cat shepard

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich. Off early for a breakfast out with my friend and her daughter and then a hike in one of my favorite State Parks. Hope everyone has a great day! Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Rex Hill 2018 Reserve Pinot Noir This Pinot Noir sounds interesting, and I would love to taste it. I found several online distributors and the average price is around $50 BUT one place has it on sale for $37.97, so you might be lucky and find it on sale locally. Winemaker Notes A perennial favorite, the REX HILL Reserve bottling with its deep color and darker fruit profile is perhaps our most anticipated release of the year. Layers of fruit greet the nose: blueberry, blackberry, Rainier cherry, sarsaparilla, a touch of sawdust and sweet tobacco. On the palate, cherry notes lead with fruit compote and again the sweet pipe tobacco note. The wine is replete with fleshy fruit and excellent acidity that carries a long, cherry skin finish. Drink now through 2028. 96 pts - Wine Enthusiast

Welcome aboard, Rob & Sue!

@Horizon chaser 1957 Laura, your photos are truly awesome - in the real sense of that word! Thank you for sharing them. Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

Sandi How exciting for Ren & his friend!

Great news!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! A gloomy start to this morning. But it seems the sun is about to break through. I am missing breakfast with the gang. Thanks for taking care of our lists, Roy! I finished my laundry-thon at 9:45 last night. I can enjoy a quiet early morning with coffee. Then Zumba, Bindi walks, and having a friend and her daughter who’s visiting from Virginia over for scallops, roasted squash & sweet potatoes, salad and wine. I also have some dark sea salt chocolate, if we want. And wine. I need to remember this for next year…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Quinta do Crasto 2018 Vintage (Port) Lots of consumer fans, and at least one critic gives this Port a superb rating. Several online distributors with prices starting at $53.76. 95 pts Wine Spectator - Opaque in color, it presents spice notes in the nose and is well integrated with fresh aromas of wild Douro fruits. In the mouth, it presents a vigorous attack, evolving into a wine of great solidity and concentration, of compact structure, where massive tannins dominate, but of elegant texture, in perfect integration with retro nasal aromas of wild fruit. A captivating wine that ends in a vibrant way, very persistent and with extraordinary potential for aging in the bottle.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! I am officially exhausted. Thrilled to have a houseful to hug, but exhausted. My neighbors got the biggest kick out of the kids enjoying my pool & it’s 71.5 degree temperature. None of them (or me) would ever brave that temp. I apologize for the size, but the minute I reduce it, the photo alignment changes. 🤬 Brayden - 15, Aidan -14, Lyla - 11 and Cara -7. They have muscles! We called this the Polar Plunge. Thank you, Roy, for taking care of our lists. Yours is the gift that keeps on giving. Morning everyone. My Gang departs for Orlando at 10:30 this morning. 😞 I will miss the hugs, giggles and joy of family, but I will be going up at Christmas & staying with Lyla & Cara. So I can look forward to that. The Gand decided that this is the meme I should share today…😎 Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Labouré Roi Bourgogne Pinot Noir This wine has very good consumer and critic ratings for the 2019 vintage, which is the only one I could find available. You might have better luck. Several online distributors with prices starting at $12.99. 86 Wine Enthusiast This soft, red -ruited wine has just the lightest smoky character. The wine's texture marries easily with the juicy acidity and fresh aftertaste. Drink now.

No,Vanessa! I am so sorry! I can only imagine how disappointed you both are.

