cat shepard

Thank you Rich & Roy for today’s Report & Daily. It was already 50 this morning and the sun is blindingly bright! Had a wonderful night at the local wine bar and found an amazing Italian red blend developed by a group of vintners from seven different regions using seven different grapes. It might need to breath a bit for some, but the majority of those trying it enjoyed their first sip out of the bottle. I just have to share this with you red blend lovers. I found this online for as low as $14.99. Off to the gym. Then Bindi walks, chores, and my HIIT class. It looks to be another lovely day here. I have been waiting for just the right day for this one - what better than Thesaurus Day? Prayers for all who need our support especially Sarah, Tana, Kathi and Jacqui. Cheers to all who need our support. Get well & stay well everyone! *********** Château Beau-Séjour Bécot St.-Emilion 2019 I am beginning to suspect that Rich or even Roy is testing my abilities. Or perhaps they want to see if it is time to upgrade my decoder ring. This Bordeaux red blend sounds amazing. This vintage will be released in March, so consider this info a trailer, or a teaser. Excellent - superb ratings from the critics. Several online distributors are offering pre-release prices starting at $59.98. You might want to let this one sit in your “cellar” for at least a year. Reviews The nose is elegant, and racy, marked by its terroir, and offers power (full of finesse), and aromatic complexity as well as a multi-layered side. It reveals notes of wild blackberries, crushed small black fruits, and small notes of crushed strawberries associated with touches of violet, cornflowers, bright blue berries, tonka bean, slight hints of lilies, violet as well as discreet hints of black tea, camphor, a discreet hint of pepper and vanilla pod. The palate is elegant, very finely tight, and offers finesse, delicacy, gourmandize, a beautiful definition, precision, a pretty shiny fruit, a fine sapidity, precision, tension, a beautiful juicy/pulpy/acidulous fruit, a good finesse of the fat, an almost aerial side as well as a beautiful guideline. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry, bright cassis, and small notes of raspberry associated with touches of juicy small black fruits as well as hints of licorice / zan, black tea, slight hints of blond tobacco, toasted and a very discreet hint of camphor / dark chocolate. Tannins are elegant, well-built, fine, racy and finely enveloping. A beautiful wine! ~97 VertdeVin Rich plum color. This takes its time to open, is pretty subtle at first, but then explodes in juicy fruit. Clear salinity where you can feel the slate scrape of the limestone terroir, alongside well-expressed aromatics with touches of peony flowers. Elegant and succulent. Second vintage with Jean de Cournuaud as technical director. A yield of 46hl/ha. 65% new oak, with a mix of barrels and 20hl casks. 3.77pH. Harvest 18-21 September, with all the Merlots in 3.5 days instead of the usual 11 days (and in fact stretched over one month in 2018), with just 20 minutes from picking to vat. Thomas Duclos consultant. ~96 Decanter Plums, currants, pine cones, mushrooms and bark on the nose. Some licorice, too. It’s medium-bodied with tightly knit tannins. Tight and fresh with fantastic tension and drive. Refined and focused. Spicy and lightly salty at the end. ~96 James Suckling. This delivers a tumble of ripe raspberry, plum and boysenberry fruit flavors, lined with violet, red tea, and sweet tobacco notes that add lift and range. The long, racy, chalk-lined finish leaves a pure feel that's not easy to achieve in this vintage. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2024 through 2038. ~95 Wine Spectator Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle lightening of the edges. Fine precious wood spice, black heart cherries, some licorice, delicate nougat and figs, attractive bouquet. Juicy, fresh currants, lively structure, fine, supporting tannins, an individual style that encourages drinking, red berry finish. Safe development potential. ~94 Falstaff

@aliaschief Kendall is just a bit Southwest of Miami. Good thing you have that sweater.

