cat shepard

Thank you for the info!

Thank you for sharing your cruise with us. The information you provide is very helpful. I would like to know how you arranged for priority disembarkation? And was there any information provided on how to reserve seats at The Cellars’ special tasting events? Is this something you can book before boarding the ship? Thank you again for your great posts.

Thank you Rich, for making this happen! And catching the truncated quote! Vanessa thank you for taking on the lists! Lenda, thank you for posting all the links and pictures for the destination of the day! A lovely, but nippy morning here in East Central Florida. A busy weekend here with the Daytona 500 race. Not sure how easy it will be for me to get around. Hoping to get to Zumba at the gym this morning. Then out in the yard & Bindi walks. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ****** Maude Pinot Noir Central Otago Poison Creek 2020 Another elusive New Zealand wine. I did find one New Zealand distributor willing to ship for a reasonable price of $35.62 + shipping. Perhaps @erewhoncould start a side business of shipping their amazing wines to us. Distributor notes Inky, blackcurrant vine and violet aromas - a sinewy and structural frame with remarkable line and length. From the Poison Creek Vineyard in Queensberry / 280m elevation / planted in 2003. The name refers to the pure mountain stream that provides the water vital to the growth of this vineyard planted on an ancient and very free draining river terrace. Clone 5 / 36% whole cluster / 23 days maceration - perhaps the most refined of the 4 single vineyard Pinot Noirs. 13.5% abv. The year no-one will ever forget, 2020. The 2020 growing season followed a very mild winter, bud burst coincided perfectly with very cool Spring conditions, thankfully Maude avoided any damage from 3 significant frosts. Spring conditions remained cool with intermittent periods of rain. Flowering as a result was interrupted and drawn out which affected the fruit set, they knew they were in for a light cropping year. With the beginning of the calendar year, the weather settled, warmed up and despite the initial predictions that they would need to do a lot of green thinning to even up the crop, they found the tiny berry size and bunch weights ripened easily in the warmer conditions. A year where the small berries, light bunches and cool ripening conditions has meant flavours are ripe and concentrated, with good vibrancy and acidity.

Today is National Battery Day, National Drink Wine Day, and World Whale Day I'm not afraid of deathMeal Suggestion for today - Beef Wild Rice SoupDrink of the Day - Bobby BurnsWine of the Day - Maude Pinot Noir Central Otago Poison Creek 2020Destination of the Day - Ishigakijima Island, Sakishima-Yaeyama, Japan Okin Eurodam Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida 07:00 - 16:00 Koningsdam San Diego, California 07:00 - 16:00 Nieuw Amsterdam At Sea Destination Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida eta 2-19 Nieuw Statendam Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida 07:00 - 16:00 Oosterdam Punta Arenas, Chile Antarctica 10:00 - 22:00 Rotterdam Puerto Plata-Amber Cove, Dominicana 08:00 - 17:00 Volendam Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 08:00 Arrive Zaandam San Diego, California 07:00 - 16:00Eastern Hemisphere Noordam Timaru, New Zealand 07:00 - 15:00 Westerdam At Sea Destination Pulau Komodo Island, East Nusa Tenggara Indonesi eta 2-20 Zuiderdam At Sea Destination Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia eta 2-21 Ann - for Paul, Sandi, Roy & Rich - the Editor-in-Chief!

Thank you Rich for making it all happen! Vanessa, thank you for taking care of our celebrations & cares. I have an early annual appointment with my audiologist, then if the planets & stars align - I will make my gym class. Then Bindi walks, more yard work and cruise browsing will round out my day. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Hans Herzog Estate Marlborough Spirit of Marlborough 2016 This New Zealand red blend is a bit elusive, but I would love to try it. A blend of equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon with excellent critic and consumer ratings might be worth the search. I found a few online distributors with prices starting at $58.00. Distributor notes This noble blend shows off with aromas of juicy dark plums, black fruits and berries. Subtle spices, herbs and dark chocolate add to the complexity. Concentration and opulence aplenty followed by a sensuous, lingering long finish. Enjoy this stately flagship wine at its full potential alike a “Grand Cru” Pomerol with many years of bottle aging.

