cat shepard

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! Another lovely morning here! We did not have one drop of rain yesterday! 🥳 But the humidity was thick enough to make me wish for some. Happily, we had wonderful ocean breezes on the coast! Vanessa, thank you for compiling and sharing our happenings! Zumba, Bindi walks, chores & 🤞🏻 some pool time just might keep me busy. I believe I shared these last year, too - but…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******* King Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Gris 2021 Imagine, if you will, a morning where you open the R & D and discover not only is there NO wine du jour 😱, but the year’s wine list sent to me in December by the Editor-in-Chief stops at May! 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱 The horror! Luckily there is so much wine to discover & share. My latest discovery is this lovely Pinot Gris from King Estate. I do not usually gravitate towards Pinot Gris, but this one is an exception. Truthfully, I am a fan of every one of their wines I tried. Consumers and at least a few critics agree with me. it is easy to find online and in stores with online prices starting at $16.94. Winemaker Notes Classic hallmarks of Pinot Gris appear on the nose with aromas of ripe pear, lime zest, peach, honeysuckle and lemon blossom. The wine starts off nice and round on the palate with ripe fruit flavors of Asian pear, key lime and nectarine accompanied by jasmine and damp slate. The entrance is followed by bright acidity that carries through to a fresh, balanced and lingering finish. W&S90 Wine & Spirits Scents of mango and peach hint at a rich wine, but this is youthful and firm on the palate, with plenty of brisk acidity. It needs a few months to settle into itself.

Ollie is adorable, Joy!

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! Another lovely morning here. We had lots more rain yesterday, but at least the evening T-storm was not as wild as Monday’s. The local herd was out for breakfast this morning. I stopped counting at 15 deer. It is nice to see the bucks out with their families. Vanessa congrats on the good test results! Thank you for sharing our happenings. Haircut, pedicure, Bindi walks & chores will keep me busy. If I am lucky a visit to my local wine bar with friends. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Mount Edward Pinot Noir Central Otago Morrison Vineyard 2019 Well this New Zealand wine has a couple of distributors that will ship worldwide and has rave reviews from consumers and critics. Perhaps the word will start getting out, and it will become more available. The best price I found online was $44.55 + shipping. Winemaker’s notes Morrison Vineyard, so complex and rewarding. Always with beautiful upfront aromatics, high tones with red to darker fruits and a delicate yet persistent structure. In 2019 we see herbal and savoury aromatics intertwined with the darker fruits, a lovely sinewy texture carried by long and fine tannins. Morrison is located in the Pisa sub region and will without question reward cellaring.

Had to share this great pic of last night’s storm - taken by someone much braver than I am. 😎