Thank you Rich & Roy for today’s Report & Daily! A bit warmer this morning. Sun is about to crest the trees and it looks to be another beauty. I am already back from giving blood needed for my Annual physical. It was easy and painless and now I am enjoying my first cup of coffee! Roy, thank you for all you do! I agree the Care list is much too long. If I could choose a super power it would be to make people well! I need to do some rug cleaning, Bindi walks, one amazing gym class and then this evening I hope to visit my local wine bar to try some of their featured wines of the week. And maybe bring home a bottle. Prayers for all who need our support, especially Sarah, Tana, Kathi and Jacqui. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Lapostolle Chardonnay Cuvée Alexandre, Colchagua Valley, Chile I am so happy that I renewed my decoder ring subscription! I have already used it 3 times this year! This Chardonnay has consumer & critic fans. Easy to find with quite a number of online distributors with prices starting at $19.90. Winemaker Notes This wine is a bright yellow with golden edge. On the nose, florals and sweet spices with honey, apricot, vanilla and delicate notes of fresh fruit such as papaya and quince. The palate is intense and elegant, with high volume in the mouth, fresh acidity and vibrant finish. Enjoy with homemade pastas such as beetroot capeletti stuffed with cheese and pistachios or turkey panzotti and bolognesa sauce. JS93 James Suckling A minerally chardonnay with dried apples, pears and hints of vanilla. It’s medium-to full-bodied with salted caramel and a complex finish. RP91 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The very tasty, varietal and fresh 2019 Cuvée Alexandre Chardonnay was produced with fruit from Casablanca in a traditional Burgundian style (50/50 in barrique and tank) with aging potential combining opulence with freshness.

Thank you Rich & Roy for today’s Report & Daily! It was 35 when Bindi & I headed out this morning. She did not waste a minute before heading us back in for breakfast. Once the sun comes up, it will be another lovely day. Especially if it is not windy. Roy thank you for doing all you do! Off to the gym, chores and Bindi walks. Need to fast this evening, since the blood work for my annual physical gets drawn early tomorrow. Orayers for all who need our support, especially Sarah, Tana, Kathi and Jacqui. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well and stay well everyone! ********** Louis Jadot Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Burgundy, France The name just reeks expensive. And it is. I would love a taste, but the cork isn’t even in my budget. Excellent ratings for all released vintages. I used the 2019 vintage info. A decent number of online distributors with prices starting at $259.00. Winemaker Notes This wine is deeply colored, with an intense bouquet of black currants and other black and red berries. The mature wine often has aromas of musk or licorice. Made for aging, the wine will improve for 20 to 25 years in the bottle. Serve with elaborate and strongly flavored foods such as mutton, boeuf bourguignon, coq au vin, game or game pâté and strong cheeses. RP92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2019 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru (Maison Louis Jadot) bursts with aromas of loamy soil, blackberries, dark chocolate, spices and grilled meats. Medium to full-bodied, round and fleshy, with chewy tannins and a generous core of fruit, it's a hearty, rather old-fashioned red Burgundy. Barrel Sample: 90-92

Thank you Rich & Roy for the Report & Daily! It was 33 this morning, but felt warmer than yesterday, because there was no wind. Still Bindi made quick work of her business and we were back inside quickly. Roy thank you for keeping everything together & creating the maps. I really appreciate it. Off to the gym, Aldi, some yard clean up - if the wind stays away, and Bindi walks. Words I live by…. Prayers for all who need our support: Sarah, Kathi & Jacqui especially. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Château d’Issan 2020, Margaux, Bordeaux, France Thank goodness my decoder ring was handy this morning. I used the 2020 vintage info of this red blend, but all released vintages share the same excellent - superb ratings. The low score of the critics is 95! I would love a sip, but even the pre-sale of the 2021 vintage is outside of my budget. The 2020 is available from several online distributors with prices starting at $61.95. JS98 James Suckling Extremely floral and fruity with currants and blackberries. It’s full-bodied and very layered with delicious, dense character. Full-bodied with dusty, layered tannins. Rich, but not heavy. Long and chewy on the finish. 55% cabernet sauvignon, 39% merlot, 3% cabernet franc, 2% petit verdot and 1% malbec. Barrel Sample: 97-98 D96 Decanter This is a sinewy, powerful and forward-moving wine with a sense of momentum. Moreish, with the elegance and plump damson fruits that Issan delivers so well, but more muscular than some years with the impact of both Petit Verdot and Malbec that are in the blend for the first time in this vintage. These add layers of spice and the overall architecture is clear. Peony and violet notes add a kick upwards on the finish, this has a delicacy even though it is intense. Less Cabernet in the blend in 2020 than in 2019, as is often the case in the Médoc due to low yields. This new blend in Issan will be seen going forward after the addition of plots from the purchase of Château Pontac-Lynch. Barrel Sample: 96 RP95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2020 D'Issan is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec, aging in French oak barriques, 50% new. It has an alcohol of 13.29%, a pH of 3.71 and an IPT (tannin index) of 73. Displaying an opaque purple-black color, it has vibrant notes of Bing cherries, boysenberries, ripe redcurrants and juicy black plums, plus hints of pencil shavings, wild thyme, lavender and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate has impressive energy with crunchy red and black fruits and compelling tension, framed by fine-grained tannins, finishing long and mineral laced. Barrel Sample: 93-95 JD95 Jeb Dunnuck More backward, dense, and concentrated, the Grand Vin 2020 Château D'Issan offers darker currant and cassis notes as well as gorgeous floral, sandalwood, graphite, and chocolate nuances. Medium to full-bodied, voluptuous, and layered on the palate, with sweet yet building tannins, this is a gorgeous Margaux that brings ample depth and richness while still showing the classic elegance of the appellation. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec, raised in 50% new oak, and it’s a selection of only 45% of the total production. It's going to have some up-front appeal and a broad, lengthy drink window over the following 2-3 decades. Tasted twice. Barrel Sample: 93-95+ WE95 Wine Enthusiast The walled vineyard of Issan has produced a beautifully elegant wine. It has structure while bringing out bright berry fruits and already integrated acidity. The wine has all the elements for long-term aging. Barrel Sample: 93–95