Today is Random Acts of Kindness Day, National Caregivers Day, and National Public Science Day Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.--Mother TeresaMeal Suggestion for today - Ultimate Vegetarian Italian SubDrink of the Day - Shining Light SpiceWine of the Day - Hans Herzog Estate Marlborough Spirit of Marlborough 2016Destination of the Day - Scrabster, Scotland Eurodam At Sea Destination Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida eta 2-18 Koningsdam Ensenada, Baja California Mexico 14:00 - 22:00 Nieuw Amsterdam At Sea Destination Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida eta 2-19 Nieuw Statendam Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 07:00 - 15:00 Oosterdam Ushuaia, Argentina 09:00 - 15:30 Rotterdam Grand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos 10:00 - 17:00 Volendam Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil 08:00 - 19:00 Zaandam At Sea Destination San Diego, California eta 2-18Eastern Hemisphere Noordam Dunedin, Port Chalmers, New Zealand 08:00 - 18:00 Westerdam Probolinggo, Java Indonesia 08:00 - 17:00 Zuiderdam At Sea Destination Fremantle, Perth, Western Australia eta 2-21 Ann for Paul, Sandi, Roy & Rich - our Editor-in-Chief!

Thank you Rich for keeping us going, while you are cruising the World! Vanessa, thank you for keeping track of all our happenings for our lists. Just an exquisite morning here. Zumba, Bindi walks and yard work round out my day. And I need to explore my Fitbit more. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! *********** Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia, Tuscany, Italy 2015 This wine’s superb ratings come with a hefty price to match. I would love a taste, though even a taste might be outside my budget! A decent number of online distributors with prices starting at $395.00. Winemaker Notes #1 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2018 Intense, concentrated and deep ruby-colored, this wine offers elegant, complex aromas of red fruit. In the mouth it is rich and dense, yet harmonious, with sweet, balanced tannins. The wine has a long finish with a depth and structure that ensure its extraordinary longevity. Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc D98 Decanter The first Cabernet grapes were picked on September 10th under perfect conditions, with yields a little lower than average. As is usual at Tenuta San Guido, the fruit for Sassicaia was gently crushed and fermented in stainless steel using natural yeasts. After the malolactic fermentation, the wine spent two years in French oak prior to bottling. This is certainly an exceptional Sassicaia, with a sumptuous nose of ripe, creamy black and red fruit with cedar and spice notes. The colour is by no means dark (as is often the case with Sassicaia), and the impression on the palate is one of controlled power underpinned by gorgeous sweetness and flowing elegance. This is a very confident wine with real authority and presence, beginning with a magnificent attack of rich cassis and ripe griotte cherry followed by cigar box and leather notes, and a long finish of savoury bay leaf and minerals. It's deceptively structured, the tannins wonderfully ripe, creamy and finely textured, while the juicy acidity also suggests that this wine has a very long life ahead of it. This 2015 exhibits everything that you’d want from Sassicaia - and more - because of its winning combination of winemaking savoir-faire, world-class terroir, old vine fruit, and an outstanding vintage. It is unarguably stunning. JS98 James Suckling Love the aromas to this young red with blackcurrants, sage, cinnamon and five-spice character. Changes all the time. Full-bodied, dense and powerful with a ripe and rich tannin backbone that gives form and beauty to the ripe and beautiful fruit. Tight and very long. Approachable now but will reward more in five to six years. A classic Sassicaia. RP97 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Having followed this wine's evolution in barrel for the past few years, it is an honor to evaluate the final product. This Sassicaia has blossomed since my previous encounters with it as a young, awkward adolescent. The long-awaited 2015 Bolgheri Sassicaia represents a tremendous effort that comes together with seamless precision and focus. This is a confident and proud red wine from Tuscany. Starting with the primary material at hand, you sense the quality of fruit thanks to the wine's beautifully dark appearance and the rich texture it offers to the palate. The acidity is integrated, but more freshness still would have been welcomed in my view (and would also contribute to its longevity). The bouquet is amplified both in terms of volume and length. Its playlist includes dark berry fruit, spice, leather, licorice and roasted coffee bean. Yet, the mouthfeel is extremely graceful and silky. The wine's undisputed pedigree is showcased on the palate. It should also be noted that this edition of Sassicaia feels more ready and open to me. It will age and evolve beautifully, but the 2015 Sassicaia can also be enjoyed in the medium-term. This wine is all about the here and now. WE97 Wine Enthusiast This iconic wine’s blackberry, cedar and vanilla aromas fill the glass. The elegant, structured palate delivers juicy black currant, black cherry, exotic spice, crushed herb and menthol flavors alongside taut, fine-grained tannins. It boasts a fantastic combination of delicious, ripe fruits, balanced by remarkable freshness and agility for the hot vintage. Drink 2022–2035. Cellar Selection WS97 Wine Spectator Rich and concentrated, this red features black currant, blackberry, violet, mineral and spice flavors. Dense yet lively, structured yet impeccably balanced, with vibrant acidity driving the long, fruit-filled aftertaste. The oak is beautifully integrated. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2042. W&S97 Wine & Spirits The warm and dry 2015 growing season produced some bold and beautiful wines from Bolgheri, and Sassicaia leads the pack. Fine-boned and silky, it radiates elegance and balance. Flavors of black cherry and raspberry are saturating yet seemingly weightless, warmed by lingering notes of licorice and subtle spice. The fruit has a very slight tartness that adds lift and suggests the grapes were picked at the perfect moment. The flavors continue to gain momentum and energy over several days, indicating the long life that lies ahead of this wine.

