meds is so difficult, but I admit I laughed when you described your process. Haircut, Bindi walks, Emma walks, taxes and my HIIT class today. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! **************** Taittinger Prestige Rosé Brut, Champagne, France I would like a taste of this sparkling rosé. I do not gravitate to rosés usually, but the ones I have enjoyed have all been sparkling ones. Lots of consumer and critic fans, easy to find and winebid.com - a wine auction site, offers it for $45.00/bottle. More mainstream distributor prices start at $55.93. Winemaker Notes Blended from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, this is a succulently fruity, supple and aromatic Champagne with fine bubbles and a crisp, refreshing finish of extended length. Taittinger Cuvée Prestige Rosé is intense cherry-pink in color with extremely fine, persistent pinpoint bubbles rising in delicate strands to the surface of the wine. Its classic, aromatic Pinot fragrance of red raspberries and strawberries is offset by elegant, subtle floral and earth nuances. On the palate, the ripe, full berry flavors are vibrant yet refined, delicately balanced by a fresh acidity which carries into a crisp, refreshing finish of persistent length. "A swirl of bubbles carries fresh raspberry flavors along with a lively green edge of acidity. The flavors are persistent and clean, the wine mouthwatering." 90 Points Wine & Spirits JS92 James Suckling Darker color. Lots of fruit and a creamy texture with cooked apples and cherries and strawberry undertones. Medium to full body. Delicious finish that is dry and fruity. Spicy. White pepper. Young strawberry at the end. Drink now. RP91 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The latest release of Taittinger's NV Brut Prestige Rosé is showing very well, revealing inviting aromas of red berries, plums, orange zest, crisp orchard fruit and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy but incisive, this bottling is based on the Brut Réserve, yet the addition of still red wine—much of which is produced in house—imparts structuring phenolics that complement the wine's generous core of fruit to great effect. Readers should not that this cuvée's clear glass makes it vulnerable to light strike, so it's especially important to buy properly stored bottles. D91 Decanter Highly fragrant nose of toast, light cherry blossom, chalk and nice development. Fine mousse, quite multilayered and a textural palate. Blend : 45% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Meunier WS90 Wine Spectator A fresh rosé Champagne that offers an accessible mix of baked strawberry, toasted almond, candied pink grapefruit peel and spice flavors set on the lively, persistent mousse. Drink now. JD90 Jeb Dunnuck The NV Champagne Prestige Brut Rosé is a bold style, with a deep pink hue and a distinctive, fruit-forward red wine profile. Its notes of ripe raspberry, beet root, fresh herbs, crushed roses are followed by a structured and energetic mousse, with some tannic grip that would make a great application for shellfish. Drink over the next 10-15 years.

@bennybear Happy Birthday Brenda! May your new year be filled with laughter, love, great health and a cruise or two!