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! Rich, I hope you are enjoyed your time off. The Saharan dust created a very colorful sunrise this morning - after a horrific T-storm last night. One lightning flash was so close the thunder’s boom was loud enough to make my neighbor check to see if I was ok and many of us went out after it passed to see if anything close by was hit. Vanessa thank you for keeping our cares & celebrations lists for us! It is quite the task. Bindi walks, mat class, chores and 🤞🏻 pool time will keep me busy. I need to get to the store and pick up some birthday cards that are coming up. Prayers for all who need our support. Thinking of you @summer slope. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Arista Pinot Noir Russian River Valley UV-Lucky Well Vineyard 2019 This very informative fact sheet from the vintner is the closest I will get to this Pinot Noir. It sounds lovely, but it is way outside of my budget. Available from a decent number of online distributors with prices starting at $84.99. Winemakers notes Vineyard Profile The Lucky Well vineyard sits atop a knoll on the western edge of the Sebastopol hills outside of the towns of Graton and Sebastopol. The area is home to some of the most highly acclaimed Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards in the Russian River Valley due in large part to the perfect confluence of soil, climate, and elevation. The vineyard is in an area often referred to as the “banana belt” of the Russian River Valley because, though on the very coolest, foggiest, and western edge of the appellation, it sits on a knoll that rises above the fog line. This feature exposes the fruit to more gentle sunlight, which allows very slow and even ripening across the entire growing season. Our 4-acre section was planted in 2008 to Pommard, Swan, and Calera clones of Pinot Noir. Clones: Heritage Selections of Calera and Swan Soil: Goldridge Vinification Cold grapes arrive at the winery early in the morning after having been picked at night. The clusters are sorted by hand and the majority are destemmed into small, open-top fermenters. In the 2019 vintage, 10-20% whole cluster is used during fermentation. The juice is allowed to warm gradually and naturally in the fermenter. Given that all of the wines are made with native yeasts and are not inoculated, this cold-soak period can vary between 5-8 days depending on how long it takes these native populations to build up and begin fermentation. Pinot Noir fermentations are kept below 85 degrees. The wines always go through malolactic fermentation. The wines then spend the next 11 months in barrel, and the wine is racked clean just prior to bottling. Aging: 11 months in barrel Filtration: Unfiltered Fining: Unfined Lucky Well Vineyard is perched at the very top of Stoetz Ridge, the land mass that divides the true Sonoma Coast from the Russian River Valley. As such, the wine made from this site always expresses qualities from both regions: the high-toned wild berry fruit and earthiness of the Coast, and the power, richness, and complexity of the Russian River Valley. This 2019 edition may be the most seamlessly balanced Lucky Well in our history with the vineyard, with perfect acidity and just the right tannin profile to carry the ultra-precise, medium weight finish. Sapid blue and red fruits mingle with black plum and cola on the palate. Aromas of dried roses and lavender speak to the elegant nature of the vintage. Tightly wound at the moment, the 2019 Lucky Well Vineyard Pinot Noir should age gracefully for a decade or more. 93 Wine Spectator 94 James Suckling

Thank you for today’s R & D, Sandi - for Rich! A gorgeous start to the day after an afternoon & evening of wild storms that dumped a lot of rain on us. More washouts on our coastal road. Vanessa thank you for keeping up with us! Gym, Bindi walks chores and weather permitting - pool time. 🤞🏻 Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! @Crazy For Cats Jake & Juan - Happy Anniversary! Here’s 🥂 to many more! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Nalle Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 2019 This Sonoma wine is available from several online distributors with prices starting at $34.09. I had never heard of a zinberry, so according to Google it is a blend of Zinfandel grapes and blueberries, often used to create a dessert wine. I definitely would love to try this wine. Winemaker Notes #32 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 Rich with dusty cherry, pomegranate compote, vanilla, and plum spice. What you’ll taste here can only be described as Dry Creek sunshine in a bottle bursting with zinberry, dried cherries, and blueberry notes. Nuanced oak imparts a burst of fresh mid palate spice. Tannins are fine-grained and in tune with bright acidity and moderate alcohol, adding structure and body but never overpowering. This wine is cool and oh so gluggable. This wine has staying power. WS94 Wine Spectator Refined and graceful, this is a top form Zinfandel, with vibrant cherry and raspberry flavors laced with sweet anise and pepper. The finish lingers long toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2030

Thank you for today’s R & D, Sandi for Rich! A bit cloudy this morning. We actually did not have one drop of rain here yesterday! Got in lots of pool time and had a great supper with my traveling Sister. Vanessa, thank you for sharing our happenings. Dixie & Debbie thank you for sharing the F & B department with me. Gym, Aldi, chores, Bindi walks and pool time 🤞🏻. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Quartz Reef Pinot Noir Central Otago Bendigo Estate 2020 No worldwide distributors of this vintage of today’s elusive New Zealand wine. But there are a couple offering worldwide distribution of the 2019 vintage, which happens to share the rave reviews. If you live in Australia or New Zealand, this vintage can be yours for $31.69. Winemaker Notes Aromas of deep black Doris plum, and dark cherry. Rich on the palate with blackcurrant, plum, forest floor notes and subtle spice. An elegant wine with classy tannins and a long vibrant finish. JS95 James Suckling Aromas of pitted red cherries, rose, moss and bark. Medium-bodied with silky texture and tannins. Perfumed and vibrant with so much floral and herbal complexity. So long as well. Beautifully composed and layered. Delicious. Drink or hold.