Thank you for our American Thanksgiving Day Report & Daily, Rich! Roy, thank you for keeping our lists! Dixie, thank you for finding & sharing those great drink recipes! Debbie, (and Tina) thank you for finding great info about our meals and a multitude of recipes! Sandi, Lenda, Carolyn, Jacqui and everyone who share their amazing pictures of the port du jour - thank you for taking the time to do that. I still haven’t figured out why 95% of my Alaska pics were unpostable. All the Dailyites make this such an amazing place of caring & sharing! Right now it is the calm before the storm. I just finished my first cup of coffee and am about to start my second. Life is good and crazy and boy did I miss this for the past 2.75 years. I hope everyone has a great day, no matter where you are. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! @Vict0riann Happy 60th to you & Pat! Stay well everyone! ******* The Dreaming Tree Chardonnay This Chardonnay has good - very good critic and consumer reviews. Available in numerous locations with prices starting at $7.99. Distributor Notes The fruit jumps out of the glass and reminds you of roasted pear or baked apple pie. Big fruit and brown spices that are backed by a distinct Central Coast citrus note. The entry coats your mouth with these great flavors. Easy to enjoy, this wine will bring the coastal wine adventure right to your home.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Roy, welcome home & thank you for taking care of our lists. @bennybear Brenda, praying that all goes smoothly, but so thankful they caught it early!❤️ A gloomy day here. The gang arrived safely, and did not hit any problems on I-4 or I-95!🥳 They are heading to the Space Center for the day. I could not join them, because I could not get a place for Bindi at this late date. I will do a class at the gym and some prep for tomorrow. After last night’s mushroom Swiss burger and sweet potato fries, I need to be very active today. 😎 I am just sitting down to my first cup of coffee! Prayers to all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé All vintages of this rosé share the same very good - excellent ratings, and reasonable price. I found a decent number of online distributors with prices ranging between $17 - $25. Winemaker Notes The dry and mild winter led to an early budding of the vines, followed by a wet and cold spring with two episodes of frost, causing some slight damage to the young shoots and a rather long re-growth of the vegetation. Flowering then went perfectly well and the hot and dry summer made it possible to preserve the perfect sanitary condition of the vines, while regular tillage kept the vineyard cool. The harvest time thus arrived serenely, in superb conditions. It should be noted that these were rather early this year, starting on September 9, and took place over a fairly short period of 10 days, the maturity of the grapes being uniform across all plots. Harvesting very early in the morning was favored in order to limit the oxidation of the juices and to preserve all their freshness and purity. In the cellar, the very high quality of the grapes harvested made it possible to carry out vinifications with very little intervention, with very low doses of SO2; the alcoholic fermentations were frank and clear. The wines promise to be magnificent, very pure and straightforward, with good acidity, great minerality, tension and delicious aromatic notes of citrus. LOCATION Issued from the Chateau's best parcels (Muriers, Longue, Romarin), as well as from a selection of vineyards close to the village of Correns, just north of Brignoles in the heart of Provence. TERROIR Clay & Limestone vineyard, partially in terraces located at an average of 350 meters. Cool climate for the area with big temperature swings between night and day. AGEING The grapes are harvested exclusively in the morning and sorted twice. Destemming. Pressurage direct for Cinsault, Grenache and Rolle. The Syrah is vinifies partially using the "saignee" method. Vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats (95%) and in barrels (5%) with batonnage. TASTING NOTES Elegant pale-pink colour, evoking a rose petal. On the nose, Miraval Rosé shows all its elegance: beautifully fresh, it exudes aromas of fresh fruit, currants and fresh rose with a zest of lemon. The refinement continues in the mouth with a beautiful liveliness and gourmet notes that subtly balance the mineral and saline notes. An irresistible wine that ends with a long finish with lemony notes. GRAPES Cinsault Grenache Rolle Syrah