Today is Do a Grouch a Favor Day, National Cut The Cord Day, and National Innovation Day Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating. - O. HenryMeal Suggestion for today - Creamy Tuscan ChickenDrink of the Day - Bloody BeamWine of the Day - Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia, Tuscany, Italy 2015 Destination of the Day - Barcelona, Spain Eurodam Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 10:00 - 17:00 Koningsdam At Sea Destination Ensenada, Baja California Mexico eta 2-17 Nieuw Amsterdam Willemstad Curacao, Netherlands Antilles 17:00 Depart Nieuw Statendam At Sea Destination Half Moon Cay, Bahamas eta 2-17 Oosterdam At Sea Destination Ushuaia, Argentina eta 2-17 Rotterdam Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 08:00 - 15:00 Volendam At Sea Destination Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil eta 2-17 Zaandam At Sea Destination San Diego, California eta 2-18Eastern Hemisphere Noordam Fiordland National Park, New Zealand 07:00 - 08:00 Westerdam At Sea Destination Probolinggo, Java Indonesia eta 2-18 Zuiderdam Kangaroo Island, Penneshaw, South Australia 08:00 - 18:00 Ann for Paul, Sandi, Roy & Rich - the creator of this info!

Rich, thank you for creating the program for this thread’s info! And for sharing your world cruise with us. Vanessa, thank you for taking the helm & keeping our lists up to date. It is a glorious, but cool morning here. I finally broke down and bought a Fitbit, so I will spend some time setting that up today. Bindi walks, yard work, and my afternoon HIIT class will round out my day. Prayers for all who need our support! Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 2019 This wine tempts me to break the budget. It sounds amazing, has excellent - superb reviews and is fairly reasonably priced for this wine. Numerous online distributors with prices starting at $76.98. Winemaker Notes #71 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 This classic opens with a voluptuous aroma that gives and gives—it is striking because of its charm and floral notes. JS97 James Suckling If anyone tells you that Châteauneuf is just a big red that’s never elegant, then they need to taste this masterpiece of elegance. So many spicy and savory nuances on the very concentrated but almost perfectly proportioned palate. This is both joyful and serious at the very long, focused finish. Decades of aging potential! Drink or hold. RP96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau is a hugely successful vintage, marked by scents of sun-warmed stones, garrigue, black cherries and black olives. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, it finishes with tremendous length and softly dusty tannins, which should help ensure a long, positive evolution. Rating: 96+ V95 Vinous Saturated ruby. Deep-pitched red/blue fruit liqueur aromas pick up suggestions of licorice, pipe tobacco and pungent flowers and herbs with air. In a lush, weighty style, offering expansive black raspberry, cherry cola, singed plum and fruitcake flavors sharpened by a jolt of spiciness on the back half. For all this wine's richness, it's energetic as well, showing solid, spice- and floral-driven persistence on the finish, which is framed by velvety, even tannins. JD94 Jeb Dunnuck The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape is ruby/purple-hued and has the classic translucent color of the domaine. It's more precise and focused than the Télégramme and will need more time, but it offers a complex, gorgeous bouquet of red and black fruits, crushed stone, wild fennel, and ground pepper. Pure, medium to full-bodied, and elegant, do your best to hide bottles for 5-7 years and it's going to keep for two decades. WS93 Wine Spectator Silky and refined, with focused cherry puree, plum reduction and raspberry coulis notes racing through, infused subtly with rose petal, warm stone and lavender hints. Features nice perfume through the finish. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault.

