cat shepard

That stinks. The good side is at least you were reachable & you could connect with the hotel. Hope the rest of your voyage is wonderful.

Go Bailey! Great news Dixie!

Welcome home, Laura! Hope you share some of your highlights with us!

Hope Bailey has a good checkup!

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! It is a lovely morning! We had a wild group of T-storms yesterday evening. I just made it home from HIIT and got Bindi out, when the first one hit. The rain came down so heavily, I could not see out my windows. The thunder was so close, Bindi stuck very close to me. And then the first one was done. We had about an hour before the next one hit. It was less severe and lasted much longer. We needed the rain. Eva, thank you for keeping track of us! Just Zumba, Bindi walks, chores and a visit to a neighbor’s for me today. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Long Shadows 2018 Sequel Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington State I used the 2018 vintage info, since it was the most recently released, and hopefully easiest to find. I would love a taste. It would have to be really special for me to step even a couple of dollars outside my budget. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $52.75 . Winemaker Notes An expressive wine showing wonderful varietal character. Dark and inky in color with layered aromas and flavors of wild blackberries, crushed rock, currants, charcuterie and oak spice. Sporting a rich mid-palate with appealing viscosity, the wine’s balanced acidity creates a vibrant impression that carries throughout a lovely, violet-imbued finish. JD97 Jeb Dunnuck Loads of black fruits, smoked game, liquid violets, and cracked pepper notes emerge from the 2018 Syrah Sequel, which has gorgeous Syrah wildness and gaminess, full-bodied richness, a pure, elegant, seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Count me impressed. You could safely put this up with the best Syrah coming out of Washington and California. JS94 James Suckling Blueberry, wild blackberry, violet, peppercorn and charcoal on the nose. It’s full-bodied with firm, integrated tannins. Rich, inky and fleshy on the palate. Concentrated. Long, flavorful finish.

Jacqui, thank you for getting it fixed before I posted! I admit to being surprised when my post ended up on page two!

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! It is a lovely morning in the neighborhood! And there is already an ocean breeze helping to keep the humidity at bay! Eva thank you for keeping up with all our happenings! I sometimes miss an event, and I can count on you to make sure I know about it. Yard work, Bindi walks, HIIT and pool time. I also think I need to apply Grub-ex to my front lawn, the voles are starting to tunnel. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! *********** Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Red Mountain, Washington State I used the 2018 vintage, since it might be easier to find. And it just squeaks in to my budget. Though I admit to rarely spending more than $30 for a bottle of wine. It has to be something unique and special. This wine has a decent number of online distributors with prices starting at $48.95. Winemaker Notes Aromas of black cherry, currants, and spice blend with subtle notes of dark chocolate and cola. Tannins are rich and refined on the finish, a characteristic of Red Mountain fruit, with flavors of berries, black fruit and cocoa. Blend: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc JD96 Jeb Dunnuck The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc) reveals a vivid purple/ruby color to go with a young, unevolved bouquet of pure cassis, spicy oak, chocolate, and tobacco. Full-bodied on the palate, it has remarkable tannins, a great mid-palate, and a rare mix of richness and elegance. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age to develop additional complexity, but it has incredible potential and is one head-turning Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. W&S94 Wine & Spirits Col Solare’s 2018 cabernet seems like a master class in taming the Red Mountain beast. It’s a big, powerful wine: Smelling it is like stepping up to an edifice, but what may impress you most is its savor and smoky complexity. If you can imagine grilled blueberries, that’s the idea. The flavors are heady, dark and concentrated, with a formidable oak component, and yet the wine feels like it’s on tiptoe, the intensity on a small scale. It needs years in the cellar. RP93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Deep ruby colored at its core, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon possesses all of the great expressions worthy of representing Col Solare. Dusty notions of sticky, resinous flowers, crème de cassis, redcurrants, dark plum skin, black raspberry and bitter dark chocolate sway with elements of juicy tobacco and luxurious baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, the wine offers impeccable balance with an elongated palate with flavors of blackberry skin, black cherry and dusty roses, fine-grained tannins and succulent acidity. The wine concludes with a long, complex finish that will have no problem lasting for 20 years. JS93 James Suckling A full-bodied red with aromas of black fruit, dried violets, bitter chocolate, cedar and slate. Concentrated and intense with firm, polished tannins. Firm and compact with mineral undertones on the finish. WS92 Wine Spectator A handsome red that's deeply structured and polished, with expressive black currant, stony mineral and savory black olive notes that gather tension toward medium-grained tannins.