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich & Roy. It is a blustery morning here in Florida. 37/feels like 32. And the wind is whipping. Bindi walked out the door and turned around to go back in the house. The sun will help a little, but I need to cover my Meyer lemon tree tonight. We are looking at somewhere in the 20s. Brrr. It would be the perfect day to dress up Bindi in a warm sweater or coat, but she will not budge, when I put anything on her. Roy thank you for our lists & maps. I am sure the Dailyites know how lucky they are that you beat me to posting the Report/Daily every day. They would not get maps, if I posted it. Tonight I am taking dinner to a friend, who just returned from spending 3 weeks with her youngest daughter. Her daughter’s fiancé was tragically killed in a logging accident, when a tree fell on him. It will be good to see her. We will share some wine, food and perhaps a few tears. Dinner will be salmon, sweet potatoes roasted with a maple/butter glaze and salad. This looks familiar to me, so I apologize if it is a repeat. Prayers for all who need our support. Especially Sarah, Kathi and Jacqui! Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Realm Cellars The Bard, Napa Valley, California 2016 Cab lovers take note - this Napa Cab has a great many consumer and critic fans. It’s excellent - superb ratings are shared by all released vintages, so you might find a more recent vintage for a bit less. The 2016 is available through online auctions and online distributors. But neither is within my budget. Auction $130.00/online distributor prices start at $175.00. Winemaker Notes We consider The Bard to be the quintessential wine of Realm: a dense, weighty and concentrated wine that year in and year out showcases the very best Cabernet Sauvignon of Napa Valley. Beckstoffer To Kalon and Dr. Crane, Blair Vineyard, Weitz Vineyard, Fortuna Vineyard, and Beckstoffer Orchard have all found a place in The Bard. While the composition of the wine varies from year to year, Cabernet Sauvignon typically comprises over 70% of the blend, joined by lesser percentages of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and/or Petit Verdot. RP98 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot from 21 different lots from 11 different vineyards, the 2016 The Bard is very deep purple-black in color and sashays out of the glass with strikingly beautiful violets, warm cassis, star anise and chocolate mint notes with hints of wood smoke, tobacco and kirsch, with blackberry compote at the core. Full, muscular and built like a brick house with layer upon layer of black, blue and red fruits, it finishes very long and savory. JD97 Jeb Dunnuck The Left Bank Bordeaux-themed release, the 2016 The Bard checks in as roughly 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. This cuvée is sourced from sites such as To Kolan, Dr. Crane, Weitz, and Fortuna as well as a few others, and is brought up in plenty of new oak. It has a mammoth bouquet of crème de cassis and blueberry fruits intermixed with ground herbs, graphite, chocolate, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, opulent and layered on the palate, with a powerful yet balanced, incredibly classic style, it has a certain approachability today but is going to cruise for two decades. It’s a brilliant wine. WW96 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com The Bard Red Wine by Realm Cellars belongs to a select group of ultra, high-end Napa wines. The 2016 vintage is firm and long. Enjoy its intoxicating aromas and flavors of black fruit with aged cheeses and semi-serious conversations. WE94 Wine Enthusiast The Bard is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon this vintage, and the producer’s largest production wine, which still is small and devoted to detail. Sweet redcherry-liqueur flavor meets a grippy herbal undertone of forceful weight and power, the structure balanced and complex, yet immediately enjoyable