Thank you. The description says it is an hour scenic drive from the port. If we get to see some sights along the way - that works. If we had kids with us, that would be entirely different.

Thank you for today’s R & D, Sandi for Rich! A perfect morning for a long Bindi walk. She is now peacefully snoring away. Thank you for keeping our lists, Vanessa! Zumba, Bindi walks, meal prep, pool time 🤞🏻, and then dinner with my traveling Sister. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Stonecroft Syrah Hawkes Bay Gimblett Gravels Undressed 2021 Love the name of this New Zealand wine. I found one online distributor - but of course they only ship to New Zealand. So if you are cruising to New Zealand, I hope you are making a list of wines to try. And I hope @erewhon is able t9 find and enjoy some of these amazing sounding wines! The online distributor’s price is a reasonable $20.45. Cameron Douglas’ review Fantastic colour and bouquet with aromas of violets and baked raspberries, there’s a core mineral quality with baked stones and a dried clay quality. There’s also a sweet fresh meaty quality along with a plum and dark chocolate layer. Lovely texture andintensity as the wine touches the palate. Flavours and texture s of tannin and acidity flowe through the palate seemlessly. Fresh, youthful, mineral and fruity with spices, some intense lees quality and a some mild toasty wood qualities. Youthful and needing some more cellar time, but a delicious wine today as well. Best drinking from 2023 through 2030. 94 Points - Excellent

Great version, Jack! I never saw the lyrics translated before!

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! Another lovely start to the day. Yesterday’s storms cleared out in time for Bindi’s post supper walk & pool time! A very handsome buck walked through the yard leading this year’s twin fawns - one has almost lost all its spots! Vanessa, thank you for sharing our happenings. Off to the gym for a couple classes. Then Bindi walks, prep for tomorrow’s dinner with my “traveling Sister”. She is trying to convince me to take a NCL cruise 😱 next February out of Port Canaveral, which is a fund raiser for her volunteer tutoring group. Who know, not having to fly is certainly a selling point. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! @Seasick Sailor Happy 80th to Allen! Get well & stay well everyone! *********** Familia Zuccardi Malbec Paraje Altamira Concreto 2021 I would love to sip this Argentinian Malbec. It sounds very interesting, is highly acclaimed & reasonably priced. Available from a decent number of online distributors with prices starting at $24.99. Winemaker Notes #43 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 Red color with violet hues. It expresses a great herbal character with notes of red fruits. In the mouth is long and with a distinctive mineral texture. A wine of great structure and acidity. Blend: 100% Malbec JS95 James Suckling Such a brooding nose with black pepper, violet and fresh blueberry and blackberry fruit. Spicy and tight on the palate, but super polished, racy and refined. Medium-to full-bodied red with beautiful tannin tension and expressive, floral notes in the finish. Exemplary and authentic! So delicious now. Why wait? RP95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2021 Concreto Malbec has to be one of the finest vintages of this wine despite its youth and still shy personality. But there are tons of flowers, wild herbs and berries there waiting to emerge in an insinuating way, with austerity but unfurling layers and layers as the wine sits in the glass. It's incredibly fine-boned with chalky tannins that scream limestone, full of precision and purity. For Sebastián Zuccardi, they didn't do anything different, it's just the character of the year. This is the wine that explains their philosophy without breaking your piggy bank. Rating: 95+ WS92 Wine Spectator A youthful, lively and expressive red, showing floral macerated cherry and plum flavors amid toasted herb and espresso bean details. Ends with minerally tannins, which are firm yet perky, and a note of baker's chocolate.