Today is National Gum Drop Day, Singles Awareness Day, and Susan B Anthony Day Parrots make great pets. They have more personality than goldfish. - Chevy ChaseMeal Suggestion for today - Chicken and Sausage GumboDrink of the Day - Cherry MargaritaWine of the Day - Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 2019Destination of the Day - Semarang, Java Indonesia Eurodam Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida 07:00 - 16:00 Koningsdam At Sea Destination Ensenada, Baja California Mexico eta 2-17 Nieuw Amsterdam Oranjestad, Aruba 17:00 - 23:00 Nieuw Statendam Grand Turk Island, Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos 07:00 - 17:00 Oosterdam At Sea Destination Ushuaia, Argentina eta 2-17 Rotterdam Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida 07:00 - 16:00 Volendam At Sea Destination Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil eta 2-17 Zaandam Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico Riviera 10:00 - 20:00Eastern Hemisphere Noordam At Sea Destination Fiordland National Park, New Zealand eta 2-17 Westerdam Jakarta, Java Indonesia 08:00 - 23:00 Zuiderdam Adelaide, South Australia 23:00 Depart Ann for Paul, Sandi, Roy & Rich - who created it all!

Terry, I am so sorry that yesterday did not go well for Tana, you and her family & friends. Praying the situation improves.

Rich, thank you for creating all the content for the Report & Daily! Vanessa thank you for taking on our Care/Celebration lists. Dixie & Debbie thank you for sharing the F & B department with me. Lenda thank you for taking on all the port photos posting. I marvel at your patience and diligence! It was a very nippy 40 this morning and Bindi did not want to linger long. The sun is just cresting the trees and hopefully it will warm up soon. Lots of things on my to do list this morning before heading to the gym for an early afternoon class. Last night’s open house was a success. An amazing array of hot hors d’oeuvres and charcuterie offered. Hopefully the turnout indicates this amazing woman will easily be re-elected as one of the Town Commissioners. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Figgins Estate Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley, Washington State This Bordeaux style red blend sounds amazing. I used the 2018 vintage info, since it might be the easiest to find, but all released vintages share the same excellent - superb reviews. It is fairly easy to find online, but it is pricey. The lowest price I found online was $91.99. Winemaker Notes On the 10-year anniversary of their inaugural vintage release (2008), it is apropos that the 2018 Estate Red is unquestionably their favorite to date. When Figgins planted this site, this was the single vineyard wine they dreamed of making! Explosive, high-toned nose of mixed florals, vibrant candied cherries, freshly picked blueberries, and pencil shavings. The palate has layer upon layer of plum and dried figs. While the wine is structured and dense with the stuffing to age two decades easily, it is plush, balanced, and already drinking beautifully for a young bottle of Figgins. D97 Decanter Inky and brooding once in the glass this is quite simply the best wine ever produced by this estate. Needing an hour in the decanter, this unveils tar and tobacco leaf tones aromatically with graphite and a massive core of dark fruits also providing intrigue. Juicy, with outstanding acidity and freshness, this shows off cassis, anise, charcoal and menthol flavours that mingle with the bright sense of verve. Glorious now, try to resist this beautiful wine for at least another year. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2045. JD97 Jeb Dunnuck The 2018 Red Wine is another stunner from this talented team. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot aged 23 months in a mix of new and used barrels, it has an incredibly pure bouquet of both red and blue fruits as well as graphite, violets, and blood orange. