cat shepard

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! Just a super quick post this morning. Off to the gym & Aldi, then lunch with neighbors, Bindi walks and charcuterie with wine at a friend’s this evening. Vanessa thank you for keeping track of all of us. Prayers for all who need our support. Thinking of you @1ANGELCAT . Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Rippon Pinot Noir Central Otago Tinker's Field 2019 Another elusive NZ wine. This PN sounds lovely. No distributors appear to ship to me, but lots of them ship to Hong Kong with prices starting at $75.08. Distributor notes Rippon is a small but highly renowned biodynamic family estate, based in the subregion of Wanaka, Central Otago. This position means that the estate enjoys the same benefits of long sunshine hours and rain-shelter as the rest of Central Otago, but the unique proximity to Lake Wanaka provides a considerable moderating influence. The result is wines of less immediately overt ripeness, but of increased finesse and complexity. The wines often look more like their Alsatian or Burgundian counterparts, than that of their immediate neighbours, and they never sacrifice structure or tannin for immediate pleasure. As such, they will develop beautifully in a good cellar, whether red or white. A unique parcel within Rippon, Tinker’s Field is a gentle, north facing slope formed by an ancient ejection cone of coarse schist gravels and is home to the oldest vines on the property. Also to note, the Pinot Noir with the highest acidity of the 19's here. Fermented with natural yeasts, with 25% whole clusters. Aged in French oak (only 17% new) for a total of 18 months before bottling unfined and unfiltered. The Review: 94+ points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front A firm, structured release this year, indeed. Tasted over a few days to get the gist of it. Expressive and individual wine regardless. It’s all about architecture and tension, firm ribbons of tannin and green-herbal elements over darker, sour-sweet cherry and brambly-undergrowth characters. All this wrapped up in a lithe, gossamer but steely-minerally and strict tannins. Amaro-like acidity feels so refreshing and life-affirming. It feels very much a wine that needs cellar time, it’s so strict and taut in this incarnation. Please, set some aside.

I am sending (((((hugs))))). Nothing I say will make you feel better.

@Crazy For Cats Ooh Jake, Amelia is gorgeous. And has perfected that innocent look! 😎

Good morning & welcome!

Mr. Boston, please share with David. Congratulations David! Enjoy every minute of your retirement!

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! A heavy marine layer that is quickly burning off greeted me this morning. Vanessa, thank you for jumping back into capturing & sharing our happenings! Gym, Bindi walks, chores and dinner at a friend’s. I continue my hunt for a new landscaping company, since my last one quit. Prayers for all who need our support. @smitty34877 Terry, I hope DH is feeling a bit better. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! *********** San Felice Chianti Classico 2020 This Chianti sounds interesting & reasonable. Consumers and critics really enjoy it. And it is easy to find! Numerous online distributors with prices starting at $14.98. Winemaker Notes #24 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 Produced entirely from native grapes, it is a typical, medium-bodied Chianti Classico, with a distinguished personality and notable for its elegance and pleasantness. Luminous ruby red. Scents of cherry, raspberry, and sweet violets. Dry on the palate, showing subtle tannins and a fresh, crisp acidity. At its best when partnered with antipasti, full-flavored first courses, and most red meats. WS92 Wine Spectator This supple red shows a core of cherry and plum fruit allied to olive, juniper and tobacco notes. Delivers well-integrated tannins and acidic structure, lingering nicely on the finish. Sangiovese, Colorino and Pugnitello. Drink now JD92 Jeb Dunnuck Refined and pure, the 2020 Chianti Classico packs in beautiful concentration within its medium frame. Elegantly perfumed with red cherry liqueur, cinnamon, and pressed flowers, it is long with supple red berries, soft edges, and polished tannins, and it remains refreshing. It is drinking wonderfully now and offers a tremendous value. JS91 James Suckling A medium-to full-bodied Chianti Classico with fresh strawberries, grapefruit, raspberries and a herbal undertone. This is juicy and transparent with a tight, tannic structure. Not austere, though. RP90 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate From a hot vintage, the 2020 Chianti Classico shows ripe cherry fruit that is prominent but not overdone. Fresh acidity gives balance to this entry-level red. The 2020 growing season saw frost in April, and yields were down by 30% as a result. The season became very hot and dry toward the end of summer, causing dehydration and the berries to shrink. Fortunately, the vines shut down at the highest temperatures as a defense mechanism, and the wine's color, freshness and fruit flavors were largely protected. This Sangiovese-based wine has tiny percentages of Pugnitello and Colorino in the blend. This is a job well done. Best After 2022.

