cat shepard

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another lovely morning. Our afternoon T-storms returned yesterday, although the worst was North of me. Thank you for keeping our lists Roy! Morning everyone! Heading off to an early Tai Chi class. Then a long awaited mani-pedi! Today is the day I will actually create a timeline of when we have to do each test, complete each form and finalize each app for our trip. I am hoping things do not change too much before then. 🤞🏻 I love this one… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Julien Schaal 2020 Granite Brand Grand Cru Riesling This Riesling sounds lovely, though it is very elusive and a bit pricey. I found a couple online distributors with prices starting at $45.00. 94 Wine Enthusiast Distributor notes Julien Schaal Riesling Grand Cru ‘Les Arènes Granitiques’ Sommerberg has a lovely, intense minerally nose with complex lime fruit, a touch of honey and some spice. Rich but bone dry palate with lovely mineral extract and intensity. Quite tight with good acid structure; good potential for development. Aging potential of 8-10 years. Riesling Grand Cru ‘Les Arènes Granitiques’ Sommerberg will go well wit sea fish in lemon sauce, scallops brochettes or grilled king prawns. Sommerberg is reputed one the greatest grand Cru vineyards of Alsace, documented as having produced some of the region’s finest wines since the year 1214. From old vines on the steepest part of the Grand Cru. The granite soils give the wine an intense lime flavour and a touch of honey. Bone dry, the balanced acids give complexity and length. Dominantly granitic with black and white micas,. This soil, is rich in mineral elements, and ideal for vine growing. From a 45 years old vineyard, the Sommerberg is situated on a very steep slope (45°), face due south, and exceed 400 metres of elevation. Viticulture was first recorded at Niedermorschwihr in 1214, and the name of Sommerberg was jealously reserved for this particular vineyard from 17th century onwards. Alsace wine region has a unique combination of great soils types that forms a real ‘kaleidoscope” of geologies. Pink sandstone, blue schist, limestone, granite, gypsum and volcanic rocks are amongst the most interesting soil. You can find all of them on grand cru vineyards. They believe that Riesling is maybe the best variety to translate those characters into wines. In 2011, Olivier Biecher and Julien Schaal have launched the winery exclusively dedicated to Alsace Grands Crus wines. From Andlau to Thann, they found numbers of interesting vineyards that all have strong individual character. Today Julien and Sophie are trying their best to get the full potential of the vineyards into the wine style they love!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another glorious start to the day! Looking forward to getting my haircut today. It needs it badly. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy. Morning Dailyites. @Seasick Sailor Joy, praying that you won’t have to deal with any fires. Even we seem to be having a drier than normal Summer, but nothing like what you are dealing with. @smitty34877, Terry loved reading that the Executive chef & you are doing better. @ger_77, Gerry hope you & DH are doing ok. @kazu keeping you & Shadow in my prayers. May Liz find her quickly. Heading to the gym after my haircut. Then pool time & gardening in some order. Perhaps not the sign we want to see in the buffet line… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Famiglia Anselma 2016 del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba Barolo lovers take note of this one. Superb reviews and though at the top end of my budget - still under $50. One for a special occasion perhaps. Very elusive, but I found one online distributor offering it for $45. You might find a better price locally. 97 Wine Enthusiast This classic Barolo opens with aromas of truffle, new leather, camphor and blue flowers. The youthfully assertive palate has knife-like precision, delivering raspberry compote, blood orange, star anise and crushed mint alongside noble tannins and bright acidity. Austere at this stage, it has incredible energy and boasts serious aging potential. Drink 2028–2046.

Bilbo’s big bash.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another lovely start to the day. The sun just crested my neighbor’s trees. The birds have been very vocal lately. I think they are enjoy these mornings, too. Thank you for our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Gym, Bindi walks, chores, and possibly a visit to the local wine bar are in my future. This may be a repeat, but it made me smile. I am certain that Bindi would not like this at all. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Series This Chilean Cab has very good reviews from consumers and critics alike. Its reasonable price tag makes it an easy one to try. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $11.92. Distributor Notes Don Maximiano Errázuriz founded Viña Errázuriz in 1870 in the Aconcagua Valley. This family owned winery continues to create exciting wines searching for the perfect combination of soil, climate and variety. Hand-harvested and aged in French and American oak barrels to add complexity while retaining the vibrant, youthful fruit. Aromas of cherries, cranberries, spice, tobacco, and vanilla precede the lively palate full of red fruit flavour with a touch of caramel. Serve with red meats and hard cheeses.