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it stays tight and focused on the palate, with a beautiful mouthfeel, ripe yet firm, chalky tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great, great finish. It’s a gorgeous wine that will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20+ in cold cellars. Rating: 97+ V97 Vinous The 2018 Red Wine Estate might just be the best edition ever of this incredible high-elevation bottling. It’s nothing short of a blending masterpiece by Chris Figgins and his winemaking team. This thing is massive monster of a wine that really needs several hours of air to get going. But once tamed, the aromatics explode out of the glass, unveiling dark currants, roasted figs, black rose petals and creosote tones with shades of green bell pepper from the Petit Verdot. The palate is soft and opulent in the mouth. Layers of crème de cassis, anise, violets, dark cherry cordial, graphite and espresso bean with green bell pepper undertones all brilliantly combine with a vibrant sense of tension, and firm tannins hold everything in place. While this is extraordinary to savor upon release, try your best to resist it for at least a few more years. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2050. JS95 James Suckling Blackcurrant, blackberry, walnut and mint chocolate on the nose, as well as hints of radish and mocha. It’s full-bodied with firm, ripe tannins. Concentrated and chewy with a dense core of black fruit. Solid and tight. Cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot and merlot. Give this time. Try from 2024. RP94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Immediately impressive in the glass, the 2018 Estate Red Wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot with aromas of juicy and ripe blackberry, spiced black cherry preserves, elegant floral tones and elements of boysenberry and blueberry with a soft amount of volatility. Full-bodied, generous and full of flavor, the blend displays power and finesse, unpacking layers of complexity with a tight tannic grip that will loosen with additional bottle age. The wine somersaults to a spectacular finish with a firm, juicy and dusty sensation that gives pleasure at every turn. The wine rested for for 23 months in new and used French oak barrels. Just give it another few years in the bottle for the wine to shed its baby fat. Just under 19,000 bottles were filled. Impressive; Bravo! WS94 Wine Spectator A dynamic and refined red, with detailed blackberry, green olive and spicy espresso flavors that build tension and polish on the long finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

Today is International Book Giving Day, Ferris Wheel Day, and National Organ Donor Day I finally understood what true love meant...love meant that you care for another person's happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be.--Nicholas Sparks, Dear JohnMeal Suggestion for today - Skillet Chili & MeatballsDrink of the Day - Choco Peppermint ShakeWine of the Day - Figgins Estate Red Blend, Walla Walla Valley, Washington StateDestination of the Day - Pulau Penang Island, Georgetown, Malaysia Penang Eurodam At Sea Destination Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida eta 2-15 Koningsdam At Sea Destination Ensenada, Baja California Mexico eta 2-17 Nieuw Amsterdam At Sea Destination Oranjstad, Aruba eta 2-15 Nieuw Statendam Puerto Plata-Amber Cove, Dominicana 08:00 - 17:00 Oosterdam At Sea Destination Ushuaia, Argentina eta 2-17 Rotterdam Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 09:00 - 15:00 Volendam Buenos Aires, Argentina 15:00 Depart Zaandam At Sea Destination Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico Riviera eta 2-15Eastern Hemisphere Noordam At Sea Destination Fiordland National Park, New Zealand eta 2-17 Westerdam At Sea Destination Jakarta, Java Indonesia eta 2-16 Zuiderdam Adelaide, South Australia 14:00 Arrive Ann for Paul, Sandi, Roy & Rich - the creator of it all!