@1ANGELCAT Happy Birthday! May your new year be filled with love, laughter, great health, and a cruise - or two!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! It’s a gloomy, Misty morning here. But still better than 77” of snow! I just can not get that number out of my head! Roy thank you for keeping up with us, even on the road. One gym class, a few last minute chores and then I am ready for my “home invasion”. My niece just called to let me know that her SO’s 14 year old son will be coming. His Mom’s family has COVID and he would have to spend the holiday separated from them. Not much fun for him. So life is good and it will be crazy & fun. And maybe, I won’t have as many leftovers. 😎 I needed this one for yesterday’s “Odd sock day”… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Herdade do Esporao 2020 Reserva White (Alentejo) This white sounds very interesting. I am not familiar with the grapes, but would love to try it. Luckily, it has aged enough to be enjoyed. If not, it might be a candidate for the Clef du Vin. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $14.97. Winemaker Notes Crystal clear, light straw color with green hues. Grapefruit and white peach aromas with subtle notes of mint green complemented with white pepper and nutmeg. Creamy and elegant with balanced fruit and spices presence. Intense and persistent finish. WE92 Wine Enthusiast A blend of Antão Vaz, Arinto and Roupeiro, this wood-aged wine is spicy and ripe in toast and yellow-fruit flavors. It is still young and needs some aging. Wait to drink this rich wine from 2022.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Cloudy again, but I will take it over 77” of snow any day! I mean, where do you put all of it? Roy, thank you for sharing your journey with us & keeping our lists. So much happening. I am so grateful for this wonderful community that Rich created. @Quartzsite Cruiser Lenda, how encouraging Steve’s progress is! I hope that discharge date does not change! @ottahand7 Nancy, wonderful to read of your DB’s progress. Clearly his siblings’ support made a difference. But please keep that snow to yourself. Off to the gym for just one class. Then I need to finish my To Do list. That should burn some calories. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Antigal One La Dolores Vineyard Malbec (Gualtallary) Mendoza Province Some Malbecs are too much for me, even with food. But I love to try them, because when I least expect it, I encounter an amazing one. This one is popular with consumers and critics. It is a bit pricey, but I found several online distributors with prices starting at $46.99. Distributor’s Notes The grapes of this wonderful wine come from Uco Valley – Tupungato, Gualtallary, and La Arboleda. Areas highly recognized for their excellent quality. The vineyards are located at 1100 meters above sea level, with a great thermal amplitude between day and night, which allows the development of aromatic elegance and concentration. The exceptionally gentle treatment of hand-selected Malbec grapes is made possible by the winery’s gravity-flow system, which eliminates the need for forceful pumps and pressers. The care taken through all stages of winemaking - from initial cluster-chilling through sorting, maceration, fermentation, and barrel aging - produced an unusually elegant Malbec with great balance and supple tannins. 93 Wine Enthusiast

Sharon Hope you continue to get better. The Holidays are tough enough without being sick. Glad Craig could take some of the running around off your plate. I do understand the “wild goose chase” problem. I have been shopping at my current Aldi since May of this year. I JUST found the pecans- in the breakfast pastries section, no less. Thank goodness my Grand Nieces asked for specific items from that section. Don’t overdo it.

welcome home, Jacqui! Thank you for sharing your amazing pics!

