cat shepard

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy, thank you for our maps. Especially your alternative ones! Another lovely morning here. I hope this weather lasts for my niece’s visit, it really is perfect. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. Do you have the time for your surgery yet? I pray that the last few days fly by for you. Gym, Bindi walks, manicure, indoor & outdoor chores. I am hoping this is the last layer of pollen on the outdoor furniture this year. Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Bruno sending hugs. Terry, prayers for Tana, her son, you & your families. Cheers to all who are celebrating. May we each find a reason to smile today. ************ Powell & Son Barossa Rhone Blend This Rhône red (you were right, Sandi) blend sounds perfect for me. Hahn GSM is my current favorite, but I am always checking out the competition. It has a different “M” grape than the traditional Rhône blend, so it will be interesting. A decent number of distributors with prices starting at $24.99. Vintner’s notes The Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Mataro combines all three of the great Rhone red varieties, harmonising the unique attributes of each variety into a complete wine. The blend is predominantly Grenache (approximately two thirds – vintage dependent) from mature Barossa Valley Grenache bush vines, with Shiraz and Mataro making up the balance. The parcels are matured for 15 months in 2,300 litre French oak foudres prior to blending and bottling. As the dominant component, Grenache offers powerful aromas of red fruits, kirsch and black cherries, complemented by mincemeat, leather, game and heavy spices from the Shiraz and Mataro influences. “The Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Mataro is intense in its perfumed aromas of cherry liqueur and blackberry compote, with notes of spice and anise. The palate is voluptuous and supple, with the Grenache component shining through. Flavours of dark fruits predominate with velvety tannins providing a backbone to carry the flavours through to the finish.”

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy, thank you for our maps. It is another spectacular morning here. 57 with the promise high 70s and no humidity. I am going to be so spoiled. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. Consider the Dailyites your cheering section for next Monday. If we could just wish you better. Gym, Bindi walks, lots of chores. My niece and her daughters are coming Saturday for a few days. My pool water temp is perfect for them to enjoy. She will find her Mom so much improved over her last visit. I see a trip to the beach in my future. Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Hugs Bruno. Terry, praying for Tana, her son, you and your families. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Sandi, thrilled to read that all went well with Linda’s surgery. May her road to recovery not be too difficult. Lenda, wonderful news about Steve’s shunt. You two have had quite a journey. May we each find a reason to smile today! ******* La Rioja Alta Viña Alberdi Reserva 2019 I see that we are still in the Rioja section of our wine “aisle”. I used the 2019 vintage info, since it should still be easy to find and 92 was the lowest of five critic's ratings. It sounds lovely. I am just starting to have some room in my “cellar”, so I need to start a new list. Online prices start at $17.99. Vintner’s notes Rated Excellent, the weather conditions during the growing cycle were optimal, producing very healthy grapes in the vineyards. The bunches, loose and well aerated, ripened exceptionally well. This allowed us to wait for the optimum time to harvest each of the plots selected for this particular wine. As a result, the wines stand out for their balance, attractive freshness and round, silky tannins, particularly suitable for ageing and with a decidedly Atlantic character, typical of this part of Rioja. 100% Tempranillo from Mayorita, El Bardal and El Rebollar in Rodezno, and Alto del Rey in Labastida. These vineyards are situated at 500-600 metres above sea level and the vines were planted on clay-limestone soils more than 40 years ago. The harvest is done by hand, selecting the bunches in the vineyard. The grapes are placed in boxes and taken to the winery in refrigerated transport to preserve their integrity. After destemming and crushing, the grapes were placed in tanks where alcoholic and malolactic fermentation took place naturally. The wine was aged for two years in American oak barrels made by our in-house coopers —new ones in the first year and four-year-old barrels for the second year. We carried out four rackings in the traditional way, from barrel to barrel, separating by candlelight the sediment that formed during the ageing process. Bottled in May 2022. Bright, deep ruby colour with intense dark cherry hues on the rim of the glass. It stands out for its intense ripe red fruit aromas like strawberries, raspberries and redcurrants complemented by pleasantly sweet spicy notes of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. The palate is round, with lively freshness at the start and sweet, supple tannins, leading to a long, fruity and balsamic finish, so characteristic of Viña Alberdi. Viña Alberdi is characterised by a notable food-pairing versatility. It is an ideal companion to appetizers, snacks and barbecues, perfect with rice, pastas and stews, and great with lightly-grilled meat and fish.

