cat shepard

Bon voyage!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily Rich/Roy! It is a lovely morning here 52 already, and the deer are everywhere enjoying breakfast. Roy thank you for doing triple duty. Today is my last day of self-imposed quarantine and I am almost convinced, I do not have a cold and am dealing with sinus issues. It could be a lot worse. My generator folk come today for my Winter maintenance visit, and I need to do a review of any holiday decoration that I do not use. I want to donate that in my next AmVet collection. And Bindi walks. This might seem very familiar to you folk with dogs in your family. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! *********** Château Palmer 2018 Margaux Bordeaux 7 critics rave about this Bordeaux blend and the low score is 98! But it comes with a price. Numerous online distributors with prices starting at $589.00. Winemaker Notes Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot D100 Decanter Beautifully rich even on the nose, this makes you smile from the first moment. On the palate things are intense and concentrated, as you might expect with an 11hl/ha yield (mildew-related). Upfront flavours major on big bitter chocolate with touches of smoke and grilled cedar, lots of savoury fruits and touches of reduction. Extremely impressive how layered and textured it is, though it really needs decades to reveal itself. There is the seductive floral edge of Palmer as it opens in the glass, but this is a muscular wine that needs time. 79% new oak. No Alter Ego in 2018. Bottled July 2020 after one year in barrel and a second year in larger Stockinger barrels for 20% of the crop to soften the oak influence. It's extremely hard for top estates to deliver consistency and innovation over decades; it really is like a sports team in that way, and this is a standout success in what was an extremely challenging year for Palmer. Drinking Window 2028 - 2050 V100 Vinous The 2018 Palmer is a legend in the making. I had an inkling out of barrel, but such was its intensity that I wanted to assess it in bottle before I felt confident in saying so, because this could have gone either way. It storms from the glass with black fruit and floral scents, crushed violet and incense that knock your senses sideways while retaining brilliant delineation and focus. The palate is not quite as bold and brassy as when I tasted it from barrel, though I can vouchsafe that among over 20 vintages of Palmer that I have tasted at this stage, this is easily the most extroverted and powerful, displaying a kind of millefeuille of intense black fruit counterpoised by a razor-sharp line of acidity. This audacious Palmer was still revving its engines 48 hours after opening. There will never be another Palmer like this, sui generis. It was a massive risk. But by throwing caution to the wind, something extraordinary was born. WE99 Wine Enthusiast This dense wine is almost black in color. Offering tannins and luscious black fruits, it is ripe with both structure and richness. The concentration and thought-provoking intensity are impressive. Drink this wine from 2028. Organic and biodynamic. Cellar Selection RP99 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2018 Palmer is composed of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot. Grapes were harvested September 13 to October 15, and the wine has a 3.83 pH and 14.3% alcohol. Very deep purple-black in color, the nose is a little reticent to begin, but with coaxing, it slowly emerges to show fragrant violets, underbrush, mossy bark and iron ore with exponentially growing notions of crème de cassis, Black Forest cake, plum preserves, hoisin, Christmas cake and red roses with wafts of dusty earth, Indian spices and cracked black pepper. Full-bodied, concentrated and downright powerful in the mouth, it has a solid structure of firm, wonderfully plush tannins and masses of fragrant accents, finishing very long and very spicy. By the time I finished tasting this, the nose had exploded in this fragrant bomb of fruit, earth and floral notions. This is one of those 2018 wines that has a beguiling brightness that comes from the many floral, spice and mineral accents among all that rich fruit. WOW! Barrel Sample: 97-99 JD99 Jeb Dunnuck While there's not much to go around, the 2018 Château Palmer is unquestionably a stunning bottle of wine. I certainly can't think of another Palmer coming close to this level of concentration (maybe the 2010 comes closest?). This blockbuster boasts a dense purple hue as well as a primordial bouquet of black cherries, mulberries, and blackberries intermixed with freshly crushed rocks, smoke tobacco, gravelly earth, lead pencil shavings, and burning embers. With full-bodied richness, a dense, stacked mid-palate, mouth coating tannin's, and a blockbuster of a finish, it's going to need 10-15 years to hit maturity, and as I wrote last year, will live for just about forever. Rating : 99+ WS98 Wine Spectator Remarkably concentrated, this nearly oozes fruit, with waves of cassis, plum reduction and warmed cherry preserves all carried by a dense yet polished and seamlessly embedded structure. A backdrop of violet, lilac and pastis adds to the enveloping feel, and yet with all that depth and concentration, this is a vibrant, pure expression, thanks in part to a riveting iron spine through the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2028 through 2040. JS98 James Suckling Complex nose of black cherries, blackberries, dark chocolate and floral undertones with perfume-like character. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins. Elegant on the palate with structure. Savory and balanced, complex and layered. Long finish. Really lingers. This has really evolved into a beautiful white swan after a difficult debut from barrel! Tiny production. only 11 hectoliters per hectare. Try after 2024.