May Fluff have a wonderful remaining time! My Winkie lived two years with her cancer, so you never know.

Gerry my high will be 84 today 🤔.

Welcome back Rich! Thank you for sharing your journey with us & even enhancing the Daily while on the cruise! Sandi, I have run out of words. So I am sending you a huge HUG of thanks! Eva, thank you for keeping track of all of us so well! It is a gorgeous morning here. Gym, yard work, Bindi walks, chores & a visit to the local Beachfront Winery to wrap up the day. I definitely need one of these bags…. Prayers for all who need our support. This includes fur family members, like Fluff! Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ************** Joseph Phelps Insignia, Napa Valley, California 2014 Well all released vintages share the same excellent - superb reviews & hefty price tag. The more recent vintages just have to hang out in your cellar longer. I would love a taste of this one, but with the lowest online price being $240.00, it is outside of my budget. Winemaker Notes The 2014 Insignia opens with expressive blackberry, cocoa powder, Bergamot and floral aromatics. Fresh and focused with concentrated black fruit, mocha, cardamom and Madagascar vanilla notes. Opulent and rich with supple tannin structure and balance. Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc JS97 James Suckling The blackberry, dark-chocolate and walnut aromas are persuasive. Full body, a dense and fruity center palate and beautiful depth and intensity. The tannin texture is exceptional. Great wine. Drink in 2020 and onwards. RP97 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Composed of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc coming from six vineyards and reared for 24 months in 100% new French oak, the 2014 Insignia Proprietary Red Wine has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of crushed blackberries and fresh blackcurrants with touches of cigar box, sandalwood, dried lavender, beef drippings and mocha plus a waft of wild thyme. Medium to full-bodied and incredibly elegant and fine in the mouth, the lively fruit is well structured by grainy tannins and seamless acid, finishing long and earthy. Rating: 97+ WE96 Wine Enthusiast This fine vintage of Insignia combines 87% Cabernet Sauvignon with 9% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. Soft, supple and seamless, it offers rich but balanced cassis and milk chocolate flavors, with supportive and complementary oak. It should do well in the cellar and will be best from 2024–2034. Cellar Selection WW96 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com Always a wine on my radar screen, Joseph Phelps has produced a tannic one for the ages. The 2014 vintage rocks with superb black currants that are complemented with its oak treatment. Give this wine time in the cellar.

@1ANGELCAT Adding mine to Jacqui’s for you & Fluff.

Roy and Sandi did you proud, Rich! They didn’t just post, they corrected and updated as needed. I really appreciate them keeping us going.

Thank you Sandi & Rich for today’s R & D! Another gorgeous morning here. A couple tiny new fawns have wobbled by. Their Moms are looking for some safe hiding places for the day. Eva, thank you for taking the time to track our happenings. Gym, Bindi walks, chores and some yard work. Ooh and pool time. My water is a perfect 87 degrees. Prayers for all who need our support. @Cruzin Terri Praying all goes well for DH’s MOHS. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Vigna Vecchia Brunello Di Montalcino D.O.C.G., San Paulo 2015 I would need to taste this wine before purchasing - if I could afford it. It sounds a bit “too much” for me - both taste and price. But I have been wrong before. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $239.00. Wine Enthusiast 94 pts Aromas of underbrush, camphor and tobacco form the nose along with a whiff of prune. Tightly knit and full-bodied, the palate features black-cherry jam, licorice, roasted coffee-bean and toasted notes alongside close-grained, velvety tannins. Drink 2022–2027.