Just precious!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily Rich & Roy! I hope all our fabulous wild men Dailyites enjoyed their feast yesterday. I think we’d all appreciate pictures. A bit of rain this morning. It was already 62, when Bindi and I went out earlier. I believe that is warmer than the high temperature of the next two days. Just a gym class for me. Not sure what else I will do today. A couple of aged super heroes… Prayers for all who need our support. @Scrapnana & @kazu special prayers that you recover quickly. @grapau27 Graham, praying that the injections really help Sarah. I am also thanking God that she has you & Pauline by her side. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ************ Alexana Revana Vineyard 2019 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon This Pinot sounds amazing. But it is outside of my budget. Maybe just a taste… I used the 2019 vintage info. Quite a few online distributors with prices starting at $53.99. Winemaker Notes As Alexana's flagship Pinot Noir, this wine expresses their entire estate’s dramatically diverse terroir. An outlier within the famous sub-region of the Dundee Hills AVA. This unique expression of Oregon Pinot Noir comes from one of the Willamette Valley’s most respected vineyards. WS93 Wine Spectator Satiny and multilayered, with floral raspberry and pomegranate flavors that are laced with fresh violet and toasty spice notes. Drink now through 2029. WE92 Wine Enthusiast This pings the palate with cola and black cherry flavors, along with minerally acidity that buoys up rather than tarts up the palate. It's lighter than the previous vintage, balanced and appealing, with that streak of cola lingering on through the medium length finish. W&S92 Wine & Spirits This wine typically shows a spicy warmth, as it does in 2019—brambly and rich, with horehound, cherry and violet blossom scents giving way to a generous texture. It’s round and mouth-filling, quite irresistible, for something with wild mushrooms. JS92 James Suckling Pretty aromas of dried violets, fresh cherries, plum stones and nutmeg. It’s medium-bodied with fine, powdery tannins and fresh acidity. Sleek and refined. Elegant finish. Drink or hold.

And it only takes a special event to creat havoc on the roads. Even on weekends.

Glad you two are safe!

Praying that the injections help Sarah, so she can avoid surgery. Double prayers that Sarah, you and Pauline can quickly put this worry behind you.

So Rich, how will you celebrate the Feast of the Wild Men today?

I will happily celebrate the Feast of the Wild Men Dailyites - posters & lurkers - hope you all enjoy your day! Thank you Rich & Roy for bringing us the Report & Daily. It was already 48 this morning when we headed out for our morning walk. Yesterday was another fabulous day. Mani - pedi this morning, then this afternoon some annual routine maintenance visits. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Arboleda Carmenère 2019, Valle de Aconcagua, Chile I used the 2019 vintage info, since it seems to be the easiest to find. But all released vintages share the same excellent ratings and reasonable price. I would love to try this one. Available from a good number of online distributors with prices starting at $24.97. Winemaker Notes Beautiful, deep, bright violet red color with ruby hues. Very aromatic and fresh. Reminds of raspberries, cherries and pomegranates accompanied by violet notes. It unwinds elegantly revealing soft spicy notes such as white pepper, strawberries, blueberries, bitter chocolate and a soft truffle note that stands out. A wine with silky tannins, great persistence, finesse and elegance. Critical Acclaim JS91 James Suckling Lots of flowers and blueberries on the nose and palate with spice and graphite notes. Medium body. Crisp finish.

Graham, praying that the medical team finds a solution.