Sandi, thank you for starting us off so faithfully every day & not scaling back on the pictures you share with us. Rich, thank you for making the Report & Daily shareable even while you cruise! Vanessa, thank you for helping us to keep track of each other - both the good and not so good. It is just starting to get light out. Bindi actually went outside in the dark. I guess she figured out this was not just a mean trick that I was playing on her. It was barely 50 here this morning almost 20 degrees cooler than yesterday morning. Today is change my smoke alarm batteries day, finish pulling all my tax stuff together day, one gym class and a brisk evening at our beachfront winery. Not sure how long we will last, but two couples I haven’t seen in moths will be there and it will be wonderful to see them. @AncientWanderer Maxine thank you for suggesting Nasicort. I am heading out to buy some now. My saline nasal spray is just not up to this pollen. One of my neighbor’s huge live oaks has dropped enough catkins that they are deep enough to shovel. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Great to see you @kazu Jacqui! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy 2015 This red blend sounds amazing. Sadly, way outside my budget. You could save a few dollars, if you are willing to cellar a more recent vintage for a few years. Both consumers and critics rave about all released vintages. Available from several online distributors prices for the 2015 vintage start at $219.99, and the 2019 vintage prices start at $209.98. Winemaker Notes Like people of great ‘Carisma’ (Charisma), wines of great vintages know how to impose themselves naturally, without force, their balance allowing them to shine without having to flaunt themselves. The 2015 vintage perfectly expresses this behavioral trait. Born during a particularly balanced harvest season, 2015 is certainly one of the great Ornellaia vintages. The usual intense color indicates a wine of great texture and intensity, followed by a fruity scent that is ripe and fresh at the same time, emphasized by classic balsamic and spicy hints. On the palate, it is rich, dense, and full-bodied, with an exceptional tannic texture, dense and velvety, of great refinement, that extends throughout the mouth. The long finish concludes with a feeling of firmness and finely spiced hints. Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot JS98 James Suckling The blackberry and blueberry aromas with fresh sage and bay-leaf character are impressive. Stone, graphite and mineral undertones. Full-bodied and silky and refined tannins. Dusty. Elegance and polish. Shows greatness in strength and refinement. A dialed-in, dialed-back Ornellaia. Drink in 2022. WS97 Wine Spectator A big, brooding red, packed with blackberry, plum and earth flavors, all wrapped in spicy oak. Monolithic now, finishing with saline mineral elements, a leafy, tobacco edge and dense, mouthcoating tannins. Terrific potential. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2038. JD97 Jeb Dunnuck The 2015 Ornellaia isn’t far off the 2016 yet shows a much more sexy, sunny, flamboyant style. Terrific notes of sweet black cherries, Asian spices, graphite, wood smoke, mint, and dried tobacco all soar from the glass, and it's complex and nuanced yet still packs serious oomph and intensity. Full-bodied, concentrated, and with a terrific mid-palate, it has beautifully polished tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. It's already accessible, and I suspect it will continue drinking beautifully for two decades or more. This cuvee saw the same 20 months in 70% new oak and is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. WW97 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com Ornellaia is always in line as one of the best wines in the world. The 2015 vintage is outstanding. TASTING NOTES: This wine is bold and alluring at the same time. Its aromas and flavors of powerful black fruits, a slice of minerality, and the textures of oak. Pair it with a magnificent meal with your best wine pals, and incredible food as well. (Tasted: March 5, 2019, San Francisco, CA) D96 Decanter 2015 is a celebrated vintage due to its powerful character. Considerable warmth produced extremely thick-skinned grapes, and the harvest for Ornellaia started in the middle of September with Merlot from Ginestraio, continuing on to the first week of October for Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from Bellaria: such is the skeleton of this wine. It's showing generous cassis fruit with meat, leather and vanilla notes, alongside some dark cigar leaf and spice in depth. The palate is full and velvety with a chalky finish - a powerful Ornellaia to cellar, yet not without suppleness.

Thank you for getting us started, Sandy! Thank you for not forgetting us, while you are touring the World, Rich! It is still dark. We had rain & a T-storm in the wee hours of the morning. And once again Bindi shows no interest in heading out. But we had a lovely bedtime walk last night. Vanessa, thank you for keeping track of us so carefully! The pollen has really wreaked havoc with my allergies this weekend. I am actually considering wearing a mask when I head out with Bindi. I took a Zirtec & if it helps, I will go to the gym. If not, I will just stay home. Just another week or so of this pollen. I will survive. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating - @grapau27, please wish Pauline a very Happy Birthday! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Simi Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County, California I used the 2019 vintage info, since that seemed to have the most info available. All released vintages shared similar reasonable prices and consumer opinions. Numerous online distributors with prices starting at $12.99. Winemaker Notes This brilliantly clear, pale-straw-colored Sauvignon Blanc is fresh, bright, and crisp. The wine opens with complex aromas of lime zest, Meyer lemon, pink grapefruit, lemongrass, freshly cut hay, honeysuckle, and a hint of wet stone. Fresh and forward, zesty flavors of grapefruit and citrus with subtle herbal notes meld beautifully with a vivid acidity. Fresh, full, and vibrant, the finish is long and lingering with lemongrass and mineral. SIMI Winery Executive Chef Kolin Vazzoler suggests pairing this wine with shaved spring vegetables and radicchio with shallot Sauvignon Blanc vinaigrette, Dungeness crab salad with endive and Meyer lemon dressing, BBQ scallops with salsa verde, arugula pesto tortellini, and roasted sole with parsley, capers, and garlic. It’s also a great aperitif with prosciutto and melon, goat cheese, poke salad, or raw oysters. WW88 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com The 2019 Simi Sauvignon Blanc is smooth and nicely textured. TASTING NOTES: This wine offers delightful aromas and flavors of apple, peach, and melon. Enjoy it as an aperitif or with melon and prosciutto.