@Mr. Boston My sympathies on Lauren’s passing. May wonderful memories and knowing she is now pain help you. @kochleffel Paul are you trying to compete with Jacqui? Bubble wrap it is.

Dixie I must say how colorful some of your recent descriptions are. Almost poetic. Ann

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! You have done an amazing job standing in for Rich while he is on another epic journey. Roy, thank you for our maps! It was 59 here, when Bindi & I headed out the door. Looks like another beauty. Vanessa thank you for keeping up with our happenings. I appreciate how dedicated you are - in spite of your pain. I am not sure I could do that. Praying for relief. I hope the last week flies by for you. Gym, Bindi walks, chores - boy do I need to wash my car. I hope our last pollen streak has ended. At the risk of scaring off our new folk…. Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Terry, keeping you, Tana and the families at the top of my list. Boston Strong!💪🏻 Cheers to all who are celebrating. @kochleffel Paul, congratulations on the excellent feedback from your professor. May we each find a reason to smile today. ************ Montebuena Rioja Another lovely Rioja. I appreciate how the vintner is using technology to help measure the health of the vines, but still harvests by hand. Widely available with online prices starting at $12.99. Distributor notes Although the winemaking traditions around the ancient Rioja Alavesa village of Labastida go back to at least the 9th century, the cooperative which produces this wine seeks to meld traditional techniques with modern technology. A pioneering system of GPS-linked weather stations monitors vineyard health, and the 4-wheeler used as a vineyard transport is even equiped with sensors to measure the vigor of the leaves on the vines. When it comes time to harvest the Tempranillo grapes for the Montebuena Cuvee KPF, however, that work is all done by hand. Once fermentation is complete the wine ages in new French oak for 3-4 months prior to release. Rich red fruit flavors of cherry and raspberry combine with notes of leather and sandalwood, supported by a smooth vanilla finish. Great with paella & grilled vegetables.

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy, thank you for our maps! It is another exquisite morning. I will miss this weather, when Summer arrives. We really are having an extended Spring this year! It actually got a bit cool on the lanai last evening. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with all of us. I know if I miss a post, I can find out important info - thanks to you. Praying for the 22nd to bring you relief. Gym, Aldi, Bindi walks, a visit with my Sister & Brayden. Maybe some chores. Praying for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Terry, praying for Tana, the teenager, you and your families. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today. *********** Morandé 2019 Morandé Adventure Tirazis Syrah (Casablanca Valley) This red sounds interesting, once my decoder ring broke the code! A bit elusive, but I found a couple of places that sold it online. Prices start at $23.61. Wine Enthusiast- 91 This structured but elegant Syrah is grown in a maritime-influenced climate. The nose is subtle, with light notes of salt, cranberry and black olive. The flavor intensity of spices and herbs match that of the fruit on the vigorous palate. Cherries and mulberries and a whisper of dark chocolate and bay leaf are backed by fine tannins and excellent acidity.

No such thing! Welcome!

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy thank you for our maps. I confess to really enjoy your alternate maps, even though they must be so much work for you. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with our happenings. I am also counting down the days until the 22nd. Praying that this surgery eliminates the pain - forever. I have friends coming for dinner this evening, so I have lots of chores and preps to add to my Bindi walks. It is going to be another spectacular day here! Hope this year’s fawns amble through for us to enjoy. Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. @atexsix Bruno, I am so sorry to read that your Dad passed. Don’t ever doubt for a minute that you didn’t do everything possible for him. ❤️ @Cruzin Terri Terri, I was so sad to read about Anita’s passing. Doubly difficult for you since you learned about it by reading her obituary. Terry, praying for Tana, her son, you, and your entire families. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today. *********** Dossier 2021 Flagship Index Red (Columbia Valley (WA)) This red blend is a bit elusive, but if you search you can find a much more reasonable price than the one Wine Enthusiast lists for this Bordeaux style red blend. The best online price I found was $60.00. Critic’s notes The ‘Flagship Index’ is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with smaller portions Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc that was stored in 65% new French oak for 21 months before bottle. The nose is incredibly complex with anise and black currant notes alongside milk chocolate notes. The palate is soft and ripe with silky tannins that combine with the gorgeous core of black forest cake, coffee grounds, graphite and sandalwood notes. Powerful and showing good verve, this beauty will cellar well for another twenty years to come. Drink 2024-2040- 95

Lambie We have a very strict and complicated protocol - Be Friendly! 😎 That is it. You are now considered a Pro! Ann

I grew up in Massachusetts, Dixie, and a trip up Mt. Washington was an annual trek. There were some wild days up there.