Melissa, glad you mage it safely. Relax.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily - Roy/Rich! It is already 42 here this morning and the sun has lightened the Eastern sky. Roy, thank you for doing triple duty! I appreciate your efforts. I still do not know if I am dealing with a cold or a sinus issue, but if I do not have real cold symptoms by tomorrow night - I will know. I am going to stay close to home today, too. Looks like Bindi walks for me. My neighbor shared these with me. 😎 Praying for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Aveleda 2020 Alvarinho (Minho) Portugal This white wine sounds interesting. I would love to taste it. It does not sound sweet, but I have never experienced this grape/wine before. I found it on a couple online distributors with prices starting at $10.99. Winemaker Notes Pale yellow with hints of gold. Discreet aromas of grapefruit, white peaches and white flowers. On the palate this wine is incredibly structured and smooth, revealing more prominent notes of orange zest, pineapple and orange blossom. Critical Acclaim WE90 Wine Enthusiast Alvarinho at its ripe and creamy best, this is bright with apple fruits that give the wine freshness. The mineral texture adds a touch of steeliness and complexity to a white that is very ready to drink. Best Buy

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily! @ocean sounds welcome & I hope you enjoy this group as much as I do. So many people contribute, but more importantly care! Roy, thank you again for playing triple duty! It is a balmy 35 here this morning. I’ll take it! When I left my nephew’s house yesterday, it was 10. 😎 It was good to be home and sleep in my own bed. Bindi was happy to come home too. I suspect I brought the bad cold back with me. My sinuses have been aching since I woke up yesterday, and the flight did not help. But I will survive. Aldi, Bindi walks, and possibly one gym class are in my future. My window for Holiday memes is closing fast…. Prayers for all who need our support- @smitty34877 Terry, so happy to read your progress! Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Sun Garden 2018 Sweet Red Dornfelder (Rheinhessen) Germany Sweet, red wine lovers take note - this wine has quite a few consumer fans. It has a very good rating from at least one critic, and has a very reasonable price tag. I found several online distributors with prices starting at $10.99. 86 Wine Enthusiast Flavors of red cherry, menthol and preserved plum are accented by a hint of burnt caramel in this luscious sweet-style Dornfelder. Plush in texture and edged by very soft, feathery tannins, it's an easy-drinking, welcoming red best consumed young.

@cunnorl Charlene! I believe that bus driver must be one miserable son of a gun for him to make that kind of statement about ANYONE- never mind someone who already deals with enough challenges - his attitude is horrific. I can only hope he learns from this. Hugs.

Thank you Roy for posting our Report & Daily! Rich, thank you for preparing it. I am sitting at Logan Airport waiting to board my plane home. It was a really busy trip, but so happy I could celebrate the holiday with the family. I should pick Bindi up by 1 p.m., and then head home. Though it won’t be as warm as usual back home, it will definitely be warmer than New Hampshire! Wrapping up our Christmas memes…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Quinta do Portal 2019 Mural Reserva (Douro) Portugal This Portuguese red wine sounds great, and I would definitely like to taste it. Ratings range from very good - excellent, and it is available from several online distributors with prices starting at $13.99. Winemaker Notes Made with a very carefully winemaking, using gravity and precise techniques. Concentrated ruby color with aromas of ripe black fruit and some floral notes in perfect harmony with some toast from the oak. Expressive on the palate, with fine acidity and a pleasant fruity aftertaste. The final is long and complex and will develop further with more time in bottle. WE92 Wine Enthusiast Still young, this ripe and densely fruity wine is set for some fine aging. With its structured black fruits that are striated with minerality and cut by juicy acidity, it is dense and has a vibrant texture. Drink from 2022. Best Buys

@cunnorl Charlene It snowed/sleeted this morning in Cocoa! https://fb.watch/hEk0oImwak/

Happy Birthday, Gerry! May your new year be filled with laughter, love, great health and a cruise!