Good grief. I am so sorry to read that you were robbed. Though you were not seriously hurt, nor was anything of value taken - do not discount the trauma of being accosted & having your personal space forcefully invaded. Stay well.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! It is very cloudy here this morning and rain is expected throughout the day. Roy welcome home - thank you again for keeping our lists while cruising. @summer slope Dixie, thank you for take our drink du jour on location with you. I hope you, DH, Sandi @StLouisCruisers & Dennis all have an amazing journey! Gym, Aldi, floor cleaning, and Bindi walks (dodging the rain) are in my future. Here is the solution for protecting your Christmas tree from curious critters… you can thank me later.😎 Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ************ Hartford Court 2018 Land's Edge Vineyards Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) This Pinot Noir sounds interesting and I would love a taste. But even if it was slightly better than my two favorites it costs at least twice as much as they do! All released vintages share the same excellent ratings. It is available from several online distributors with prices starting at $39.95. Winemaker Notes The 2018 Land's Edge Pinot Noir leads with aromas of red and black cherry, pomegranate, and dried rose petals. The layered flavors of dark berries, plum, and licorice lead to a mid-palate with an elegant and polished texture. The wine ends with a lingering mocha and mineral finish. WE95 Wine Enthusiast From two vineyard sites just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, this wine is juicy in cranberry and pomegranate. Lifted accents of white pepper, orange peel and rose add complexity and nuance to the robust frame. JD95 Jeb Dunnuck The 2018 Pinot Noir Land's Edge Vineyards is another Sonoma Coast release from this great producer. Medium ruby/purple-hued, with an exotic bouquet of black cherries, blueberries, candied violets, and flowery incense, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a juicy, racy mouthfeel, supple tannins, and a great finish. It will benefit from a year in bottle and drink brilliantly through at least 2030. WS94 Wine Spectator A refined and minerally style, with lithe acidity supporting well-knit flavors of cherry and raspberry. The plush finish lingers with creamy accents and plenty of spicy and toasty notes. Drink now through 2026. RP92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2018 Pinot Noir Land’s Edge Vineyards was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, 31% new. Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, it bursts from the glass with bold expressions of black cherries, mulberries and wild blueberries plus suggestions of tobacco leaf, fragrant earth and lilacs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with freshly crushed red and blue fruits, supported by grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note. W&S91 Wine & Spirits Oak enriches this wineâ??s creamy texture and provides the base notes while the fruit shimmers on top. Itâ??s a powerful pinot with enough brisk structure and high-toned fruit to carry all the richness.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Slightly warmer today with a fairly decent marine layer masking the sunrise. Roy, thank you for sharing your cruise and keeping our lists. Off to a couple of early classes at the gym. Need to get out in the yard. Bindi walks. And wrapping up the day at a friend’s for dinner. Some days are like this! Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******** Quady North 2015 Cabernet Franc (Applegate Valley) Another wine I would love to taste. And I would love to meet the winemaker. Several online distributors with prices starting at $35.00. 93 Wine Enthusiast Distributor Notes Applegate Valley clearly can grow Cab Franc superbly well. Another undeniably tasty wine featuring notes of coffee, black cherries, and ancho chili, we really like the pure expression of Cab Franc going on here. Consider serving this with an ancho and coffee-dusted skirt steak. During a recent visit to the store, President for Life Herb Quady and his Quady North wines really won us over. Honest, no-nonsense, humbly priced wineries aren’t as easy to come by as they were a decade ago, and we’re thrilled to add another one to our family of featured producers. Quady North is one of the few Southern Oregon wineries we’ve featured. That’s a deeper discussion for another time and more space but to be succinct, they poured the most interesting and delicious line-up of Southern Oregon wine we’ve tasted from a single producer, in a decidedly unpretentious manner. Background: Herb grew up on his family’s winery in Central California with a compulsory love for Muscat, but after an accidental exposure to the world of Rhone varieties at the hand of the infamous Randall Graham, he became obsessed with the idea of making (gasp!) table wines. After earning his winemaking props at Fresno State, he eventually found his way into the great unknown of Southern Oregon. Herb and his family moved from California in late 2003, convinced that Southern Oregon was a region on the verge of exploding onto the wine scene. The climate, with warm days punctuated by afternoon winds and cool nights, reminded him of Southern France, and he was convinced that Rhone varieties would thrive. In 2005, the Quady family purchased 100 acres, which contained the remains of an old motocross track and several dozen aging vehicles, and set upon the long task of converting it into an Estate vineyard. The next year, Herb and Meloney made the first vintage from purchased fruit while Herb worked as a winemaker at Troon Vineyard. Sourcing from distinct sites at disparate corners of the region, the first vintage was of excellent quality, and showed the terroir of each site. The original planting was named "Mae's Vineyard" after elder daughter Margaux Mae. Mae's is planted to Syrah, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Tannat, Malbec and Orange Muscat. In 2011, a second planting was named for younger daughter Serafina Eevee and was planted to Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Cabernet Franc, Grenache Noir and Malvasia Bianca. Both are "LIVE" (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) certified sustainable. As the Estate Vineyards came into bearing, the Quady's continued to purchase fruit from the original sites, eventually forming a business that would manage these sites and more. These vineyard sites: Serenade (near Ashland), Steelhead Run (near the Applegate River), Sam's Valley (in the upper Rogue) and the Frank's Vineyard (now called Serra) would form a critical part of the winery's portfolio, and are the source of many great wines. Over time, the portfolio has expanded to become Pan-Rhon-ish, with a distinct Loire-ish influence. Recently, Grenache has played a larger part, becoming the basis of Dry Rose, a GSM blend, as well as the early-release "Bomba.”

EXACTLY!