Wow, Bruce. Each dish is a work of art! And looks delicious. I appreciate you taking the time to share all your pictures. Ann

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy, thank you for today’s maps! Another lovely morning here, after a whopper of a T-storm yesterday afternoon. Back in the 50s this morning. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with all of us, in spite of what you are dealing with. Glad to read that your BFF’s MOHS surgery went well. Gym, Bindi walks, patio cleaning, and chores will keep me busy today. Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Terry, keeping Tana, her son, you & your families in my prayers. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Safe travels Charlene! May we each find a reason to smile today. ********* Quinta da Pacheca 2021 Reserva Vinhas Velhas Red (Douro) This red blend from Portugal sounds delicious. A decent number of distributors with online prices starting at $16.47. Winemaker’s notes VITICULTURAL YEAR The 2014 viticultural year was char- acterized for being an atypical year in terms of climate. It was highlighted by the occurrence of large periods of rain, especially in January, February, July and September, and great climatic instabili- ty in the summer period with thunder- storms occurring during the months of June and July. As a consequence of the evolution of climatic conditions, the grape maturation controls carried out until the beginning of September indi- cated a progression of about two weeks in vine phenology with grapes showing good levels of sugar, acidity and phe- nolic compounds that led to the early starting of the harvest. Quinta da Pacheca started harvesting on September 3rd. In mid-September a new period of intense rain began and lasted until October. However, as the harvest started earlier most of Quinta’s vineyards had already been harvested. VINEYARDS This wine is obtained from grapes of the oldest vineyards in Quinta da Pacheca, installed in the mid 50’s. At that time, the vines were planted randomly in the plots and the grape varieties were equally naturally mixed. We still try to maintain this tradition in these old vines, as they result in wines of good ar- omatic complexity and structure. VINIFICATION After careful selection by their best state, the grapes were harvested for chests of 25 kg and sent to the wine- making center where they were fully de-stemmed. Fermentation occurred during 9 days in the traditional 7-ton granitic stone tanks with foot stepping and smooth reassembles for blanket leaching and extraction of phenolic and aromatic compounds. At the end of the alcoholic fermentation the wine was transferred into new and 2nd year French oak barrels where malolactic fermentation occurred and aged for about 18 months. TASTING NOTES Pacheca Vinhas Velhas reveals good aromatic intensity, very complex with elegant notes of chocolate and black fruit, such as blueberry and blackberry. It’s very balanced in the mouth with pres- ent tannins and well-integrated wood,long and persistent finish. BARREL AGING 18 months in new and 2nd year French oak barrels GRAPE VARIETIES Field blend Wine Enthusiast 91

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui. Roy, thank you for our maps. Very windy this morning and the clouds are racing by. T-storm predicted for this afternoon. Vanessa, thank you for sharing our happenings. Praying that your upcoming surgery gives you permanent pain relief. Gym, Bindi walks, chores & yard work - if the wind dies down. If not, more decluttering inside. Prayers for all who need our support. Those who are suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Terry, praying for Tana, her son, you and your families. Cheers to all who are celebrating. May we each find a reason to smile today! *********** Carpano-Punt-E-Mes Sweet vermouth perfect for mixed drinks. I probably would pass this as a sipping wine. Not really a fan of sweet wines. Widely available with prices starting at $20.99. Winemaker’s notes Punt e Mes has a golden orange color with topaz tones, herby aromas and dark red, black dahlia with vermilion shades. The initial taste is one of sweetness, characterised by an intriguing accent of orange. This is followed by the characteristically bitter taste of the quina and ends on a sweet note.