Morning Dailyites! Cheers to Rich & Roy for creating & posting the Report & Daily. It is a wonderful way to start the day. Though technically I start my day with a Bindi walk. And Bindi has returned to her normal healthy self.😎 It was 43 this morning. The sun has already started warming up the air & it looks to be another stellar day. A gym class this morning. And then my HIIT class has moved to this evening. And Bindi walks. I also need to prioritize my next home projects. I will sleep well tonight. Visitors to Craigville Beach on Cape Cod will get this. Although I have witnessed some fry stealing gulls on Ft. Myers Beach, too. Prayers for all who need our support. Jacqui & Kathi once again you top the list. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Joseph Drouhin Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy, France The trusty decoder ring was useful once again. And this wine deserves any effort putting in to discovering it. I used the 2019 vintage info, but every released vintage shares the same excellent ratings. I would love a taste, but sadly this Pinot Noir is outside of my budget. Numerous online distributors with prices starting at $98.89. Winemaker Notes Supreme elegance! Beautiful color, with intense and bright reflections. The diversity of the aromas is striking: wild cherry, nutmeg, camphor wood, fine leather. Later on, the wine takes on a subtle aroma of truffle, producing the most varied palette. With its perfect balance between tannin and acidity, the wine has a fleshy, sturdy body. Powerful and long aftertaste. A wealth of harmonious sensations characterizes this great Burgundy. JM93 Jasper Morris Including declassified 1er Cru Les Chaumes, with 20% whole bunch vinification. Bright mid purple with an extremely concentrated vivid fruit, this is very striking, with an additional kick on the second half of the palate, a touch of strawberry, but especially raspberry, and good acidity behind. Bravo. Barrel Sample: 91-93 JS93 James Suckling Fragrant nose of black raspberries and summer flowers with a delicate hint of oak. Suave and sophisticated, this is light on its feet, like a tiny dancer, but held aloft by a very solid support of fine tannins. Drink or hold.

Thank you Rich & Roy for creating & publishing the Report & Daily! A lovely morning, already 51 and if the day turns out half as gorgeous as yesterday, I will be thrilled. I have an early bone density scan scheduled for this morning, and then this afternoon, I go to my favorite class at the gym. @dfish Debbie, I find classes are great for me. The instructor puts together a workout designed to maximize the time, and good instructors will offer different options for folk who can’t do burpees or high jumps. And often choose great background music. I get bored on my own. I guess I am not disciplined enough for that. Prayers for all who need our support. @kazu & @Scrapnana that means you! Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone. ******** Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir I used the 2019 vintage info, since that may be the easiest to find. And trust me this is easy to find! I might try a taste out of curiosity, but the consumer reviews I read tell me not to expect much. Numerous online distributors with prices starting at $8.95. Winemaker’s notes Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir Red Wine is medium bodied with soft tannins and a lingering finish, making it an elegant offering for dinner parties. Fresh flavors of rose petals, strawberry, vibrant cherry and fresh raspberry abound in this pinot noir wine, while hints of Asian spice, sweet tobacco and Madagascar vanilla bean underscore aromas of ripe red cherries and violets. This Robert Mondavi wine is crafted with fruit from California's Central Coast vineyards, where slow ripening in the cool climate by the Pacific Ocean encourages complexity and depth of flavor. The phenomenal grapes produced in the region ultimately create Central Coast wine of the utmost quality, offered by Robert Mondavi Private Selection at a more accessible price. Pair this red table wine with roast meat, poultry or seafood, or serve it at an elegant wine and cheese event. Store this bottle of wine at room temperature, but refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes before serving at around 60 degrees for optimal taste. Please enjoy our wines responsibly.

@Vict0riann Ann thank you for the great news about Jacqui! @marshhawk Annie - is there a way to set up notifications from the airline when they change a flight? I know I can do that with Delta. Possibly American. The other Ann 😎