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! A lovely start to the day. Afternoon & evening storms yesterday made Bindi walks a challenge and prevented any pool time. Vanessa, thank you for sharing our happenings. @smitty34877 Terry, love reading about Lou’s progress. And how thrilling that Murphy is holding her own. A strong woman in the making! Zumba, chores, Bindi walks and 🤞🏻 pool time will fill my day. All our rain has made the flowers so happy. I still have hydrangea blossoms galore! The pic below has just two blossoms in it! But I need to get out and do some dead heading & spray the deers’ favorites with Bobbex. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Château La Gaffelière St.-Emilion 2019 This amazing blend might just be worthy of stepping outside of my budget to buy. It would need to be for a very special occasion. Most critics suggest waiting. I am impressed with the winemakers lack of hyperbole. Available from numerous online distributors with prices starting at $79.95. Winemaker Notes #67 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 Blend: 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc WE97 Wine Enthusiast This estate has made a dark, dense wine in this vintage. That density is penetrated by the freshness of the black currant fruits. The result is a wine that is powered both by structure and crisp fruit. There is definitely plenty of aging potential here. Barrel Sample: 95-97 JS96 James Suckling A vibrant, fragrant red with aromas of blackberries, currants, walnuts and mint chocolate. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Pretty walnut notes on the polished finish. Fantastic length. Driven acidity and focus. Try in 2025. D95 Decanter An estate with a gathering sense of excitement around it, and once again proves why with the 2019. Sleek and flavourful, with the insistent tug of limestone slowing things down and allowing the juice and the tension to really inform the palate. Creamy texture also, with blueberry and raspberry fruit played gently against tobacco and crushed stone minerality. Highly successful. Barrel Sample: 95 JD95 Jeb Dunnuck The flagship 2019 Château La Gaffeliere is mostly Merlot, yet the cuvée always includes around 15% Cabernet Franc. It offers a complex array of spiced red and black fruits, cedary herbs, lead pencil, and a kiss of tobacco to go with a medium-bodied, elegant, impressively balanced style on the palate. It shows the more classic style of the vintage, has no hard edges, and is going to be relatively accessible in its youth yet also age gracefully. Barrel Sample: 93-95 RP95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2019 La Gaffelière wafts from the glass with a rich bouquet of blackberries and cherries mingled with subtle hints of burning embers and loamy soil that's framed by a deft application of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep and seamless, it's a concentrated, vibrant wine built around bright acids and fine, powdery tannins. Its vivid fruit tones and classical balance make this Cabernet Franc-rich blend a promising candidate for sustained bottle age. Anyone who has tasted the great wines this estate produced in the 1950's and 1960's knows how great this site can be; and with stricter selection as well as the elimination of fruit from vines growing on the plain from the blend, that potential appears to be being unleashed at last. Best After 2027 WS94 Wine Spectator This rolls out dense fig, boysenberry and red currant paste flavors laced with pronounced chalky minerality and notes of tobacco, dried anise and juniper. The serious tannic drive on the finish puts this in the 'classically austere' camp. Worth cellaring for sure, but patience is required.

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! A spectacular morning. Last night’s rain brought the morning temps down! The birds were very happily hunting for breakfast! Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. Prayers for Ruth, you and her family and friends. A much needed manicure is on this morning’s schedule the beach and pool have taken their toll. Bindi walks, chores, HIIT class and - weather permitting - pool time will fill the rest of the day. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone. *********** Mt. Difficulty Riesling Central Otago Bannockburn Dry 2019 This one was tough. I guess the fact that it comes from Mt. Difficulty was a clue! The only info I found for this specific vintage was on a distributor’s website. And I did not find anyone who ships to me. If you live in New Zealand, you will be able to find it for prices starting at $28.79. Vines on line - New Zealand distributor Aroma This wine displays aromas of ripe stonefruit blossom, peach, tangerine notes mingled together with underlying pear notes. Palate The palate displays these same characters in abundance focusing on ripe succulent peach notes while the mid palate is full, creamy and well textured. The wine has a rich, spice infused finish. A pure joy to drink! Serving Suggestions The Mt Difficulty Riesling goes hand and hand with creamy brie, chocolate and dried fruit platters.

I am so sorry, Vanessa. Being prepared for Ruth’s passing, doesn’t eliminate your grief. May your wonderful memories help ease your pain.