@grapau27 Pauline, may your new year be filled with laughter, love, great health & cruises!

No list. As people share birthdays I pop them on my calendar app & ask for reminders. Love my calendar app.

Thank you for getting us started, Sandi - even though it is still pitch black outside. Bindi just got out of bed and has shown no interest in going out. I believe she has invoked “camel mode”. Vanessa, thank you for being so meticulous in keeping track of our Cares & Celebrations! Off to the gym, then Aldi. May try for a nap this afternoon. I am sure Bindi will need to go outside sometime today. 😎 Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating- @Quartzsite Cruiser & @Overhead Fred Lenda & Mitzi enjoy your special days! Get well & stay well everyone! *********** Rupert & Rothschild Baroness Nadine Chardonnay, Western Cape, South Africa Another somewhat elusive wine. I used the 2019 vintage info, because it might be easier to find. Many consumers used the word “oaky” in their comments. I did find one online distributor that ships to me offering it for $44.99 + shipping. Winemaker Notes Vibrant white gold and lime hues with aromas of lemon blossom, kiwi fruit and zesty grapefruit Meticulously focused, delicate layers of soft creamy nougat and bright green apple. This wine will pair particularly well with crispy squid tubes and tentacles, charred lime yogurt, shaved fennel and a citrus dressing.

@Quartzsite Cruiser @Overhead Fred Lenda & Mitzi, may your new years be filled with love, laughter, great health & a cruise or two!

Sandi, thank you for starting us off this morning! It is another spectacular morning & we had rain last night. It was perfectly timed. It started after Bindi’s evening walk and ended before her bedtime outing. We even had a bit of a thunderstorm. We still need a great deal more to catch up, but that should have helped put out some of the area’s wildfires. Vanessa, thank you for keeping track of our happenings so well! I may not go to Zumba this morning. Yesterday’s commutes to & from the gym were brutal. But Bike week ends tonight, so I may just take a long walk on this glorious day. Dinner at a friend’s this evening. I will be bringing a bottle of the 2020 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Blanc that was the wine du jour a week or so ago. I will share my thoughts tomorrow - sometimes my palate does not appreciate what critics and many consumers appreciate. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******* Destiny Bay Waiheke Island Magna Praemia 2020 Well Cabernet lovers who live in or visit New Zealand might find a more reasonable price for this stellar wine, but the only online distributor I found offers it for $377.77. It does sound amazing though & visiting the vineyards off the coast of Auckland would be a real treat. Winemaker notes After two years of residing in Hong Kong due to the pandemic, James Suckling was finally able to travel the world again in pursuit of the best wines in the world. Starting in the US, then heading to Europe and then Australia, Suckling made it to New Zealand. Destiny Bay was thrilled to host James at the winery in October and be able to share with him our two most recent vintages as well as a few Library Stock wines. It was a privilege to be recognised in Suckling’s list of the Top 100 Wines of the World but further scoring from Suckling saw us take out the #1 Cabernet spot in his list of Top 100 Wines of New Zealand with our highly-coveted Magna Praemia 2020. Suckling described the Magna Praemia 2020 from our small estate on Waiheke Island as, “a muscular, dark-fruited cabernet sauvignon-based blend,” that demonstrates the, “surprising power that the small island is capable of.” Suckling awarded the Magna Praemia 2020 with 99/100 points.