Welcome Lilly! Congratulations, Jack!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! It was so cool this morning that I almost needed longer sleeves. But the sun has now crested the trees, so it will warm up quickly. Thank you for keeping our lists Roy. Morning Dailyites. An early class then chores, walks and pool time for me today. I have leftovers, I need to start using in meals. Wanted to share what a very creative person did with an amazing moon…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Domaine Jean Dauvissat Pere et Fils 2018 Montmains This Chablis sounds lovely, but it is a bit pricey. A superb rating from consumers and critics alike - perhaps this is one I might splurge on - after a taste. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $43.71. 95 + EDITOR'S CHOICE - 36TH RANKING IN WINE ENTHUSIAST'S TOP 100 WINES FOR 2021 Montmains, a Left Bank Chablis premier cru, is perhaps the best ‘all-around’ example of what Chablis should be. It comes from a very rocky soil which gives a very pronounced minerality with extraordinary power and good aging potential. At the same time, it is ample, full and round. It can be tight in its youth, but is characteristically exuberant and vivacious. PRODUCER DOMAINE JEAN DAUVISSAT PERE ET FILS Chablis There’s a new kid on the block. And it’s pretty exciting news for Elden Selections. Fabien Dauvissat, son of Jean Dauvissat (no, not that Jean Dauvissat) took charge of his father’s considerable Chablis domain, and proceeded to make some radical changes. His father was first and foremost a grape farmer. On nearly 53 acres and 53 different parcels ranging from Petit Chablis to Premier Cru over seven different communes, he produced quality grapes for a big negociant house. But Fabien has different ideas. He is one of a generation that sees the value in producing not just good Chablis, but great Chablis. So he has taken the domain organic, using only copper and sulfur, no weed killers, no chemical fertilizers and no systemics. Chardonnay is famous for rampant yields, and so the primary job of the vigneron here is to keep those yields at a level that lets the grapes ripen and sugars concentrate. They only viable way to do this is to prune the vine during the winter so that it will only produce a certain number of grape bunches. Sounds easy, but a lot can happen between the winter pruning and the harvest the following autumn. Shoot for 60 hl/ha, and you might get 40. The best producers will tell you that quality is all about taking risks. And Fabien is fully aware of the gamble. But in the process, by reducing the volume of wine produced on the domain in his father’s days to the levels he targets now, he has made himself a considerable reputation for a winemaker barely into his 30s.

I am so sorry Gerry. Praying that you both have mild cases and recover quickly.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Had to put lights on this morning. The sun is just about to clear the trees. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites. My “pool party” was lots of fun, though our pool time was severely limited by a t-storm. But with good company, food & wine - we didn’t care. I grilled up some of Aldi’s butter, garlic, sea salt shrimp on skewers that were delicious. Salad, fruit board, and some amazing appetizers & desserts made for a great meal. Off to the gym, then Aldi & need to put everything away. Maybe pool time. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********** Rough Day 2019 Cabernet (Thracian Valley) Bulgaria Fairly certain this is our first wine from Bulgaria. At least it is my first one! Excellent consumer and expert reviews and a price that makes it easy to try. A bit elusive, but several online distributors offer it with prices starting at $10.99. The price makes it an easy one to try. Rough Day Description A garnet color in the glass, this Bulgarian Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of vanilla, black plum and lavender. Flavors of black cherry and black raspberry unfold in the glass. The tannins are soft and well structured, with a pleasant astringency on the finish. TOP 100 BEST BUY! Wine Enthusiast: 90 Points