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy, thank you for our maps! Another lovely morning & it was 65 here before the sun rose this morning. Rain is in our forecast for later today or tomorrow- but for now it is perfect. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with all of us. Praying. Today will be a “normal” Wednesday. I will never take them for granted again. Bindi walks, chores, HIIT and more cleaning out stuff. I am on another “declutter” kick. My neighbor put her house on the market 😞, and I am seeing her cleaning out decades of stuff. When I look at my place with a critical eye - I can get rid of more stuff. BTW, anyone interested in buying a great house in a super Northeast Central Florida neighborhood? I would be your neighbor & Welcome Committee!😎 Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Terry, praying for Tana, her son, you and your families. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Safe travels Gerry & Maurice! May we each find a reason to smile today! ******** King Estate Winery 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir I know I mentioned before how I have yet to meet a King Estates wine that I didn’t really enjoy. So I will have to try this rosé. Easy to find, and reasonably priced. Online prices start at $16.99. Winemakers’ notes Say Rosé and visions of sipping on sun-splashed patios pop to mind. But as more and more people are finding, the wine is versatile and delicious year round. Rosé made from Pinot Noir grapes is most popular in the U.S. so it’s only natural that our take on Rosé starts with the fruit that put Oregon on the map. TASTING NOTES Color is pale rose with a nose of rose petal, bing cherry, strawberry, melon, lime zest and passion fruit. The entry is well balanced, showing bright red fruit like fresh strawberry, cherry and raspberry along with melon, peach skin, crushed rock and lime zest. Textured richness on the mid-palate is accented by fresh acidity and balanced weight, leading to an elegant finish. WINEMAKING PROCESS The fruit was whole cluster pressed and left to sit on its skins just long enough to release the juice and develop the pink color before moving to a temperature-controlled stainless-steel tank for fermentation. The wine was aged in stainless steel. VINTAGE NOTES A warm and dry spring continued through May. First signs of bloom appeared in early June, ahead of normal. As fruit set was occurring later in June, temperatures cooled and up to two and a half inches of rain fell. While rain during bloom can lead to lighter yields, the precipitation was critically important to alleviating serious drought stress. The grapes weathered a couple of summer heat spikes with no damage. On King Estate, harvest began on Sept. 9 and ended on Oct. 9. A couple of rain systems in September were short-lived and typical of an Oregon harvest. Berries were slightly smaller and overall fruit quality was outstanding. Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir Vineyards: 40% King Estate,

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui. Roy thank you for our maps. You didn’t seem to be too concerned about what the cardiologist told you yesterday. Did I misinterpret what you said? It is another exquisite morning here. The most delicate colors painted the horizon as Bindi and I took our morning walks today. She loves to walk when it is light. I suspect her eyes may not be as sharp as they used to be. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. I am praying. Hard. I pray one year from now we will all look back and say “Look at Vanessa go & no pain!” Today is a busy, but fun busy day. First my Mat Class - think elements of yoga and Pilates combined to strengthen the core & improve balance. Then a reunion lunch with the gang from the classes at my former gym. Bindi walks spread throughout the day. Wrapped up by a glass or two at my favorite wine bar. Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Terry, praying for Tana, her son, you, and your entire family. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Happy Birthday, Karen! @luvteaching Happy Anniversary Gerry & Maurice! @ger_77 May we each find a reason to smile today! ********** 2020 Riesling, Westhofener Riesling, Katharina Wechsler, Rheinhessen This vintage could not be found. So I cheated. I used the 2020 info. Still elusive, but at least I found a few sites that sold it. Now- if you live in or are visiting Germany, you are in luck! Online prices start at $29.99. Critic, James Suckling wrote about the 2020 vintage… Apart from a few handful of star producers, German wine prices remain moderate and bargains are sometimes startling. That’s particularly the case where a wine tastes as if it actually belongs in the next category above it, like Our Wine Choice this week. The Katharina Wechsler Riesling Rheinhessen Trocken 2022 is a so-called “estate riesling,” meaning an entry-level wine from a leading producer. The wines of this humble category are often rather fruity and well-balanced with a certain amount of depth but lack serious character. That is not the case with this miniature masterpiece from the limestone terroirs of the town of Westhofen in the Wonnegau sub-region of Rheinhessen. Instead, it has the kind of concentration and structure we associate with successful village wines. In Germany’s very heterogeneous 2022 vintage, there are some single-vineyard dry rieslings that don’t match the level of this wine, yet it only costs the equivalent of about $12 to $13 locally. Katharina Wechsler’s story deserves to be told, not just because it’s a good story but also because it says a lot about her region. Back in 2009 she was an editorial assistant at a major TV station in Berlin when she got a telephone call from her mother saying that the family farm (it was then a mix of wine and other crops) would be closed down because there was nobody to take it over. Wechsler was torn between the excitement of Berlin and her roots, but she came back home to Westhofen. For two years she immersed herself in grape-growing and winemaking, and also worked in nearby Florsheim-Dalsheim for Klaus Peter Keller of Weingut Keller, who once described her to me as “one of the best students I ever had.” Back at the turn of the last century, nearly all the numerous talented young winemakers in Rheinhessen felt more or less like outsiders because their region had been the most important producer of the cheap and sweet Liebfraumilch, which statistically dominated Germany’s wine exports. They not only wanted out of this corner, they wanted to move in the direction of distinctive and expressive dry wines. The Katharina Wechsler Riesling Rheinhessen Trocken 2022: an "estate riesling" that punches above its weight. Katharina Wechsler in her rarities cellar. Eventually, they formed a young producers’ network called Message in a Bottle (yes, named after The Police song) and they very freely shared experiences and ideas of all kinds. The result was a quantum leap in quality. Around the time Wechsler was striking out on her own, a journalist asked me to describe the new Rheinhessen. I answered, “It’s the Dream Factory of dry wines.” I still get asked about those words today! Wechsler is one of the most prominent examples of the second wave of young winemakers in the region who benefited from the achievements of the first wave (think Klaus Peter Keller, Philipp Wittmann and Oliver Spanier). But not all of those in the second wave continued developing in the way that Wechsler did. She recently converted her 17 hectares of vineyards to organic viticulture, and with her new partner, Manuel Maier (they were recently married), she completely revamped the winery’s marketing. Also, what looked like a tentative stab at unfiltered wines has become an impressive range of products called Cloudy by Nature. There are no better natural wines made in Germany! Some might say this dry riesling from 2022 is conventional in comparison, but within its category it is pretty radical and an ideal introduction to the German dry wine Dream Factory.