Thank you Sandi & Rich for today’s R & D! A lovely morning. Once the humidity cleared out yesterday, the day was lovely. But the early morning was icky sticky. Eva, thank you for so diligently tracking our happenings! Just gym, Aldi, Bindi walks and deconstructing the pool party stuff. In honor of Mothers’ Day, I bring you…. This one fascinates me! Must be quite a hike for the babies to crawl up Mom’s shell! Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******* Lapostolle 2019 Cabernet Cuvee Alexandre, Colchagua Valley, Chile The good news is that every released vintage of this Cab shares the same great reviews and prices. I picked the 2019 vintage info, because you should still be able to find it & it should be ready to enjoy! Available from numerous online distributors with prices starting at $17.95. Winemaker Notes Intense, deep red color with purple edges. Expressive and intense nose with cassis and black currant aromas. Elegant palate with round and persistent tannins, with fresh cherry along with a light toast flavor. Pairs well with dishes as lamb shank with herbs or pork fillet with mustard and honey. JS94 James Suckling Very pretty currant, blackberry and floral aromas and flavors. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, silky tannins and a chewy finish. Give it two or three years to soften. RP92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate I was surprised by the varietal purity of the 2019 Cuvée Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon despite being blended with some 9% Carmenere, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, which probably adds complexity and more Bordeaux character to the bottled wine. But it also has Chilean character, balsamic and round, with good acidity and pungent flavors. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in French oak barrels for 16 months. It's quite classical.

Thank you for today’s R & D Sandi & Rich! Safe travels home, Rich! A gorgeous morning here. A quick pop in, before I head out to breakfast with friends. Then we are visiting a nearby state park for their monthly plant sale. I still have some gaps to fill. Wrapping up the day with a pool party at my place. Thank you for keeping track of us, Eva! Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Nino Franco Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut, Veneto, Italy This Prosecco sounds lovely and lively! Numerous distributors with prices starting at $18.99. Winemaker Notes #1 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wines of 2019 Made in the heart of the Prosecco DOCG zone, Nino Franco’s Rustico Prosecco Superiore is unquestionably the world’s finest value in a high-quality sparkling wine. Made from 100% Glera (traditionally called Prosecco), the non-vintage, light-bodied Rustico offers gorgeously elegant notes of pear, citrus and honeysuckle. The texture is creamy, soft and delicate with persistent effervescence. The word ‘Rustico’ dates back to an old winemaking tradition where Prosecco was made using a short second fermentation in the bottle and leaving the sediments in the wine. Although no longer the technique, the name ‘Rustico’ has remained as a reflection of quality and tradition. Pair with charcuterie, risotto, vegetables, seafood and delicate pasta dishes. WE94 Wine Enthusiast This lovely sparkler never disappoints. It's fragrant, with delicate scents of white spring flowers and white stone fruits while the dry, refreshing palate offers ripe pear, apple and white peach alongside a hint of fennel seed. An elegant perlage and fresh acidity provide the backdrop. JS92 James Suckling A very well-made Prosecco with a fresh and pure nose, showing peaches, flowers, melon and a mineral undertone. Creamy with lively froth, carrying the refreshing and green citrus and apple flavors through to the end. V91 Vinous The NV Prosecco Superiore Rustico wafts up with a remarkably fresh mix of sweet florals, melon and smoke. It washes across the palate with an elegant wave of ripe orchard fruits and sweet spices; a twang of sour citrus adds contrast. There's a slightly tropical feel to the finale, yet savory as well. The Rustico keeps the mouth watering, and hints of candied almonds slowly fade. Anyone looking to take their prosecco game to the next level without breaking the bank, look no further.

Karen that is just wonderful news! So much less stress for you!

I almost don’t need glasses! Very nice looking.

Welcome home Rich! Thank you Sandi & Rich for making today’s R & D happen! I can not believe your cruise is over, Rich! I do not need to tell you what an excellent stand-in Editor-in-Chief Sandi is! Eva, thank you for keeping our lists! Debbie & Dixie, I never thank you two enough. I know what you do is not always easy. I am honored to be in the same F & B department as you are. Just gym, Bindi walks, chores and deck furniture cleaning. We are all trying to figure out where all the pollen is coming from now. 🤔 Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Mount Edward Pinot Noir Central Otago 2020 Ah, yes - another Elise New Zealand wine. But there is hope. There are a couple North American distributors for the 2019 vintage. But at least one worldwide distributor for the 2020 vintage offering it for $27.39 + shipping. Distributor Notes The TED by Mount Edward might be one of the most under-rated Pinot Noirs we sell here at K&L. Made by Mount Edward, one of Central Otago’s top producers, the TED is their entry level Pinot Noir. Yet, there’s little that's entry level about this. Made from Mount Edward’s extraordinary organic and biodynamically farmed estate vineyards, there’s no mistaking this for anything other than Central Otago Pinot Noir. Fully destemmed with no New French Oak, this is dark fruited and brambly with black cherry fruit on a soft and seamless palate. A fantastic example of Central Otago Pinot Noir at a sharp price.