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich. The sun is just breaking through the marine layer here. Our weather pattern has finally returned to a normal Florida Summer pattern with afternoon and/or evening thunderstorms. Jacqui, @kazu praying that you and Shadow find the help you both need. I will always picture her prancing around in your yard. Hugs to you both. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy. Morning Dailyites. @Cruising-along, Carolyn had you not shared our Editor-in-Chief’s birthday with us last year, I would not have been able to “beat you to it”! Thank you again. Just one class today, but I have some of my gym buddies coming over for a pool party. Still have stuff to do. And hoping we don’t have a T-storm later. Love this philosophy…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********** Januik 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon My local wine bar’s owners are big fans of Mike Januik and his wine making skills. He shares a tasting “room” with the Novelty Hill folk in Woodinville, WA. This Cab has excellent ratings and a reasonable price. Quite a few online distributors with prices starting at $28.99. Winemaker Notes This supple, bold Cabernet Sauvignon is loaded with red and black fruit flavors as well as plum, mocha and cedar notes in the nose. Its texture is quite refined and shows great structure across the palate, imparting a long, ample finish that was developed in part from the use of new French Oak barrels. WE93 Wine Enthusiast The aromas are brooding, with notes of coffee, cherry, vanilla and sweet spices. Layered, rich, intense chocolate and cherry flavors follow. It’s hedonism in a glass, with plenty of structure to support it all. Editors’ Choice. JS91 James Suckling Black fruit, cassis, walnut, praline and hints of black truffle on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, supple tannins. Juicy and ripe with good structure and weight. Slightly candied finish. Drink or hold.

Bon Voyage, John. Happy Anniversary!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Quite the marine layer this morning. The sun has not even broken through yet. We actually ended up having a T-storm with a bit of rain yesterday, so perhaps the Saharan Dust has released its control. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning fellow Rich fans! Today we celebrate Rich’s start to his new year. Hope it is a great year! Just one early class for me today. Then prep work for tomorrow evening at my place. Tonight heading to dinner with friends. They are going to share their pictures and stories from their recent Alaska trip. In reality wireless technology might make birds use trees more. Probably healthier for them. And yet one more reason to plant more trees. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********** Ponzi 2017 Reserve Pinot Noir “Young and fresh and racy and tight” - an interesting description for a wine. I have always enjoyed a Pinot Noir, but gravitate towards fuller bodied ones. This one comes with quite excellent - superb reviews and a price just outside of my budget. But would love a taste. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $55.94. Winemaker Notes This perfumed nose holds spice notes of clove, anise and cinnamon underlaid by lilac, lavender and cherry wood aromatics. The mouth is focused and structured with long tannins laced with chocolate nibs, sweet bing cherries and rich notes of dried fig and black tea. JS95 James Suckling Attractive ripe and pure red cherry fruit that is nicely framed in spice, conifer-forest and sweet-earth elements. The palate has a bold heart of concentrated red-cherry flavor and delivers a bold, youthful and succulent finish. Impressive. Drink or hold. WE94 Wine Enthusiast A refined, almost delicate sensibility is at work here. This is the most Burgundian of the high-end Ponzi Pinots, young and fresh and racy and tight. The bright raspberry and cherry fruit is compact and set up with balanced acidity and proportionate, ripened tannins. Notes of herb and citrus are in the background, as is the impact of aging in 30% new French oak. Drink 2024–2030. Cellar Selection.

Happy Birthday @richwmn Rich, may your new year be filled with laughter, fleet reports, Dailys & cruises! Thank you for creating this wonderful gathering place!

@dfish Safe travels, Debbie!

Well you are almost a year older, Rich!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another eerily colored marine layer. Perhaps the Saharan dust is making this happen. A super long walk this morning with Bindi. It is my favorite time to walk. The birds are just waking up and singing their morning songs. Thank you for keeping our lists Roy! Morning Dailyites! @dfish, Debbie thank you for letting us know that American bumped you out of first class when they changed your flight. We were so distracted by the seven hour flight change, that we never though to make sure everything else was ok. It was, but it might not have been - so thank you for mentioning it. Today is my day off from the gym, so gardening, house stuff, Bindi walks and pool time is in my future. @kazu thinking of you, Jacqui.❤️ Bindi greets our mail carrier every time we see her, because Bindi knows she will get treats. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Angels & Cowboys 2020 Rosé Though rosés are not usually my wine of choice, this one sounds appealing. I would like to try it. Excellent reviews from critics and consumers and a reasonable price. Several online distributors with prices starting at $13.98. Winemaker Notes The 2020 Rosé displays a bouquet of summer orchard fruit ranging from tangerine to peach accented by aromatic floral notes of violet and rose petal. On the palate the racy acidity delivers a focused savory herb element and minerality, along with delicate watermelon, raspberry, and Rainier Cherry fruit. Fresh and quaffable, this Rosé possesses a thirst-quenching fruitiness and dry finish that call for pairing with charcuterie platters, oysters, or a simple bowl of fresh strawberries. WE91 Wine Enthusiast Made from Grenache, this wine is light in color with an inviting, floral nose. Bright, zesty hits of grapefruit and tangerine dance around a svelte midpalate of focused acidity and lasting freshness.