Nancy, this vineyard is in Washington. But you might also find it with wines from Chile or Bordeaux.

Ewww. Just ewww, Dixie! 😱

Thank you for today’s FR&D, Jacqui! Roy thank you for our maps! Another cool start to what promises to be another exquisite day. These are the days that make Florida special. Vanessa thank you for keeping our lists so diligently. Praying that you get permanent pain relief from your upcoming surgery. My first “normal” Monday since February 12th! 😎 Gym, laundry, patio deck cleaning and Bindi walks. I want to spend as much time outside as possible, because I know Summer is coming. In honor of U.S. tax season…. Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Happy Anniversary @erewhon and @Overhead Fred & Mitzi! May we each find a reason to smile today. ************ Liberty Lake Wine Cellars 2020 Heart of the Hill Vineyard Carménère This wine sounds lovely, though a bit pricey. This vintage presented some challenges to the Western wineries because of the wildfires and the pandemic. A bit elusive. I found a few online distributors with prices starting at $44.97. 93 Wine Enthusiast This wine's aromas of dark raspberry, cinnamon, straw and orange-flavored Starburst candy are so enchanting, it was difficult to move on to actual sipping. Then I reveled in the wine's fresh, brisk texture, lighter body, restrained alcohol and flavors like raspberry, lemon and a hint of cranberry.

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

Thank you for today’s FR&D, Jacqui! Roy, thank you for our maps! Well, we are back in the forties this morning. I will say these temps make for exquisite days. It has been super windy for our golfers and boaters, though. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. Praying that the 22nd comes fast & gives you permanent relief. Gym, Aldi, Bindi walks, a check in with my Sister & Brayden, some patio chores. Another layer of pollen to clean off. Prayers for all who need them. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Terry, praying for Tana, her son, you & your entire family. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! ********* Bota Box Nighthawk Buttery Chardonnay Yes Dailyites, we have another wine in the box! Easy to find, reasonably priced and the majority of consumers believe it is ver good. Online prices start at $16.99. Winemaker’s notes Our distinctive Nighthawk Buttery Chardonnay delivers delicious toasted oak with flickering notes of rich butterscotch and luscious honey, paired with irresistibly creamy texture and a golden hue in the glass. Made to be sipped, savored and shared wherever your next adventure takes you. PAIRS WITH This distinctive wine is the perfect complement to chilled shrimp cocktail or grilled tarragon chicken. WINE DETAILS Alcohol: 14.5%