Thank you for getting us started, Sandi! Rich, thank you for setting it up, so that the magic can keep happening while you cruise the World! It is a lovely, but cool morning in the neighborhood. Bindi opted for a longer walk this morning. Vanessa, thank for keeping our Care & Celebration lists. Just one gym class for me, but I need to run an errand first. Then Bindi and Emma walks. I might hunt down & mark the sprinklers between the street and sidewalk, since a new internet/tv provider is laying down cable in the next month or so. Wish me luck. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Capraia Chianti Classico Riserva 2018 Those of you in Europe might be able to find this vintage, but I could not find anyone that would ship it to me. Online distributor prices start at $26.36. But I am not despairing because not only is the 2019 vintage available to me - it is cheaper and its reviews are even better than the 2018’s. So you folk in Europe may just want to opt for the 2019 vintage, too. Online prices start at $19.99. Winemaker Notes Chianti Classico Tenuta di Capraia is a wine with an optimal complexity and structure. Ruby red colour with violet tinges. Intense and rich aroma, vinous, fruit-driven. Pleasant cherry notes, refreshing and well-balanced with hints of integrated vivid tannin. Pair with white meat, red meat and medium-aged cheese. WE89 Wine Enthusiast Made with Sangiovese, 5% Colorino and 5% Canaiolo, this has aromas suggesting black-skinned berry, underbrush and cooking spice. The juicy palate offers black cherry, clove and star anise alongside polished tannins. Drink through 2025.

Sandi, thank you for starting us off! It is a bit nippier here this morning. I needed a jacket for this morning’s walk. But it still is a lovely morning. And the neighborhood birds were singing so loudly this morning! Vanessa, thank you for our Care & Celebration lists - we are such a busy group, it is not an easy task. Zumba, Bindi walks, Emma walks, yard work might just fill my day. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating @aliaschief Bruce, wonderful news that you are cancer free! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Pater Sangiovese, Tuscany, Italy This Tuscan red might make a great “house wine” - if you live in Europe. Some of the European distributors might ship to me, but the shipping would be more than the wine, that is for certain. Prices for the 2019 vintage started at $8.41. Distributor notes Frescobaldi’s story is strictly connected with the history of Tuscany. At the high point of medieval Florence, the Frescobaldis spread their influence as bankers, becoming patrons of major works in Florence, such as Santa Trinita bridge and the Basilica of Santo Spirito. Frescobaldi embodies the essence of Tuscany, its extraordinary vocation for viticulture and the diversity of its territories. Frescobaldi’s uniqueness stems precisely from the representation of Toscana diversity, from its estates and from wines which express a kaleidoscope of aromas and sensations, springing from the characteristics of each individual terroir. The Estates are positioned in prime areas of Tuscany and each tells its own story, made up of nature, terroir and people. From Tenuta Castiglioni, where the family’s 700 years of wine-growing history began, to CastelGiocondo on the Montalcino hills, to the timeless Castello Nipozzano. From the hidden gem of Castello Pomino, up to Tenuta Ammiraglia’s new horizons overlooking the sea, to Tenuta Perano a natural amphitheater in the heart of Chianti Classico, ending with Remole, that expresses all the character of Tuscany. Behind every Frescobaldi wine lies the passion of agronomists and oenologists, who know their vineyards and terroirs down to the finest detail. Their art, creating quality wines, requires the iron rule of respect. Respect for tradition, which guide them, even in the midst of innovation or avant-garde solutions. Respect fort Tuscany, the living land, to be cultivated in harmony and serenity. Respect for each individual terroir, borne of a unique combination of soil, altitude and microclimate, each giving us a wine with its own matchless personality.

Sandi thank you for getting us started! Vanessa, thank you for keeping such meticulous track of our happenings. Rich, Be Nasty Day?????? - I can picture you sitting at your computer, rubbing your hands together thinking “This will get the Dailyites started.” 😎 Another glorious morning here. Mani pedi for me this morning. Then Bindi walks, HIIT and pool time. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Prophet's Rock Pinot Noir Central Otago Retrospect 2017 If you are lucky enough to live in New Zealand ( @erewhon ) or at least visit it - you could try this wine. I found a few online distributors of this organic Pinot Noir, but I am not sure if any ship to me. And even if they did, how much would they charge for shipping? Even the sales price of $83.03 is outside of my budget, but the wine sounds amazing. Winemaker notes Vineyard notes: "The vineyard sits on a high elevation (320 – 390m), steep glacial terrace high above the valley floor. The site features some of the oldest vineyard soils in the valley with the formation of the terrace occurring approximately 650K years ago. The soil age and dry Central Otago climate have combined to create the unusual clay and pedogenic lime soil structure. Beneath layers of clay at a depth of 50cm in this parcel sits a thick layer of chalk. The 7.5ha site was prepared and planted between 1999-2001 and the parcel of Pinot Noir for this wine is a single clone at the eastern end of the steep front face. Full organic certification (Biogro) was completed prior to the 2018 vintage. A strong focus on viticulture is the foundation of the winemaking approach.