Thank you for our first June R & D, Rich! A bit cloudy this morning, and we have a possibility of showers. A special thank you to Tina & Eva for taking the reins when we needed them! Welcome back Vanessa & Debbie! Safe travels Bruce & Sue! Just Zumba, Bindi walks, yard work and perhaps some pool time. My family is coming to continue my birthday celebration & the 15 year old will appreciate pool time. My pool is holding steady at 87.6! Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! @smitty34877 Terry thrilled to read that all went well for DH yesterday! Get well & stay well everyone! ******* Dakota Shy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019 This Napa Cab sounds lovely, though it is pricey. Critics and consumers enjoy it & it is easy to find! Numerous online distributors with prices starting at $101.98. Winemaker Notes #79 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 Powerful, lush and dense in the mouth revealing complex layers of dark fruit, chocolate and cassis that shift toward blackberry and mocha notes balanced by dried herbs and spice. Powerful but also beautifully bright and energetic. Impressive combination of concentration and purity. A dark, silky and seductive foreground layered over polished, elegant structure. Delicious now and sure to unfold new layers of flavor and complexity for decades. Blend: 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petite Verdot WS95 Wine Spectator Rock-solid, with plum, boysenberry and blackberry puree stitched seamlessly with light anise, apple wood and melted black licorice. Shows a suave, polished feel through the finish. Darn tasty. JS92 James Suckling Ripe blueberries, blackcurrants, chocolate, tobacco leaves and mocha on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, ripe tannins. Plush, flavorful finish. Drink after 2022. JD92 Jeb Dunnuck The base 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot that spent 20 months in 70% new French oak. It's certainly worth seeking out. Loads of red and black currants as well as tobacco and spicy oak emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a round, sexy mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's happily drink it any time over the coming 10-15 years.

Lorraine You have a gift for sharing your experiences. Thank you!

Wow some of these pictures are worthy candidates for “Canvas on Demand”. You have an artistic eye for pictures!

@Vict0riann Ann, please share with Pat! So happy he is feeling better! May his new year be filled with love, laughter, great health & a cruise or two!

Love your “code name” & welcome!

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! A bit cloudy this morning, but it may be just a marine layer that will burn off. Eva, thank you for taking care of us by tracking our happenings. @smitty34877 Terry, praying that all goes smoothly for DH today & may he have a quick recovery. @dfish Debbie, so happy to read that you believe you are 100%. Just be careful. Hope your paint sample project is successful. Who knew there were so many shades of the same color? A much needed manicure is in store for me this morning. I am so hard on my nails. Then 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! ************ Cloudy Bay 2019 Chardonnay, Marlborough, New Zealand I used the 2019 vintage because I found a few distributors who would ship to me - for a price. This sounds interesting, and I would enjoy a taste. A decent number of online distributors, some of whom ship worldwide, with prices starting at $25.99 & shipping. Reviewer’s notes "A subtle, restrained, yet zesty bouquet with aroma s of lemon, rose hip, and green melon with hints of cinnamon, and toasted sourdough barrel influence. Lemon zest flavours persist on the creamy-textured palate. A wine showing some elegance, poise, and balance, juxtaposed by youthful potency." - 93/100, New Zealand Wine Rater

Denise, I am so happy to see you enjoying yourself. Clearly the wildlife heard you were c9ming & had to show off.