Thank Rich & Roy for creating & bringing us today’s Report & Daily. Already 52 when Bindi and I went out earlier. Deer were everywhere. Roy thank you for keeping it all together in so many ways. And I love the map of the Volendam & Zuiderdam together! Special thanks for that one! Off to the gym. Then chores. Last night’s dinner to a favorite place on the beach. But the ride along the Coast shows the devastation that still exists from Ian and Nicole. So many areas do not have a beach anymore. I am not sure what the answer is, but until they solve the problem, the Coast road is in jeopardy from these types of storms. I find myself singing every now and then. Bindi just looks.😎 Prayers for all who need our support, especially Jacqui & Kathi. Both dealing with major issues away from home. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Quartz Reef Pinot Noir Central Otago Single Ferment 2020 This vintage is a bit elusive, unless you live in New Zealand or Australia, but earlier vintages are more widely available. All share excellent reviews and prices that don’t exceed my budget. Several online distributors with prices starting at $31.57. Distributor notes Divine ruby red in colour with intense cherry and berry aromas. Rich on the palate with dark cherry, subtle floral and herbaceous notes. Excellent depth, fine tannins and a long vibrant finish.” Rudi Bauer, who continues to explore Pinot Noir’s many dimensions, and the convergence of the old and the new wine worlds. Certified as Bio-Dynamic.

Thank you for today’s Report and Daily, Rich via Roy! It is just starting to get light now. Bindi and I did a mini walk to the light of the moon this morning. It is a bit warmer this morning at 46. Roy thank you for keeping it all together. Especially with Jacqui’s injury limiting her ability to type. Off to the gym, Aldi, Bindi walks and then a get together with friends and family, now that everyone is over their bout of flu or colds. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Akitu Pinot Noir Central Otago A2 2020 This New Zealand wine is a bit elusive, but this vintage is ultra elusive. I used the 2019 vintage info for this post. And even that requires shipping from overseas. I did see that this vintner is a member of Naked wines, so perhaps they are marketing the 2020 vintage through them. The Naked Wines’ “Angels” support small vineyards by taking the marketing off their hands, so they can focus on making some great wines. My “traveling Sister” is a member, and we have enjoyed some special wines through this program. If you opt for the 2019 vintage, I found it for $28.98 + shipping from some European and New Zealand distributors. Wine Enthusiast rated the 2019 vintage - 92. Winemaker’s notes Dark garnet with a crimson edge within a deep plummy hue. The first aroma from this wine gives a hint to the depth and complexity that lies beneath, hidden for now in the glass. Layers of graphite, brown spice and wild herbs sit across dark plummy fruit. Ripe dark cherries, dark rose petal and a hint of sous boisare all coiled very tightly in a compact bundle of aromatic intensity. This one will take some time to show its true depth and complexity. The palate opens with intense fruit concentration over a core of powerful soft tannin. There are layers of textural phenolics pushing up against fruit plushness which impress and excite. This wine, our 8th vintage of the black label, without doubt shows in its shape and structure that it is unequivocally of the Hawkesbury vineyard. A fine line of acidity suggests a long and exciting evolution. It will start to hit its straps at five years old and continue for at least another five, perhaps much more.

Dixie we had one day of “rolling swells” going to Hawaii, but that was it. Not sure if there is any way to predict the waves. Perhaps you should bring your pills as insurance.

Annie I was only on the Niew Amsterdam for 7 days for an Alaskan cruise and loved the ship, the service and wonderful crew. I also spent a week prior to the cruise in Seward and Denali. And then a couple days in Vancouver and Seattle. My cruise visited Hubbard glacier, Glacier Bay, Skagway/Haines, and Ketchikan. I might be able to find the links to some of my “reports”, if interested.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily Roy, on behalf of Rich! It is 43 this morning. The deer are everywhere having breakfast on the go. Roy, thank you for keeping our lists and backing up Rich & Jacqui. Praying that @kazu gets the medical help she needs and recovers quickly. And then I think we need to wrap you in bubble wrap, Jacqui. Then when someone jostles you, or when you misses a step, you will simply bounce. Zumba, Bindi walks and taking down the outside Christmas decorations will fill my day. After coffee, of course. I have yet to meet a dog that does NOT need to hear this… Praying for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! (Yes, Jacqui, this means YOU). ********* Chateau Ste. Michelle 2020 Riesling, Columbia Valley, Washington State I used the 2020 vintage for this post because it has the best ratings and is so widely available, you should easily find it. Not the driest of their Rieslings, but if you pick up a bottle and it is too sweet for you - you can use it as a base for a white Sangria, or for cooking. And not only is it widely available - prices start at $7.98! Winemaker Notes Chateau Ste. Michelle sources Riesling from both warmer and cooler parts of the Columbia Valley which provides a range of flavors and styles in the Riesling. The warmer sites add more tropical flavors while the cooler sites bring more pear and lemon-lime notes. Try it with light pasta and rice dishes, grilled fish, and a wide array of cheese. W&S90 Wine & Spirits This wine is the Ste. Michelle Dry Riesling’s kissing cousin, cut from the same cloth but adding a dollop of residual sugar, a whiff of peach fruit to the lemon-lime core of flavors. It’s firm, simple, lively—and another steal.