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate. The calm before the storm here. It is 11/feels like -2 here, quite balmy when compared with what some of you are dealing with. I am off to start the French toast. 🤞🏻that using melted ice cream for the batter works out. I will report my findings. Thank you Rich, for preparing the report, Roy for posting it & keeping our lists, Dixie & Debbie, my F & B colleagues, Sandi & Lenda for all the pictures they share, and to all the Dailyites for coming here everyday. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ************* Torres 2015 Mas la Plana (Penedès) Catalonia All released vintages of this Cab share similar excellent - superb reviews from consumers and critics. Though I did find several online distributors with prices starting at $59.99, if you are willing to hold for a year or so, you might find more recent vintages for less. Winemaker Notes Mas la Plana is graceful and balanced despite its firm and dominant tannin profile. Bright crunchy acidity ensures a wine that will develop in the cellar for years to come. This polished red displays hints of its Mediterranean heritage with herbaceous bramble while holding true to brooding currant and loamy earth, reminiscent of old-world Cabernet Sauvignon. WE97 Wine Enthusiast Lifted berry and floral cherry and black plum aromas are supported by mineral notes and lightly toasted oak. On the palate, an explosion of ripe, pulpy berry fruit and snappy acidity settles with ease and elegance, while this Cabernet Sauvignon from a warm and dry year offers blackberry, cassis and chocolaty oak flavors. There’s plenty of depth to a smooth and balanced finish. JS93 James Suckling A complex wine that has plenty of ripe red-plum and blueberry notes that lead to a palate that offers a chalky, modern and fresh array of ripe plums and berries with assertive, spicy oak. RP93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The herbal 2015 Mas La Plana is one of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignons from Spain. It's sleek and polished, with varietal character intermixed with a Mediterranean side. The palate is medium to full-bodied with the fine-grained and elegant textbook tannins of the variety. This is from a warm and dry year, and the wine is ripe and powerful but in the Torres style, which is always nicely crafted, balanced and polished. WS93 Wine Spectator This red is firm, balanced and graceful. Currant and blackberry flavors mingle with smoke, loamy earth and mineral notes. The muscular tannins are well-integrated, the racy acidity lively. Restrained in style, but harmonious. Drink now through 2030.

@grapau27 Graham, please wish Sarah a happy “new year” for me. May it be filled with love, laughter & great health!

Thank you Roy for taking on the posting of the Reports & Daily’s! All while keeping the lists! I really appreciate it. Rich, thank you for making sure we are well taken care of & taking us on your adventures with you! Merry Christmas Eve, to all who celebrate it. It is a whopping 10, feels like -4 here! The best news is that right before yesterday’s rain stopped, it switched to snow, we have just enough for a white Christmas. Yesterday was cookie baking day and it was so much fun to do it with yet another generation. I suspect my Mom was smiling up in Heaven. After coffee, I go pick up our Christmas order from a local market. I will roast the prosciutto-wrapped pork roast & turkey breast today, which will make tomorrow easier. I may have to resort to using the “outdoor fridge” because there may not be enough room in the indoor fridge. This afternoon we head to my nephew’s in Boston for a Christmas Eve meal and festivities. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******** Colomé 2018 Estate Malbec (Salta) This Malbec has some fans. It has excellent ratings from consumers and critics, and a decent price. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $19.99. Winemaker Notes Bright and intense in color with beautiful aromas of blackberries, red fruits and exotic floral notes, this wine delivers aromatics that entice the senses. A full lush entry of ripe and rich black fruit surrounds spiced oak notes and hints of pepper. Fresh acidity supports big, bold tannins and wonderful complexity. WE92 Wine Enthusiast In this wine, a saturated dark color and potent aromas of blackberry, prune and grainy oak lead to a deeply layered palate that's lush and dense. Herbal blackberry, cassis and chocolate flavors are fully ripe, while this Malbec holds onto its packed-fruit character on a long finish with a touch of heat. Drink through 2025. D91 Decanter Elegant nose of pure plums, dried tomato, paprika and damson. Quite dense with well-integrated oak, ripe fine-grained tannins.

Sandi Think of it as honing your winter driving skills. Best wishes for safe travel. That is how I got through Boston traffic - thinking I was honing my Boston driving skills. Those defensive driving skills are very useful in Florida.

@kochleffel Happy Birthday! May your new year be filled with laughter, love, great health & a cruise!