@kazu Happy Birthday, Jacqui! I knew ours were close, but I did not know how close! May your new year be filled with laughter, love, great health, a cruise or two & dog kisses! Ooh & white wine! @Heartgrove Jack, thank you for letting us know!

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! A lovely start to this morning. Thank you all for your birthday wishes. I will be celebrating it off & on throughout the week with different groups of family & friends. You can be sure there will be 🍷 . Eva thank you for sharing our happenings. Hope you and your family have found peace. Debbie hope you continue to feel well. Can’t wait to see your newly painted house. Sandi, safe travels. Gym, Bindi walks, house cleaning and gathering with friends at our favorite wine bar. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Leonetti Cellar 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley, Washington State A lovely sounding Cab from Walla Walla. It has a hefty price, but all released vintages share the same superb/outstanding ratings. I used the 2020 vintage info, since that might be the most available. Find the best price near you, but the more recent vintages might need a bit more time. Numerous online distributors with prices starting at $119.00. I would love a taste. Winemaker Notes Very dark crimson to the rim of the glass. Explosive nose of baking spices, rising sourdough, honey, plum flower, and ripe plum fruit. Viscous and creamy on the palate, with notes of red currant and fresh herbs. The beautiful structure has full-bodied, fine-grained tannins and a long, luscious, and intense finish. Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc JS95 James Suckling Aromas of blackcurrants and dark cherries, together with walnuts, licorice and dried rose petals. It’s full and structured, with fine-grained tannins that are firm and slightly chewy. Juicy and mellow fruit hiding underneath. Creamy finish. Better after 2025.

Joy, are you psychic? I have not mentioned it on here. It so often falls on Memorial Day, I never want to detract from that. But I have started my new year.

Also consider a cranberry red door. My neighbors actually did their house in a deep green with a cranberry door and it is striking.

Thank you for today’s R &/D, Rich! An early post for me. Gathering for a service at my community clubhouse. We have several Gold Star families in my neighborhood. Then some of us will go eat breakfast. Preferably with wine in it… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Frescobaldi Nipozzano 2019 Chianti Rufina Riserva, Tuscany, Italy I used the 2019 vintage info since it seems to be available EVERYWHERE! What a nice change. You might find it cheaper locally, but there are numerous online distributors with prices starting at $13.99. Winemaker Notes Nipozzano 2019 has a vibrant ruby-red colour. The nose presents fruity hints of berries and black cherry, as well as elegant floral notes. The fresh quality provided by the balsamic notes is simply wonderful. These are followed by roasted and spiced notes of pepper, nutmeg and coffee. On the palate, the wine is rich, characterised by the elegant density of the grapes and the mineral freshness of the finish that make it balanced and persistent. The tannins are dense but not abrasive. The taste and smell correspond beautifully. JS92 James Suckling A fruity and bright Nipozzano with currant and cherry aromas and flavors. Juicy and vivid, with some fine tannins. Linear and bright. Lovely energy.

Had to share…

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich. It is 57 this morning. 😱 A first for me in my almost 8 years here in Florida. I won’t complain, but it is unusual. Eva, thinking of you and your family. Thank you for taking such great care of us. Debbie & Sandi, hope you two are doing better today. Just gym, Aldi, Bindi walks are on my list today. Walkers & joggers beware! Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Man O’ War Chardonnay Waiheke Island Valhalla 2020 Rich, I find it interesting that I did not have to use my decoder ring ONCE, while Sandi was posting the R & D. But this is the third time since you returned from your epic journey that I had to pull it out. 🤔 This vintage is quite elusive, unless you live in New Zealand. I found one distributor who would ship the 2019 vintage to me, but its reviews were not as favorable as this ones. New Zealanders - this vintage can be yours for $21.76. Cameron Douglas’ review A full-bodied, nutty, rich and powerful wine with a core of roasted stone fruit and toasty cashew-nut oak flavours, fine textured tannins and a brazil-nut butter texture. Baked peaches and lemon, nectarine skin and grapefruit. There’s vanilla and nut, warming alcohol and medium+ acidity. A wine that ticks all the boxes of weight and intensity, richness and power, flavour and deliciousness. A lovely drinking wine from day of purchase through 2026+. 95 Points Outstanding

Thank you. I guess I need to write more clearly. I like some off-dry Rieslings, but only know by tasting. I will watch for the 2021 vintage, though.