They picked a lovely spot for breakfast & playing!

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich. A very wet start to this morning. It took several tries before Bindi ventured out. And it was still raining a bit. Vanessa, thank you for all you do! I had a wonderful visit with the family yesterday, but the weather did not cooperate. We only stayed at the beach for an hour before the T-storms moved in and the lifeguards had to clear everyone out of the water. So we grabbed a takeout lunch on our way back to my place. It was still raining lightly by the time we got there, but the T-storms had moved through so we all enjoyed the pool! Boy was I tired. Bindi seemed to enjoy Day Camp, too! Just gym, chores & Bindi walks should make today a bit more normal, but dull. Prayers for all who need support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Happy Birthday, Father David! Enjoy your new decade! Get well & stay well everyone! ************ Gaston Chiquet Brut Champagne Tradition NV Let’s all fill a flute and toast Father David on his 50th! This sounds very sipable and has a decent price. Available through many distributors with prices starting at $34.94 - you might even find it for less locally. Winemaker Notes #86 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 Golden yellow hue, fine mousse. Fresh nose of dried fruit (apricot) with a hint of citrus. Smooth palate (Meunier); fresh, balanced and fruity (fresh apricot, white peach, citrus); aromatic finish. RP90 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate Disgorged in May 2019, the latest release of Chiquet's supremely dependable NV Brut Premier Cru Tradition reveals an inviting bouquet of crisp yellow orchard fruit, fresh peach, honeycomb, Meyer lemon and warm biscuits. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and charming, with a youthfully frothy but refined mousse, a succulent core of fruit and ripe but racy balancing acids. It's already drinking well. WS90 Wine Spectator Vibrant and balanced, with flavors of nectarine, candied orange peel, slivered almond and oyster shell set on a lacy texture. Fragrant hints of white blossoms and lemon thyme show on the finish.

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich. Another lovely morning. We were surrounded by storms yesterday, but they moved through quickly. The deer were everywhere this morning. Vanessa, thank you for sharing our cares and celebrations. Bindi heads off to day camp soon and then the visiting family gang arrives and we are off to the beach - at least until Mother Nature decides we’ve had enough. Then back to my place for supper and pool time. Somewhere in there - I pick up Bindi from camp. Prayers for all who need our support. Thrilled to read that Murphy is holding her own. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Neudorf Pinot Noir Nelson Moutere Home Block 2020 Another elusive New Zealand entry, but I found one Hong Kong distributor that ships worldwide for $45.34. Cameron Douglas’ review Complex, layered, varietal, fruity, floral and very enticing bouquet. Aromas of dark spiced cherry, red apple, some pomegranate and plum. Layers of new and older wine barrel with a sweet spice and mild toasty qualities - a touch of clove and vanilla then, a fine raw cashew nut quality. Complex and youthful. Flavours transition through the palate and reflect the bouquet - youthful, ripe and varietal. Oak provides the foundation delivering some spice and mild, toasty complexities, tannins and acidity layer in a tautness and distinctive mouthfeel. New, fresh, and complex with best drinking from mid to late 2023 through 2033+. Great potential, but please, just give this wine time. 95 Points - Outstanding

I will be in Puerto Plata next February and am interested in this beach club. There is very little info about it on Trip Advisor or CC. Has anyone visited it? If so, what did you like about it? Anything you would want to change?