Welcome to the Daily!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich. The marine layer is making for an interesting morning sky today. I wish I had captured a picture of the HUGE sun before it entered the marine layer. It was awesome in the truest sense of the word. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Miss seeing you @kazu Jacqui, hope all is well and you are just busy with Little/Shadow, flowers and fridges. Just noticed my buck is back hanging out in my back yard. Having a lazy morning. How appropriate. Off to the gym. Tonight getting together with my “traveling Sister” to talk about logistics. Our return flight changed yet again. But our motto is “It’s better than being canceled.” This hit home for me… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ************* Wirra Wirra 2019 Scrubby Rise Shiraz Very good to Excellent ratings from consumers & critics and a price that makes this Australian Shiraz an easy one to try. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $10.95. Winemaker Notes Deep plum with a bright crimson edge. Bouquet is bright, ripe raspberry and sweet mulberry fruits, laced with fragrant cabernet leaf and dried herbs. Palate of juicy red berries, ripe blue and black fruits as well as blood plum richness. The generous fleshy fruits are supported by supple tannins and provide a wine with great flavor, freshness and balance.Ideal pairings for this wine include lamb shoulder with Mediterranean spices, roast zucchini, squash and capsicum. WE89 Wine Enthusiast Wirra Wirra’s workhorse wine is a touch reductive when first poured, but it soon reveals typical South Aussie Shiraz notes of plump plum, ground pepper, chocolate, mint and licorice. It’s full-bodied, with dusty tannins and a baked earth character amid the plushness of the fruit and peppery spice.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich!, Another stellar start to the day. Yesterday’s breezes really helped manage the heat & humidity. Hoping for more today. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Off to an early Tai Chi class. Then hoping to get my phone protective screen replaced, Bindi walks, laundry and pool time will round out the day. The dogs of prior generations…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Quinta de la Rosa 2018 La Rosa Reserva Another bold red wine, this time from Portugal - and I’d love a taste. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $47.23. Winemaker Notes On the nose, extremely fresh ripe black fruits aromas combine with floral notes ending in hints of liquor and chocolate. Rich, full, and complex on the palate with bold flavors, all the while maintaining its defining elegance. Succulent tannins contribute to a very long and delicious finish. WE93 Wine Enthusiast A selection of the best fruit from this estate, this wood-aged reserva is rich and firmly structured. It also has powerful berry fruits, ripe tannins and a texture that is developing well. This impressive wine will age very well and will likely be ready from 2022. Drink until 2026.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! The sun is just breaking through the marine layer. It was lovely walking this morning. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! A couple of gym classes, house cleaning, Bindi walks and laundry topped off by some pool time will fill my day. I hope someone leaves some zucchini on my porch. Love it as zoodles, stuffed, grilled, sautéed… Appropriate for today… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Kaapzicht 2017 Steytler Pentagon Estate Wine This bold South African red blend needs to breath, if served now. I would love a taste. It is a bit elusive. I found only a few online distributors with prices starting at $39.99. 92 Wine Enthusiast A muscular Bordeaux style blend that exudes power and concentration, tied up in a structure of fine grained tannin and bright acidity that not only promise extensive evolution, but also entices with every visit to the glass. Brooding dark fruit tightly packed in an intricate frame are delivered with great purity and finesse. Delicious matched with some slow-roasted rosemary lamb. Winemaker notes VARIETY : 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 10 % Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec WINERY : Kaapzicht Wine Estate WINEMAKER : Danie Steytler WINE OF ORIGIN : Stellenbosch ANALYSIS : alc : 14.57 % type : Red  style : Dry  body : Full  taste : Fruity    ageing :  15 years maturation should greatly reward with complexity and elegance. Handcrafted by a family whose lifeblood is wine, the Steytler Range is the culmination of our estate’s best wines in only exceptional vintages. Tradition and 4 generations of Steytler passion forge these wines. Vines planted in weathered granite topsoil on a layer of gravel, above a crumbly clay sub-soil. Yield of 5 tons per hectare. The five cultivars were vinified and aged separately in small French oak barrels for 28 months, personally selected by the winemaker and then blended together.