@RedneckBob Happy Birthday! May your new year be filled with laughter, fun, great health & better jokes.

Sandi, thank you for getting us started! You have taken such care of us & still shared your wonderful pictures. Vanessa, thank you for helping us to celebrate and commiserate with each other. This is such a safe place to vent and share - the good and the tragic. @smitty34877 Terry, praying that all goes well for DH and you today. @summer slope Dixie, I am so happy to read that Bailey is doing well! Woo hoo! This morning is exquisitely beautiful. I am so spoiled. I know we need rain & lots of it, but I hope it waits a bit longer, so that the bikers visiting can enjoy the great weather. Last year was not that kind to them. I need an Aldi run this morning, and then I will attempt my afternoon gym class - but I will use the back way. No traffic lights until right before the gym and no “temporary biker crosswalks” erected across a four lane highway. 🤞🏻 Wish me luck. Bindi walks, Emma walks (my next door neighbor’s dog), laundry & pool time. Sounds good to me. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ****** The Elder Pinot Noir Martinborough 2019 Rich, where did you pull this one from? I found NOTHING about the 2019 vintage using Google. So that leaves us with the 2018 vintage, and it is an excellent one. Good thing. A bit pricey online, but a few New Zealand distributors will ship to me with prices starting at $41.99. I am certain that shipping costs would bring it outside of my budget. @erewhon, I keep dropping hints that you could have a very lucrative shipping business, if you were so inclined. Though I will settle for you trying the wine and sharing your thoughts. Winemaker notes The Vineyard The vineyard is located on an elevated river terrace at the southern end of the Te Muna Valley, at the confluence of the Ruakokopatuna and Huangarua Rivers. The grapes are grown following organic principles in the most sustainable manner possible, with minimal use of irrigation. The Season A warm settled spring with no frosts and very little wind provided an excellent start to the season. The lovely weather continued through into summer giving us favorable fruit sets in all varieties and everything was looking very positive. February threw us a curveball with high humidity and rainfall was three times higher than the monthly average meaning extra vineyard work was needed to thin canopies and bunches. Overall a very promising vintage with bright fruit expression, low acids, and supple tannin structure. The Cellar All fruit was carefully hand-picked over two vineyard passes. In the winery, we destemmed all fruit into 3T open-top tanks, and fermentation started naturally from indigenous yeasts, which add to the wine’s complexity. The wine spent between 18 and 20 days on skins including punching down by hand up to two times a day, before being pressed to French oak barrels. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in the barrel and remained on its lees for ten months before racking, blending, and bottling. Tasting Notes Aromas of ripe dark red berry fruits dominate the nose with hints of spice and floral notes in the background add complexity. Velvet soft tannins form the backbone of this succulent and vibrant Pinot Noir. Spice flavours come through on the mid palate along with rich cherry fruit flavours and underlying savoury notes. This is a superbly balanced, elegant and weighted Pinot capable of ageing for up to ten years.