@StLouisCruisers Sandi Holy *$#@! Thank goodness you were not alone when it happened. You may need to start packing alternate meal options or snacks. Hope you feel better.

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! We have sun this morning! It is a cool - for us, 63 this morning. And the strong winds are still with us. Yesterday, Bindi and I encountered some very strong headwinds during our afternoon walks. And the winds were circling around like a hurricane when we were eating supper on the lanai last night. But they helped keep the temps down. Eva, hope yesterday was not too challenging. Thank you for sharing our happenings. Debbie, hope you are more comfortable today and you continue to recover quickly. Zumba, Bindi walks, yard work - boy does my Jasmine need trimming it seems to have grown three feet in the past week. I wish the deer would eat it. 😎 Temps and weather permitting, I will pop into the pool later. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Safe travels Denise T! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** 2020 Long Shadows Riesling Columbia Valley Poet’s Leap, Washington State I love when I get to use my decoder ring! I picked the 2020 vintage of this Riesling, since it should be easy to find. I also found a critic’s review of this vintage. It is available from a decent number of online distributors with prices starting at $17.57. I would love a taste, but confess sometimes “off-dry” is still a bit too sweet for me. But I only know by tasting. 93 Wine Enthusiast This shows intense detail and complexity in the aromas of lime zest, wet slate, white peach, flower and a whiff of botrytis. The palate is just a hair off-dry, balanced by electric acidity. It's a textbook picture of Washington Riesling at its best.

I am so grateful that she passed in loving arms. Difficult for you, but find comfort that she knew she was loved. ❤️

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! It is very cloudy already and is supposed to rain off & on this morning. The good thing is that this eliminates my need to water plants or add water to my pool. But my pool water was a cool 84.9 yesterday. I braved the waters and did some water exercises. I know Dixie @summer slope will appreciate my efforts. Eva hope that each passing day brings you wonderful memories that help sustain you. And as always, thank you for keeping up with us. Debbie, hope you feel a bit better today & your recovery goes smoothly. Today I hit the gym, take some Bindi walks and prep for tonight’s dinner with friends. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! @Nickelpenny Happy Retirement! Enjoy every day! Have a fun road trip. Get well & stay well everyone. ******** Smith & Sheth Syrah Hawkes Bay Cru Omahu 2020 Well at least this wine is in my budget, and at least one distributor will ship to me. Sadly that distributor is in New Zealand, so I am afraid to guess what the shipping cost would be. But the wine price is $36.63. 19.5/20, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews "Deep, full, ruby-red with a purple hue, even colour throughout. The nose is elegant and structured with broody aromas of dark fruit of boysenberry, blackberry and plum melded with gravels, dark herbs, lavender and savoury dusting. Full-bodied, blackberry, boysenberry and plum aromas show purity, entwined with broody dark herbs, lavender, gravelly minerals and iodine, and linger with cedar and clove. The fruit is pure and concentrated with weight and depth; unfolding layers of herbs, minerals and cedar add interest and complexity. Finely extracted, ripe, savoury tannin provides structure and vitality alongside a fine acid line. This rich, broody Syrah features dark fruit with multilayers of herbs, minerals and spices, supported by fine tannin extraction and an acid backbone that suits extended cellaring. Match with venison and lamb racks over the next 15+ years. Fruit from Gimblett Gravels, 100% destemmed, gentle extraction with one pump over daily, total skin time 15-21 days, aged 20 months on average in a combination of new French oak barriques 60% and a seasoned French oak foudre 40%. 13% alc. Vegan friendly."