Rich, thank you for creating the amazing Report & Daily program that allows everything to continue, even while you are enjoying your World cruise. Vanessa, thank you for keeping our lists! A nippy 42 here this morning. But Bindi still wanted a walk. The sun is just about to crest our trees, so that will help warm us up. Yesterday’s wind was brutal. Even Bindi struggled against the headwind. It was breezy this morning, but hoping the winds won’t return. Just one class, Bindi walks and chores fill my day. This evening I am bringing some hors d’oeuvres to an open house for one of the town commissioners running for reelection. She has done an amazing job supporting businesses, local artists, park cleanups, improving the access to the Intercoastal and dozens of other accomplishments. I definitely want to show my support. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ******* Domaine Laroche Chablis Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes 2020 All released vintages of this Chablis share the same excellent reviews and you might find a better price locally. I would love to taste this, and it is just slightly outside of my budget. A decent number of online distributors with prices starting at $61.99. Winemaker Notes #97 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 A racy, elegant wine with intense minerality; a beautiful structure with delicate notes of white blossom and orchard fruit. WS94 Wine Spectator Clean, precise and expressive, this white exudes fresh lemon, apple, floral, lanolin and mineral aromas and flavors. Harmonious and leaves a mouthwatering impression, with the essence of lemon and stone. Approachable now, yet should age gracefully. Drink now through 2029.

Today is Clean out Your Computer Day, Get a Different Name Day, and National Wingman Day I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.--J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanMeal Suggestion for today - Classic LasagnaDrink of the Day - Summer Fish BowlWine of the Day - Domaine Laroche Chablis Les Fourchaumes Vieilles Vignes 2020Destination of the Day - Le Havre-Paris, France Eurodam At Sea Destination Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida eta 2-15 Koningsdam At Sea Destination Ensenada, Baja California Mexico eta 2-17 Nieuw Amsterdam Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 08:00 - 13:00 Nieuw Statendam At Sea Destination Puerto Plata-Amber Cove, Dominicana eta 2-14 Oosterdam At Sea Destination Ushuaia, Argentina eta 2-17 Rotterdam At Sea Destination Half Moon Cay, Bahamas eta 2-14 Volendam At Sea Destination Buenos Aires, Argentina eta 2-14 Zaandam Huatulco, La Crucecita, Mexico Riviera 13:00 - 19:00Eastern Hemisphere Noordam Burnie, Tasmania Australia 07:30 - 19:00 Westerdam Singapore 07:00 - 16:00 Zuiderdam At Sea Destination Adelaide, South Australia eta 2-15 Ann for Paul, Sandi, Roy & Rich, who makes all this happen!

Spectacular, Lenda & Steve!