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! A lovely start to the day after yesterday’s wild afternoon storms. Lots of wildlife this morning: deer, raccoon, fox, and a couple Sandhill cranes. Vanessa, thank you for sharing our events. Off to the gym, then Aldi, Bindi walks, chores and 🤞🏻 pool time will round out my day. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well and stay well everyone. *********** Dry River Pinot Noir Martinborough 2021 This New Zealand wine can be yours for $73.95 + shipping, unless your local wine shop carries it, or will order it for you. It sounds lovely. Vintner’s notes Power and concentration are at the centre of the wines of this year. In vintages like this, the way you extract your tannins and flavour from the fruit is vital. Being gentle and cautious was the focus from the vines to the winery, and this extra care has left us very happy with the result. Our Pinot Noir 2021 is deep, dark and a pleasure to drink now. The subtle aromatics will develop over time, even with just a little time in a decanter, while the palate is already smooth and seamless. Of course, it will benefit from patient cellaring. Serving suggestion: Decanted at 18 – 20C, serve with venison tartare, roasted lamb rack or mushroom risotto. TASTING NOTES Dry River Pinot Noir 2021 is a deep, dark colour with a subtle but generous nose. Aromatics of currants, mulberry, dark plum, baking spice and a lift of oak unfurl over time. The palate is bright, rich, smooth and seamless, showing a compact wine that gives great pleasure now and will continue to do so for the next 10 years and more.

Rich, thank you for today’s R& D! It is an exquisite morning here after an afternoon and evening filled with black clouds, thunder and a little bit of rain. I never did see any lightning. The deer families were everywhere this morning! Vanessa, thank you for sharing our cares & celebrations! Lots of chores, my landscaper is coming to raise the canopy of my big elm and remove the seed pods from my big palms, and Bindi walks before heading to a friend’s for dinner. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ************ Altocedro Malbec La Consulta Old Vine Reserve 2020 Malbecs usually need to breathe quite a bit before I can handle their boldness, but I have enjoyed some wonderful bottles. This one is available from numerous online distributors and one of them is offering on sale for $19.97. Winemaker Notes #51 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 A deep ruby red color. Lucid aromas of sweet figs and prunes, as well as cherry compote. Very generous fruit in the middle with firm, lightly chewy tannin and moderate length. WS93 Wine Spectator This red harmoniously melds layers of floral, spice, minerality and fruit, showing rich plum and floral blackberry notes up front, with spicy currant and wet stone flavors midpalate that fan out around medium-grained tannins. Ends with a lingering note of cordial. JS92 James Suckling Creamy mocha-chocolate notes jump out first, followed by very ripe blackberries and some mulberries. The full-bodied palate garners a bit of dried fruit, too, but not in a jammy way. Rich and concentrated with dense, ripe tannins to seal it all. Good length. Drink or hold.

Rich, thank you for today’s R & D. It was gorgeous out this morning. Low humidity and a perfect breeze. Last evening we were surrounded by big T-storms, but had very little rain here. Vanessa, thank you for so diligently keeping our lists. Dixie & Debbie, thank you for being such great colleagues in the F & B department! Gym, Bindi walks - perhaps a bit longer today, chores, and pool time. Words I live by… Prayers for all who need our support, special prayers for Baby Murphy, Lou, Pat, & Karen. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone. *********** Kumeu River Chardonnay Kumeu Hunting Hill 2021 Stop the presses! A non-elusive New Zealand wine that is not a Sauvignon Blanc! This Chardonnay sounds lovely, but it is slightly outside of my budget. A decent number of online distributors with prices starting at $59.00. Distributor notes Hunting Hill is a vineyard that was first planted in 1982 and became a significant part of the original Kumeu River Chardonnay blend. Occupying the slope overlooking Mate’s Vineyard, it has always contributed lovely ripe and rich fruit to the Estate Chardonnay. Hunting Hill was replanted in 2001 and is now even better than before, giving beautifully ripe fruit with a distinctive mealy minerality. Location: Hunting Hill, Kumeu, Auckland Cultivation: Sustainable Size: 3.37 hectares (8 acres) Vine Age: Planted 2001 Clones: 15 Soil: Clay loam Elevation: 100 meters (328 feet) Exposure: North facing but sloping slightly to Southwest Vintage Report: The winter of 2020 was relatively mild and dry. Spring came early, but there were frosts to contend with, one in particular causing damage to many of our Kumeu vineyards. Flowering took place well ahead of normal, and it was obvious that the season would be very early this year. The growing season rainfall was only sporadic, maintaining the dry conditions, and the temperatures were moderately warm. These relatively cool to warm, and dry conditions allowed for slow grape maturation, and the development of excellent fruit aromas and flavors. Harvest was completed by 9 March, about 3 weeks ahead of usual. In Kumeu the frost damage had lowered yields by 30-40%, but the overall quality was exceptional. Hand harvested Whole-bunch pressed Indigenous-yeast fermentation French oak barrels, 25% new oak 100% barrel fermentation 100% malolactic fermentation 11 months maturation in barrel Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay Tasting Notes: Hunting Hill is very distinctive in its terroir typicity, with piercing lemon/lime fruit lift and florality on the nose, richness and volume in the mouth followed by lingering acidity and minerality on the finish. This is an absolute classic example of how great the Chardonnay grape can be: A beautifully powerful, yet elegant and complex wine with long term aging ability. James Suckling - 96