We post on a Daily thread. One of the Daily posters asked “ the regulars” if they liked the new, larger font she was trying out. The majority of the responses said they preferred the larger font. So now several regular posters on that thread are trying to see if we can set a “personal, default font size”. Otherwise every time we post, we need to remember to re-set the font size.

Sandi, I did give Rich credit for adding TDiH - while cruising no less. I agree the majority of responses prefer the larger font. Is that a 20? I will try to see if I can find a way to change a “personal default font”. I bet there is a tech wizard out there who can help. I promise to share anything I find out.

Thank you Sandi & Rich for today’s R&D! Sandi, I can not thank you enough for taking such great care of this thread! You didn’t just go through the motions, you added and corrected as needed. And you never missed a beat with your superb photo stories of the Daily port. And I need glasses to read, so any font works for me. Thank you for asking. But I will try to watch responses. Maybe I need to enlarge mine.🤔 Rich, I hope the last few days of this epic adventure go smoothly. You really made sure that Sandi had a great foundation & even took the time to add “This day in history”, while on your trip. Eva, thank you for sharing our cares & celebrations! It is currently sunny and warm here. I suspect “normal” Florida weather is coming back. Just Zumba, Bindi walks, chores and prep for an adult pool party at my place on Saturday - weather permitting. That should keep me busy. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! *********** Man O' War Waiheke Island Ironclad 2019 I actually get excited now, when I find a New Zealand wine that not only has a review or good info, but also has a distributor that ships to me! I bolded a word in the review because I could not find a meaning for it. I suspect it should read “savoury”, but did not want to change it - just in case. The California distributor who would ship to me would charge me $54.00 + shipping. This one would tempt me to re-examine my budget - love a “harmonizing” wine! Cameron Douglas review An intense and savouty bouquet with mineral and dried herb, dark red berries and cherry, a touch of mint and fine toasty spices of barrel. With some bottle age now in place the bouquet still suggest a young wine with primary red fruits then spices of oak at the core. On the palate - I like the influence of Cabernet France in the blend - it adds depth and complexity, a savoury layer, with the Merlot and other varieties adding plushness, energy and drive. Firm tannins and medium+ acid line, plenty of oak influence adding complexity and power. A lovely wine still ageing and harmonising. Best drinking from 2024 through 2030+. 93 Points Excellent

Sandi & Rich, thank you for today’s R & D! Rich, I can not believe your grand adventure is nearing its end. I appreciate the thoughts you shared on your thread. Eva, thank you for capturing our cares & celebrations. I only hope Vanessa can enjoy this much deserved vacation a bit more. It is another lovely morning here, but the humidity is creeping up slowly but surely. I have a mani-pedi this morning, then Bindi walks, HIIT and then dinner with one of the instructors at my former gym and her husband. It should be a fun reunion. @RedneckBob do you have a cousin Rich who lives on the East Coast of Florida? He has his own restaurant. He is hosting a Mother’s Day celebration! Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Chateau Ste. Michelle 2019 Chardonnay Ethos Reserve, Columbia Valley, Washington State I used the 2019 vintage, since it should still be fairly easy to order. I find it interesting that the vintner is the only distributor of this wine that ships to me. I am not sure if our Washington Dailyites can find it for less at home, but it might be worth looking for it. The tasting notes aren’t really descriptive. So it might be oaky. The vintner offers it online for $40.00. Winemaker fact sheet COLUMBIA VALLEY 2019 Ethos Reserve Chardonnay VINTAGE NOTES • Winter temperatures were average preceding the 2019 growing season, resulting in little to no vine damage, and bud break occurred normally. • The abundance of snow in February provided ample soil moisture. Warm spring temperatures created excellent conditions for canopy growth and early fruit development. • Summertime temperatures were mild with very few periods of excessive heat, followed by cooler fall temperatures, ideal for developing beautiful fruit flavors and aromas. VINEYARD NOTES • Columbia Valley vineyards lie in the rain shadow of the Cascade Mountains and receive just 6-8 inches of rainfall annually. • Warm, sunny days and cool evenings create ideal conditions for aroma and flavor development in the ripening grapes. • The grapes were sourced from 46% Lawrence Vineyards, 41% Canoe Ridge Estate and 13% Celilo Vineyard. WINEMAKING NOTES • The juice was fermented for three weeks in stainless steel. • Cool fermentation with very fruit forward yeasts were carefully monitored to preserve the crisp fruit characteristics. • Aged sur lie for 10 months in 45% new oak, 35% 1-year old oak and 20% neutral oak. TASTING NOTES “This wine is a labor of love that requires months of tasting hundreds of individual barrels of Chardonnay. Fermented with 100% natural, uninoculated yeast and aged 10 months in French oak, Ethos is crafted in an elegant style designed to entice your sense and captivate your spirit.” -