Thank you Rich, for setting up the Report and Daily program, so it is a simple matter of copying & pasting. Loved seeing the pictures of Sandi & Dennis at their Sailaway yesterday. Thanks to all who posted them! The sky is just starting to get light after another night of heavy rains. Hope the rain has helped put out the wildfires South of me. Off early to the gym. Then Aldi and Bindi walks. Perhaps some yard work. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Louis Roederer Brut Champagne Cristal 2014 Well this superb champagne is one for the record books, but I am fairly certain I will never get to try it. Numerous online distributors with prices starting at $278.88. Winemaker Notes #10 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 Produced uniquely during the best years, when the Chardonnay (around 40%) and Pinot noir (around 60%) grapes have attained perfect maturity, Cristal is aged for 6 years in Louis Roederer’s cellars and left for a further 8 months after dégorgement. Cristal is a remarkably balanced and refined champagne whose length is inimitable. It has a silky texture and fruity aromas, complemented by a powerful mineral quality with white fruit and citrus notes. Cristal is a wine that keeps well: it can be conserved for over twenty years without losing its freshness and character. WS98 Wine Spectator This vivid Champagne has upfront and linear definition, thanks to rapierlike acidity, with finely meshed flavors of ripe black cherry and mandarin orange fruit, raw almond, anise and cardamom spice as well as a touch of honeycomb, which all unfurl and expand on the fine, creamy palate. Sleek acidity continues through to the finish, with additional racy character provided by a streak of minerally saline and chalk, which gains momentum through the midpalate and rings out on the well-cut, lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2040. JS97 James Suckling An enlightened expression from a season of extremes, this has intensity, ripeness and depth of fruit that is underpinned by chalk soil-derived structure and freshness. Complex nose with lemon and grapefruit aromas, as well as closed red apple, blood orange, light biscuit spices and toasted hazelnuts. Super fresh. The palate starts pithy and fleshy with pink grapefruit, blood orange, red apple, sliced strawberry and nectarine. Expansive and mouth-filling build that is driven by concentrated fruit, Then it tightens and turns to a more mineral edge, before smoothly honed phenolics finish it long. It is 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, 32% oak fermentation in those same proportions, no chaptalization, no malolactic and a dosage of 7g per liter. From organically farmed grapes. Very complex, it strikes a natural balance and is very drinkable already, though will develop well for more than a decade in the cellar. WE97 Wine Enthusiast Still young, with toast aromas and shining white-fruit flavors, the latest release of Cristal is just setting out. A dry, tight core of intense flavors are shot through with minerality from the pure chalk soil of the 45 individual parcels in the blend. Cellar Selection WW97 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com The 2014 Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne deftly combines richness, balanced, and length. TASTING NOTES: This wine excels with aromas and flavors of green apples, stones, a faint note of earthiness, and yeastiness. Please place it in the center of the table and enjoy its beauty without distraction. (Tasted: August 2, 2022, San Francisco, CA) JD96 Jeb Dunnuck It’s always educational, and a treat, to taste the latest vintage of Louis Roederer’s flagship Cristal Champagne. This cuvee is sourced from 45 separate plots covering just under 200 acres spread between the villages of Verzeny, Verzy, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Aÿ, Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Cramant. The vineyards are farmed either organically or biodynamically and are planted to a 60/40 split of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Each parcel is vinified separately and for the 2014, only 39 parcels made the final selection, with the blend being roughly 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The wine has the malolactic fermentation blocked and is brought up in a mix of 32% oak and 68% tank. This was a warmer year that saw fabulous springtime weather, a slightly cooler, rainy summer, and a great end of the year. The 2014 fits in nicely in recent vintages and has a style all its own, showing a fleshy, round, nicely concentrated style reminiscent of the 2012 yet not quite the precision of either the 2008 or 2013. Gorgeous and classic Cristal stone fruit, chalky minerality, white flowers, almond paste, and subtle toast emerge on the nose and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a supple, almost creamy texture, terrific balance, and a great finish. It’s surprisingly approachable yet I’ve no doubt it will evolve nicely given its mid-palate depth and overall balance. It’s beautiful today and a terrific Cristal to enjoy over the coming two decades or so. It’s unquestionably more approachable than either the 2013 or 2008, but not far off qualitatively. RP96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2014 Cristal is a terrific effort that transcends the vintage. Bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of ripe citrus fruit, nectarine, white flowers, freshly baked bread and subtle hints of honeycomb, it's medium to full-bodied, vinous and fleshy, with an exuberant core of fruit that's girdled by racy acids, resulting in a wine that's simultaneously chiseled and demonstrative, meaning that early appeal doesn't come at the expense of the requisite tension for long-term cellaring. Concluding with a long, aromatic and intensely chalky finish, it is a brilliant Champagne that will offer a broad drinking window. This bottle was disgorged in June 2021 with seven grams per liter dosage. D95 Decanter The rollercoaster growing season of 2014 is reflected to perfection by the innate tension here; ripe citric fruit and even a touch of exoticism (mango and fig) tempered by a fine shard of acidity and a lifted ethereal character, described paradoxically by chef de caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon as ‘weightless density’. Purity, energy and power make for very happy bedfellows, courtesy the chalky terroir and its organic husbandry. The texture is silky, the bubbles joyfully integrated and the finish resourceful and precise, its salinity deferential to the deep-digging roots. Disgorged: June 2021.