Karen What a wonderful tribute to Phil and his life! Bless you for remembering his medical team. They are so often overlooked. ❤️

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich. A lovely morning precedes today’s scorcher. We had a brief T-storm yesterday that at least increased the breezes. That helped a great deal. Vanessa, thank you for sharing our cares & celebrations! Praying that baby Murphy’s surgery is a complete success and her recovery is quick! @smitty34877 I am toasting Lou with my morning coffee! How wonderful that he is home! Praying that the remainder of his recovery is swift with NO detours. Thinking of you Dixie @summer slope ❤️. Zumba, Bindi walks, pool time & I need to spray my plants with Bobbex. Between the irrigation system & the little bit of rain we’ve had, my last application has worn off. Prayers for all who need our support. @luvteaching, Karen thinking of you. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! *********** Felton Road Chardonnay Central Otago Block 6 2021 There are several distributors of this New Zealand wine that ship worldwide. The vintner works hard to produce this Chardonnay, and I would love a taste. Doesn’t sound too oaky, but palates differ. Online prices start at $52.37 (a European distributors) + shipping. Distributor notes Aromas of elderflower and stone fruit, an evocation of bright, reflective stones and cool air. The north facing slope, higher elevation and greater exposure of Block 6, lend an extra degree of ripeness and stature compared to the finer, more mineral Block 2. The palate leads with grapefruit pith and persimmon flavours becoming broad and powerful. Honest and expressive of its unique vineyard origin. Block 6 was planted in 1993 and is positioned on a north facing slope immediately south of Block 5 on The Elms vineyard. Its higher elevation (282-300m) and steeper slope favourably intercepts the sun but results in it being more wind exposed. Meticulous summer management of a single vertical shoot positioned (VSP) canopy ensures even and early fruit maturity. Shoot thinning, shoot positioning, leaf plucking, bunch thinning and harvest are all carried out by hand to ensure optimum quality fruit. Cover crops are planted between rows to assist in vine balance and to improve soil health and general biodiversity.

Dixie, I am so sorry. 💔 Bless you for giving her the most important gift. Hugs.

Thank you for today’s R & D, Rich! Lovely morning introducing another scorcher. Yesterday’s breezes helped a bit, but not enough. Thank goodness for AC. Our 4th of July celebration had to move inside from the pool deck, it was just too much. Vanessa, thank you for keeping up with us. @smitty34877, Terry, I am so happy to read that Lou was doing better! I need to get out early to do some dead-heading, then chores, Bindi walks (short ones), HIIT and pool time just might keep me out of trouble. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! *************** d'Angelo Aglianico del Vulture 2019 I just recently discovered this lovely, red Italian wine. Different vintner, but based on the description just as nice. And it is easy to find in sores & online with prices starting at $16.99. Winemaker Notes #49 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022 The wine is a fairly intense ruby red, turns to garnet as it ages. Aromas of berries, typical of this vine variety. Dry, robust and fairly tannic. Over the years, it becomes more mellow and harmonious. WS91 Wine Spectator Compact and fresh, this medium- to full-bodied red reveals macerated black raspberry fruit accented by notes of dried sage, graphite, fig cake and mineral, with firm, dusty tannins. Let this open in the glass or decant ahead of time.