@kazu Jacqui, Ivan has a regal look about him. And of course he wants to keep you in his sight - his entire world has been shaken up! Your love will help him adjust very quickly, though. @dfish Debbie, your tulip pics remind me of the tulip gardens of the DC Tidal Basin. That park is just gorgeous, may you have many wonderful hikes there.

Thank you Sandi & Rich for today’s R & D! Another spectacular 63 degree morning here in my neck of the woods. Breakfast with Mom & this year’s fawn twins visiting. Thank you Eva for taking such good care of our Cares & Celebrations. I have some yard pick up, visits p & maintenance to schedule, Bindi walks and an afternoon gym class to fill my day. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Louis Roederer Cristal Brut, Champagne, France 2008 Every vintage of this champagne has superb reviews, and most have similar prices. So if you can afford a bottle, pick up one of whichever vintage you can find. I found a couple of online auction sites offering this vintage for $250 - $329, and several online distributors offering it for prices starting at $429.00. Winemaker notes Cristal is Louis Roederer’s flagship cuvée. It was created in 1876 and is composed of Grand Crus from the Montagne de Reims, the Marne Valley, and the Côte des Blancs. Cristal 2008 was bottle-aged for 8 years before being left to rest for at least 8 months after disgorging in order to attain perfect maturity. Amber hue with green and orange tints. Fine, even and lively sparkle. Complex and intense bouquet disclosing candied citrus, yellow fruit, Williams pear, pollen, and toasted almond. The delicately seductive bouquet shows intensity and well-honed precision. The wine is powerful, full yet tight, on entry to the palate. The 2008 vintage is undeniably well structured but in a particular way: the wine’s almost saline concentration has not been created by the sun but is derived from the dryness of the chalk soil in a particularly cool summer. The result is a smooth, almost liquorous, mouthfeel that coats the palate with a powerful yet soft texture. This gives way to an incredible finish, underpinned by freshness and an impression of absolute purity with a taut and very saline character. The Cristal 2008 is deep, intense and masterful. It offers the quintessential reflection of its chalk soils which lend it is velvety texture and delicate tension. This wine’s energy has been tamed by an unusually long period of bottle ageing: Cristal 2008 was in fact aged for 10 years before its release on the market. A first! Blend: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay JS100 James Suckling OMG. A masterpiece. A benchmark. Tight and structured, with fantastic precision and structure. Sharp line of acidity throughout, with fine and tight bubbles. Pineapple, lemon, white apricot, seashell, biscuit, blanched almond and a hint of chamomile. Vertical and mineral. Dosage 7g/L. Special release in magnum and aged two or three years longer on the lees than the normal bottling. I can’t go higher than this. JD100 Jeb Dunnuck The 2008 Cristal is a perfect wine, and Champagne simple does not get any better. This incredible wine offers a beautiful perfume of clean, crisp fruits, layers of complexity in its toasted spice and white flowers, and an utterly seamless, yet powerful style on the palate. This is a rich, decadent expression of Cristal yet it’s still crystalline and elegant, with no sensation of weight, and it just glides over the palate. Haut Couture at its finest and this majestic, profound, legendary Cristal can be drunk anytime over the coming 2-3 decades. WE98 Wine Enthusiast The latest incarnation of Roederer’s iconic Champagne, this comes from a great vintage and is balanced, moving towards maturity. White stone fruit are shot through by lemon acidity. A steely edge contrasts with the underlying richness. Drink now, although the wine will age for many years. RP98Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Disgorged in September 2017 with 7.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2008 Cristal was produced from 37 of the 45 parcels that are candidates for inclusion in this cuvée—some 40% of which were farmed organically back in 2008—and it's a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The finest young Cristal in decades, the wine wafts from the glass with a pure and vibrant bouquet of crisp orchard fruit, clear honey, warm brioche, citrus zest and white flowers. On the palate, it's full-bodied, intense and incisive, with superb concentration, racy acids and a long, searingly chalky finish. Pristinely balanced, there are some 500,000 bottles of this legend-in-the-making. D98 Decanter Cristal 2008 is on a roll to yet higher levels of exquisite purity and precision of fruit in a paradoxical balance of weightlessness and depth of flavour, permeated with minerals and a salinity reflecting the greatest terroirs of the Roederer estate. Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon believes that 2008 is his best effort to date, and it's easy to see why. It's from a cooler, maritime vintage that came right in the end, with one of the longest harvests ever, running from mid-September to early October. The colour is a stylish pale gold flecked with green. Aromas of white flowers are joined by a cleansing citrus vigour and richer tones of peach and mirabelle. The palate is still quiet, but a tender creaminnes shows through, and there's so much concentration to come if you drink if after 2021. The greatness of the wine owes everything to the influence of organic and biodynamic precepts in the field - and Lecaillon's sleepless perfectionism in the cellar towards finer fruit and a careful brake on too much yeasty expression. The acidity is vibrant but better integrated in the 2008 than in the 1996. Magnificent. Dosage 7.7g/l. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040 WW98 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com Louis Roederer Cristal is an icon amongst all wines made in the world. One mention of the word brings a lifetime of memory to many of us professionals in the wine business. 2008, by all measurements, is widely viewed as one of Champagne's best vintages. When I got the chance to taste this vintage, I was happy to say that the wine lives up to both its reputation and that of the acclaimed year. TASTING NOTES: This wine is riveting. Its aromas and flavors of ripe apple core, creamy accents, brisk minerality, excellent acidity make it one of the winery's best of all time. WS97 Wine Spectator This expresses a sense of focus and vibrancy to the overall structure, while the palate is all grace and charm. A fine, lacy texture carries a tapestry of ripe white cherry, toast point, blood orange zest, honey and ground ginger notes, with a minerally, mouthwatering finish. A stunning Champagne with a long future ahead of it.