@JazzyV Vanessa, I am praying you and your medical team get this figured out ASAP! I know I would be frustrated. @Quartzsite Cruiser Lenda, I am glad you made it safely to a place that could fix the wheel/tire. But even more importantly - that you are ok. 🤞🏻 That a dull moment heads your way soon.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! It was even a bit nippier here than yesterday.But the sun is out, and I am not worried about dealing with multiple feet of snow!😎 Roy, thank you for all the pictures of your visit to the Panama Canal. And keeping up with our lists! @StLouisCruisers, Sandi I hope you & Dennis don’t encounter any issues on the road today. That is quite a drive. @summer slope Dixie, I know you will have a much easier drive, but I hope you don’t encounter any problems. I tried a new workout last evening and it was a good one. I was pleased that I could do most things. And visiting with Hailey, our instructor’s very personable Dalmatian was just a treat! Gym, chores, Bindi walks. Possibly heading out with friends - if I make it through enough of my prep list. I know my HOA would NOT approve this…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******** Terre Rouge 2017 Ascent Syrah (Sierra Foothills) Sierra Foothills This wine is a bit elusive, and all released vintages share similar excellent - superb ratings. This one is a bit pricey. Several online distributors offer it with prices starting at $59.00. 98 Wine Enthusiast This explosively flavorful, ageworthy wine combines complexity, power and finesse in a compelling way. Intricate, spicy aromas of graphite, minerals, black pepper and white pepper lead to a superbly balanced palate of just-ripe blackberry, rhubarb and woodsmoke without overdoing any one element. Great balance and layering are its hallmarks. Best from 2026–2040.

@StLouisCruisers Sandi, safe travels to you & Dennis. If you travel I95, please wave as you drive past exit 278. I hope you have a wonderful cruise!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! We had a 25 degree drop in temp compared to yesterday morning! Fall is back! Roy, thank you for keeping our lists! Mani- pedi for me this morning. My poor fingernails need it badly. Then this evening I am going to try a HIIT training session with one of my former gym’s instructors. We will see how Bindi deals with this schedule change, and how I do with the workout. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******** Château Malartic-Lagravière 2018 Pessac-Léognan Bordeaux This Bordeaux blend has great reviews and though the price is not outrageous, it is a bit outside of my budget. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $54.95. Winemaker notes The wines had all the characteristics of a great vintage. 2018 was a very hot year, but this had relatively little effect on the aromatic profile of the white wines. They have superb balance, tremendous freshness, and a distinguished, elegant character. The reds are beautifully crafted. The Merlot offers a sublime mid-palate, with a silkiness and density that are rarely achieved. The Cabernet is spectacular, with exceptional aromatic profiles and levels of quality. The Petit-Verdots, co-fermented with the merlots, are particularly silky. This superb 2018 vintage comes after more than 20 years of environmentally-friendly practices at Malartic, continually striving for the best possible quality. The vineyard’s maturity is now giving its full expression, enabling us to obtain remarkable precision on the palate and incredibly well-defined tannins. Blend: 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc WE96 Wine Enthusiast Despite its weight, this is a well-crafted wine. It combines richness with sophisticated tannins, dense black fruits and considerable potential. Ripe berry flavors give depth. Drink this wine from 2026. Cellar Selection. WS95 Wine Spectator This has a big ball of warm plum and boysenberry compote notes at the core, framed with a liberal dose of singed cedar and apple wood. Hasn't integrated fully yet, but there's good length and energy here, with a positive vibe. Barrel Sample:92-95 D95 Decanter This remains a little hidden and distant at this point in time, but there are some gorgeous rich liquorice and cassis fruits here, and the texture stands out for its silkiness. Clearly a very good wine, which opens up slowly and carefully. Classic but with depth and grip, continuing a run of successful vintages at Malartic. Last vintage before they take on Eric Boissenot as consultant. 2% Petit verdot makes up the blend, with 70% new oak for ageing. Drinking Window 2026 - 2042 JS94 James Suckling Blackberry, hot-stone and blueberry aromas follow through to a full body with chewy, dusty tannins that are long and chewy. It shows lots of Pessac character, reminding me of the stoney soils of the area. Give this at least three or four years to come together. Try after 2024. JD94 Jeb Dunnuck An outstanding wine, the 2018 Château Malartic Lagraviere (57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and the rest 3% Cabernet Franc) offers a deep purple hue as well as beautiful cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with lots of graphite, gravelly earth, violets, and spring flower-like aromas and flavors. Beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, with ripe tannin's and impressive purity of fruit, it's another gorgeous 2018 that can be drunk today or cellared for 15 years. RP92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Composed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc and aged in 70% new oak barriques, the 2018 Malartic Lagraviere has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and pronounced notions of stewed black and red plums, boysenberries and cassis on the nose, with hints of hoisin, dried Provence herbs and unsmoked cigars. The medium-bodied palate has a firm, grainy texture and just enough freshness to support the black fruit preserves flavors, finishing savory.

Wow, Lenda! Just wow! Go Steve!