Sandi, thank you for making sure everything continues, while Rich is touring the World. And Rich, thank you for making sure Sandi has all the info she needs at her fingertips! Vanessa, I have run out of new ways to say how much I appreciate how well you keep our lists. I bet Roy is epreslly able to relax, since you are doing it so well. Just an early gym class, Bindi walks and chores for me. Perhaps taking my next door neighbor’s dog out, since my neighbor sprained her ankle. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* DeLille Cellars Chaleur Blanc, Columbia Valley, Washington State Ooh a new white blend to try! They are starting to appear in more and more places. This is moving to the top of my list, and with its excellent consumer and critic reviews and reasonable prices it deserves the top spot widely available with prices starting at $27.97. Note: I used the 2020 info. Winemaker Notes Offering hints of tropical fruit, peaches and lemon zest, the nose of the 2020 Chaleur Blanc is bright and intriguing, with earthy barrel notes of light vanilla and chocolate mint. On the palate, characteristic grapefruit and honeysuckle flavors are carried by vibrant acidity, with barrel aging contributing crème brûlée and baking spices to the wine’s dry finish. Intensely powerful, with oak influence and notable minerality dominating on release, time in bottle will allow the fruit to come forward and showcase the balance of the vintage. Blend: 72% Sauvignon Blanc, 28% Semillon JS93 James Suckling Aromas of sherbet lemon, peach and thyme. Medium-to full-bodied with lovely stone fruit on the palate. White-tea aromatics, such as jasmine, hibiscus and chamomile come through. Very tasty. Drink now. JD92 Jeb Dunnuck The 2020 Chaleur Blanc showed beautifully, with lots of ripe melon, honeyed lemon, caramelized citrus, and white flower notes in a medium to full-bodied, richly textured, racy package. It should age gracefully for a solid decade if stored correctly. This is based on 72% Sauvignon Blanc and 28% Semillon, sourced from the Boushey, Sagemoor, and Klipsun vineyards, and was 90% barrel fermented and aged all in 60% new French oak. Best After 2022 WS91 Wine Spectator Combines brisk acidity with a plush texture, offering lemon verbena, flint and fig accents that finish on a lush note. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Drink now.

Sandi thank you for starting off our day with a positive note! Rich, thank you for making it happen. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with all of us so well! Just a quick visit this morning. Taking a good friend out for a birthday brunch celebration. We are going to an amazing food place that offers Mimosa flights with their Sunday brunches. The food is innovative and delicious and the Mimosa flights are fun. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut, Columbia Valley, Washington State This easy to find & very reasonable sparkling wine will “sing with your meal”. I would need to taste this first, since I am a bit leery of “not too dry”. But with online prices starting at $9.99, I can afford that taste. Winemaker Notes Not too dry or sweet, Michelle Brut is a palate-pleasing sparkling wine that delivers aromas and flavors of apples and citrus with a light, toasty finish. Blend: 63% Chardonnay, 19% Pinot Noir, 18% Pinot Gris W&S90 Wine & Spirits Broad and expressive in its pear and lemon aromas, this steal of a sparkler has wonderful cut. It’s driven by clean, chalky minerality and a modest phenolic bite that will make it sing with a meal—even a simple roast chicken.

Dixie, praying the Prednisone works. Hugs to you and Kitty.

Thank you for getting us started, Sandi! Rich, you were so generous to set this up so it could continue while you are cruising the World! Vanessa, you really amazing at keeping our lists. A sunny start, though the weather folk still say showers later. Bindi opted for a super long walk this morning. It was the most lovely morning walk. Last night I had a great view of Jupiter & Venus, and the sky was so clear. I wanted Lenda & Steve here, so he could capture the most amazing picture with his telescope & post it. Sadly, you are left with my iPhone snapshot. No gym for me - it is Spring bike week and the traffic around my gym is brutal. But I have plenty to keep me busy, since I am having friends over later. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ************* Dry River Chardonnay Martinborough 2021 This Chardonnay sounds lovely. Lots of excellent critic scores, but I could not access the actual reviews without subscribing to their sites. Several online distributors with prices starting at $44.15. Distributor notes Dry River was founded on the Martinborough Terrace in 1979 with a vision of creating high quality wines that age beautifully, using organic farming and low intervention winemaking. They've changed ownership once since they started but it's still a family owned winery and their ethos is as originally intended. Their wines are new to me but they're excellent. The Chardonnay exhibits a lovely freshness with citrus, brioche, white flowers and hints of tropical fruit. Toasty notes as well. On the palate, it has a lovely mouthfeel with layers of different fruit (lemon, apple, mango, peach), crisp acidity, minerals and creamy textured oak. Complexity is added by the wild yeast ferment and lees stirring and there's a hint of nuttiness on the lengthy finish. Built to age for a decade or more, it's truly excellent and I look forward to drinking more from Dry River.

And we are only about 90 minutes from each other. It all depends how the storm/winds tracks. Hurricanes have taught me to pay very close attention to tracks.

Dixie, praying that your kitty’s issue is an easy one to fix. And she lives at least a few more years.