Sandi & Rich thank you for bringing us today’s R & D! It is already Monday here in Florida! And just 59 here this morning, but we should see the return of the humidity this week. Eva, thank you for keeping up with all of our happenings. It is not an easy task. Gym, Bindi walks, chores etc. Maybe some pool time. Irises are one of my favorite flowers, though African Irises are the only ones that thrive in my area. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who celebrating! Go Ren & the Jaguars! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2021 Another spectacular New Zealand wine! But this one is NOT elusive. Wonderful reviews from consumers and critics. A decent number of online and brick & mortar distributors with prices starting at $21.98. Winemaker Notes #13 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 A delightful fusion of ripe summer fruit and delicate floral perfume – Golden Queen peaches and poached yellow pears; baked apples, mango and rock melon; mingled with apple blossom fragrance and a twist of lemon sherbet. Succulent and crisp, with a delicate fennel-like herbal quality and a dry, textural palate. Quintessentially Marlborough, but a deliciously subtle, ripe interpretation of the classic style. WS94 Wine Spectator This stunning white is aromatic, fresh and intense, with notes of lemon curd, yuzu, peach, ripe melon and honeysuckle that are effortless and mouthwatering, backed by lemongrass and candied ginger notes on the long, expressive finish. V93 Vinous The 2021 Sauvignon from Greywacke is classic yet classy. It is richly aromatic yet not flamboyant, with good purity of fruit: expect flavors of black currant and nectarine alongside subtle tropical fruit and citrus. Due to a naturally low-yielding season, it offers impressive concentration and a ripe, succulent midpalate. The fine, mouthwatering acidity provides length and line on the zesty, passionfruit-infused, lightly structured finish. Delightful in youth, but it will evolve and provide a different Sauvignon experience in five to seven years. JS93 James Suckling An aromatic nose of white flowers, peaches, sage and a hint of banana leaf. Medium-bodied with silky texture and a crisp finish. Refreshing and tasty, showing a lot of restraint and class. Drink or hold. Screw cap.