Today is Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, National Lost Penny Day, and Plum Pudding Day I don't deserve any credit for turning the other cheek as my tongue is always in it. - Flannery O'ConnorMeal Suggestion for today - Creole JambalayaDrink of the Day - Smore TiniWine of the Day - Louis Roederer Brut Champagne Cristal 2014Destination of the Day - Cobh-Cork, Ireland Eurodam Puerto Limon, Costa Rica 06:30 - 16:00 Koningsdam At Sea Destination Ensenada, Baja California Mexico eta 2-17 Nieuw Amsterdam Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida 07:00 - 16:00 Nieuw Statendam Key West, Florida 07:00 - 16:00 Oosterdam At Sea Destination Ushuaia, Argentina eta 2-17 Rotterdam St Thomas Island USVI, Charlotte Amalie, US Virgin Islands 08:00 - 17:00 Volendam Buenos Aires, Argentina 08:00 Arrive Zaandam Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala 07:00 - 17:00Eastern Hemisphere Noordam Melbourne, Victoria Australia 08:00 - 17:00 Westerdam Klang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Selangor 08:00 - 17:00 Zuiderdam Hobart, Tasmania Australia 16:00 Depart Ann for Paul, Sandi, Roy & Rich!

Thank you for filling in the quote!

Thank you Rich for setting things up to make it so easy to post. And Sandi, thank you for the wonderful instructions for the maps. And Since it was raining, and Bindi does NOT linger in the rain, I signed on early. Vanessa thank you for keeping our lists. I know that requires a lot of diligence and effort. Just Zumba, chores, and then dinner at a friend’s. I found the perfect dress for this evening…. Praying for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Betz Syrah La Côte Patriarche, Yakima Valley, Washington State I used the 2019 vintage info, since that may be the easiest to find, but all released vintages share the same excellent reviews. I would love a taste, but often find Syrahs too much for me to handle. A few online distributors with prices starting at $62.99. Critic tasting note: "Red Willow is hallowed ground for Syrah in Washington, the vineyard where the variety was first planted. The aromas are brooding, with notes of herb, smoked meat, hay and cinnamon. The palate is light and elegant. It's a pretty expression of the variety, with impressive length. It will be interesting to see where additional time in the bottle takes it. Sean P. Sullivan" - 91/100, Wine Enthusiast

Today is Don't Cry over Spilled Milk Day, Make a Friend Day, and National Inventors Day You educate a manMeal Suggestion for today - Slow Cooker Korean Short RibsDrink of the Day - Cran Tropic TiniWine of the Day - Betz Syrah La Côte Patriarche, Yakima Valley, Washington StateDestination of the Day - Cape Horn, Chile Antarctica Eurodam Panama Canal 05:00 - 05:00 Koningsdam Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Island 08:00 - 18:00 Nieuw Amsterdam Half Moon Cay, Bahamas 08:00 - 15:00 Nieuw Statendam Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, Florida 07:00 - 16:00 Oosterdam At Sea Destination Ushuaia, Argentina eta 2-17 Rotterdam Basseterre St Kitts, Port Zante 08:00 - 17:00 Volendam Montevideo, Uruguay 08:00 - 18:00 Zaandam Corinto, Nicaragua, Leon City 09:00 - 17:00Eastern Hemisphere Noordam At Sea Destination Melbourne, Victoria Australia eta 2-13 Westerdam Malacca, Malaysia 10:00 - 20:00 Zuiderdam Port Arthur, Tasmania Australia 08:00 - 16:00 Ann, for Paul, Sandi, Roy and Rich who created this wonderful place & did the work!

I thought that was you! Seriously, Sandi, thank you for checking in. Glad your ride was uneventful. There have been warnings about heavy smoke from wildfires South of Daytona limiting visibility on I-95, and I could smell the smoke when I left the gym today.

Carolyn, praying that your medical team can find a solution to the kidney issue. That is not an easy message to absorb.

Vanessa - thank you for keeping our lists. I appreciate the effort that goes in to keeping up with all our happenings. Ann

What a gorgeous picture! Thank you for sharing it! Does anyone see Rich? 👀 🔭