Jacqui, this is horrible. Praying that you get the correct treatment and have a speedy recovery.

Thank you for another wonderful Report & Daily, Rich via Roy! The past two mornings it was 70 at 6 a.m. This morning it was 48. Even Bindi was not a fan of heading out at that time. The sun has not crested the trees yet, but once it does it will warm up to the mid-sixties. Roy, thank you for all you do! After coffee, I head to the gym. Then Bindi walks & my quarterly file clean out. Tax time is coming. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******* Silverado Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Napa Valley, California I have enjoyed several bottles of this Napa Cab over the years, but admit that there are so many equally excellent wines available for less, that I probably would not buy it now. I used the 2018 vintage’s ratings and prices, since this is the most recently released vintage. It is available from several online distributors with prices starting at $42.98. Winemaker Notes This approachable Cabernet offers aromas of blackberry crisp and exhibits flavors of cherry, clove, and a hint of dark chocolate. Full bodied and smooth with a lingering finish. TP94 Tasting Panel With some Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Caber- net Franc blended in, this standup Cabernet Sauvignon aged 17 months in primarily French oak, seeing some Hungarian and American oak as well. Sourced from the winery’s estate vineyards (Mt. George, Silverado, and Oakville Station), the fruit yielded tight-fisted tannins of coffee and plum skin that hold this superbly structured, concentrated, and elegant red together. Chewy, with earthy undertones and depth defined by dark choco- late and black olive. WW92 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com The 2018 Silverado Vineyards Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon is rich yet not overpowering. TASTING NOTES: This wine excels with aromas and flavors of sandalwood, black fruit, licorice, and oak. Pair it with a steak salad. (Tasted: December 20, 2021, San Francisco, CA) D91 Decanter Ripe cassis, toast, vanilla and spice nose. Sleek tannins and appetising acidity. Precisely defined blackcurrant and black plum flavours and well-integrated oak. Blend : 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot WE90 Wine Enthusiast With small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc included, this elegant red shows graceful layers of plum, black cherry and currant built around a soft, supple midpalate. Approachable and youthful, it's a wine to enjoy in the near term. W&S90 Wine & Spirits A strong young Napa Valley cabernet, this wine needs hours in a decanter for the tannins to begin to soften their grip. It slowly gives up that initial severity to yield notes of dried figs, gaining flesh to wrap around the tannins. There’s a good wine here that requires patient cellaring.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich via Roy! It looks a bit cloudy this morning, but it could be a marine layer that will burn off soon. Roy, thank you again for holding down the fort for all of us. Bindi has had two great days, so I am hoping we have turned the corner. She is enjoying her numerous mini-meals. I would too, if I could pick what I ate. Somehow Greenies just do not appeal. No gym today. Not sure if my HIIT class will take place tonight. So I will fill my day with walks, decluttering and perhaps some yard work - if this is just a marine layer that burns off. My cousin shared this with me. You crocheters might identify with this. I do not crochet, I drink wine. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Cakebread 2019 Chardonnay Reserve, Carneros, Napa Valley, California Excellent consumer and critic ratings make this a wine to try. But there are so many wonderful Chardonnays that you can find for less. It is available from several online distributors with prices starting at $60.93. Winemaker Notes For every vintage of our Chardonnay Reserve, we select the finest lots from our four Napa Valley estate vineyards in the Carneros region. This quintessential expression of cool-climate Carneros chardonnay offers concentrated flavors of creamy golden apple, ripe peach and baking spice, supported by pitch-perfect acidity. WW94 Wilfred Wong of Wine.com The 2019 Cakebread Cellars Reserve Chardonnay is lively, well-textured, and mouthfilling, with an excellent crisp finish. TASTING NOTES: This wine shows aromas and flavors of green apples, dried spices, oaky notes, and minerality. Serve it with grilled lobster in a decadent cream sauce.