Thank you Tina. I did lots of sailing around the Thomas Point Lighthouse when I lived in Annapolis. Brings back wonderful memories.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! It was barely light when Bindi and I went out this morning. But it was a lovely walk. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! My friend and I successfully installed VeriFLY on her phone, completed her registration & uploaded her vaccination records. We even installed the NAVICA app needed for the proctored test. We earned our wine. Off to the gym. Then grocery shopping. And family visits. This one got me thinking…. 1918 seems so much further away from 1970.🤔 Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Doña Paula 2018 Estate Black Edition This bold, red blend has a high % of Malbec in it. Very good - excellent ratings from both consumers and critics, and reasonably priced. Several online distributors with prices starting at $12.95. 90 Wine Enthusiast Aromas of wild brush, black olive, rubber and wild blackberry comprise the nose. This Malbec-led blend feels lively and fresh, with blackberry, cassis and lightly toasted flavors. A steady finish offers no significant changes as it fades with ease. Let’s see if the vintner’s fact sheet is legible.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience in such detail. I have shared it with my roll call members.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another lovely morning here. I got some early weeding done, while Bindi figured out whether or not she needed to go out. The sun was just coming up, so the temp was perfect. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Need to get out now and get a bit more yard work done before it heats up. Then I will have earned my coffee! Heading to my “traveling Sister’s” place tonight to go over the latest changes to our trip & to get her VeriFLY account set up. We will earn our wine tonight. I can not believe I did not know this already…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******** Domaine de la Janasse 2019 Chaupin Grenache (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) This wine sounds delightful. Though outside of my normal budget, it is a very reasonably priced Châteauneuf-du-Pape, so perhaps for a special occasion. An event like testing negative, or successfully completing ArriveCAN or VeriFLY! 😎Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $69.00. Winemaker Notes A beautiful bottle, archetype of the appellation, which expresses the quintessence of Grenache in its cradle of Châteauneuf du Pape. Between notes of black fruit and violets, this vintage advances in time with suppleness, with already melted tannins. JD98 Jeb Dunnuck I was able to taste the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Chaupin on two occasions, rating it one point higher on one of those as well. Incredible notes of red and black fruits, violets, scorched earth, ground pepper, and Provençal garrigue notes define the nose, and it’s a darker, richer, slightly more powerful wine than usual, while still showing the inherent elegance and finesse this cuvée always shows. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following 15-20. Don’t miss it! Rating : 98+ WE98 Wine Enthusiast This Grenache is sourced from the sandy soils of two prized vineyards, La Janasse and La Crau. Redolent of rose petals, smoky tea leaves and black cherry, the deeply penetrating wine pulsates through a long, long finish. Matured 12 months in large-format wood, it’s pure in fruit and satiny on the palate. Stunning young, the wine should gain complexity through at least 2040 and hold much further still. Editors’ Choice D95 Decanter Amazing aerial freshness to the aromas - somehow both full-bodied but weightless with a perfect balance. This is silky smooth, a very elegant wine with a touch of blackcurrant to the raspberry fruits. The alcohol is warming on the finish however. Parcels of Grenache planted on lieux-dits Chapouin, La Janasse and La Crau, the oldest planted in 1912.

If your windbreaker is also waterproof, and your hoodie is fleece or wool - you should be fine - if you can tighten the hoods so they do not blow off. otherwise you might want something to keep your ears warm. Gloves & scarf might be useful.

When I was there last year the site where the lava was currently flowing was at least 45 minutes from the parking area - one way. And it was flowing underground, so you could not see it. And that site was much closer to the parking area than the original eruption site, so depending on where it is currently erupting - it could be a moderate to strenuous hike.