Thank you for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy, hope all went well yesterday. Thank you for our maps! It was a lovely 55 this morning. Bindi and I enjoyed a lovely walk and the sky treated us to quite a show! Fawn season has officially arrived. Last night this year’s twins wandered through. Not the best picture, but…. (just scroll through this quickly @kazu) Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with all of us. We are a busy group. Praying that the 22nd brings you much needed relief. An almost normal day! Bindi walks, dinner with friends and my new w/d is installed. They were delivered last Saturday, but when the team discovered my cold water shut off valve was broken, they could not install the washer until a plumber fixed it. I might get out in the yard, lots to do there. This one is dedicated to my fellow Floridians… or those who have travelled it during rush hour. Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Terry, praying for Tana, her son, you and your entire family. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! ******** Apothic Dark 2021 I used the 2021 vintage info, since that seemed the easiest to find. Readily available & priced to try. If you don’t like it - use it for cooking. Online prices start at $8.77. Winemaker’s notes Tasting notes Dark Fruits, Dark Chocolate, Coffee Bold, daring and velvety smooth, our 2021 Apothic Dark offers an unforgettable taste of the darkest of fruits. Notes of blueberry, blackberry and plum are accented by dark chocolate and spice on the rich, plush palate. Hints of coffee and mocha help round out the wine’s full body and long, lingering finish. Viticulture Notes We selected the majority of the grapes for Apothic Dark from Lodi in California’s Delta region. California’s 2021 growing season was cool and mild, with a heat spell in August that resulted in an earlier than average harvest. Wines from this vintage showcase vibrant acidity and concentrated flavors. Winemaking Notes We harvested a majority of the grapes for the Apothic Dark at night in cool temperatures to preserve the character of the fruit, then we fermented the varieties between 88° to 90°F. The blend, primarily Petite Sirah and Teroldego with other dark-skinned varieties in support, was crafted to showcase a silky mouthfeel with hints of d

Thanks your for today’s FR & D, Jacqui! Roy, thank you for our maps. I could not believe it was 49 this morning! But Bindi and I had a great morning walk in spite of the chill. The early Dawn sky was lovely. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with all of us! Praying that you get permanent relief for the pain. This is my first “normal” Friday since Friday, February 16th. I hope I didn’t jinx myself. Gym, Bindi walks, chores. Picking out wine for dinner at a friend’s tomorrow. Maybe eating supper outside! Prayers for all who need our support. Those suffering from pain, debilitating conditions, the loss of a loved one, trauma. The caregivers. Terry, praying for Tana, her son, you and your entire family as you travel the journey together. Cheers to all who are celebrating! May we each find a reason to smile today! ********** 2020 Riesling, Bischöfliche DOM Off-Dry, Bischöfliche Weingüter Trier, Mosel I was afraid my decoder ring would be a bit rusty, but it worked just fine. I often find Rieslings a bit too sweet, but I would love to taste this one. A bit elusive, but there are a few online distributors with prices starting at $16.49. Distributor notes Bischöfliche Weinguter Trier cultivates approximately 95 hectares of vineyard, among them some of the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer's most legendary sites. Almost 90% of production is Riesling, with grapes crushed and pressed at Scharzhof on the Saar and Duisburger Hoffman on the Ruwer. Wines are then aged in either traditional fuder or stainless steel in their vast vaulted cellars in the heart of Trier, which date back to Roman times. The grapes originate from the steep and slatey soils of the Mosel, Saar and Ruwer. After careful picking and selection, the grapes are fermented in 1000L oak Fuder and stainless steel tanks before blending. The wine rests for a few months on its fine lees to add complexity. Modern and appealing dry German Riesling. Delicately floral with citrus and light flinty aromas. The palate is pure with green apple, refreshing citrus acidity, stony minerality and good length. Serve with fish, asparagus; salads with parma ham and olives.

@NextOne Happy Birthday, Edi! May your new year be filled with laughter, love, great health & a cruise or two!

Thanks Debbie! That eye! If you say it is better, I believe you!

Maureen, thank you. My Sister is doing well. Her second week home and the PT has her walking inside the house using a cane. She is still a bit unsteady on her feet. BUT she is challenging herself to do more. And Brayden is a tough coach. 😎