Key West Virtual tours posted this - how appropriate for today’s weather and port! Iguanas fall from trees and appear to be dead when temperatures drop below 45. They are merely stunned, but it is still alarming.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich via Roy! It is a balmy 51 here in Southern New Hampshire where it is raining hard and windy. My trip up was not terrible. I knew I would hit traffic, but it was not terrible. I even had time for some grocery shopping before going to my nephew’s. It was 41 when I landed. Tomorrow will be an entirely different story when it will be 14 with a “feels like” -1. It has been a long time since I encountered those kind of temps. Roy, thank you for keeping our lists & covering for Rich! Today is focused on cookie baking - once the girls come home from school and planning the timeline for Sunday’s dinner. A couple members of the family have bad colds, so though I hope to escape that fate, I am braced for it. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ************* Hangtime Pinot Noir, California This Pinot Noir has very good - excellent ratings from reviewers, though several consumers use the word “harsh” in their reviews. This wine might be a good candidate for the clef du vin. It’s reasonable price of $12.99 would make it an easy one to test. Winemaker’s notes California Grown Grapes for Hangtime Pinot Noir are given extended hangtime and harvested at peak ripeness, when they reach the perfect balance between concentrated fruit character, soft tannins, and bright acidity. TASTING NOTES The Hangtime Pinot Noir exhibits a rich garnet color with aromas of dark cherry, dried cranberry, and hints of allspice. The silky mouthfeel and supple tannins contribute to a long and satisfying finish. FOOD PAIRINGS Hangtime Pinot Noir pairs extremely well with lightly spiced foods, roast pork with herbs, pasta with red sauce, and medium bodied and flavored cheeses such as gruyere. WINEMAKING We named this wine after a key part of viticulture — the amount of time grapes spend hanging on the vines ripening to perfection. The longer it takes to reach that peak of ripeness within the growing season, the more concentrated the fruit character emerges, resulting in a wine with distinctive and delicious varietal expression. Our winemaker keeps a close eye on the clusters hanging in the vineyard in order to decide exactly how many days on the vine they need to attain complete maturity

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Hope your embarkation goes smoothly & you enjoy your cruises! I am just wrapping up loose ends here, before dropping Bindi off and heading to the airport. I should just beat the wind & rainstorm predicted for Southern New England. Thank you for our lists, Roy. Hoping you really do not have COVID, but if you do - may it be a very mild case. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ******** Te Mata 2018 Coleraine (Hawke's Bay) New Zealand This red blend sounds amazing, but it is out of my budget. Superb ratings from consumers and critics - a bit elusive, but I did find it online for $89.99. Winemaker Notes A deep midnight-magenta, Coleraine ’18 is symphonic in its harmony and presence. The aromatics are immediately varietal with grace notes of cassis, raspberry leaf, fresh roses, dark chocolate, lifted black cherry, espresso and cedar. The palate deepens the opening theme. There’s tapenade, darkest blackberry and ripe plum while underneath, quietly, a precise, profound tannin structure resonates. Critical Acclaim JS97 James Suckling A very concentrated nose with impressively rich blackberry, raspberry and dark-plum aromas. Dark chocolate, violet and cedary oak here, too. Very youthful. The palate has a very rich, intense and plush feel with fresh acidity and depth, amid long, fine and compressed tannins. Good freshness and concentration. Drink or hold. WE96 Wine Enthusiast Te Mata’s top wine comes mostly from the Havelock Hills, the first legally protected vineyards in New Zealand. This vintage is a strong one, showcasing the power and ageability of a world class red with the precision and linearity of this traditional estate. Notes of black currant, plum, black olive, baking spice, dried green herbs and vanillin and chocolaty oak are present throughout. Chalky tannins are taut and powerful but wellintegrated, hinting at a long life ahead. Drink 2022– 2040. RP94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The 2018 Coleraine (the current release) is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. It's fresh and floral on the nose, with hints of green herbs and dark chocolate both complementing vibrant cassis fruit. Medium to full-bodied, it's richly textured and actually a bit chunky in its youth, possessing a slight excess of flesh that will require age to ameliorate. Of course, that also makes it relatively approachable young, for folks who don't mind a bit of tannin. Long and concentrated on the finish, this looks to be another very successful vintage of Coleraine.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Especially since you are now on location. A gloomy start to the day, but at least the temp is mild. Very breezy though. A busy day for me. Haircut, gym class, Bindi walks, packing and supper at a friend’s. Not looking forward to traveling tomorrow, but I will be fine once I am out of the Boston traffic. I may need to visit here at the end of the day…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********* Spellbound Cabernet Sauvignon, California This Cab is widely available, has very good consumer ratings and has a reasonable price which makes it easy to try. I found it available online for $10.94. Distributor notes This wine showcases lush texture and bold dark fruit flavors of blackberry, ripe purple plum and cassis with a hint of oak and spice. Cedar and tobacco aromas accent the full, round palate, and the wine finishes with soft, integrated tannins.

Lots of reasons for you, Steve & the rest of the family to celebrate this year, Lenda! Woo hoo!

@TiogaCruiser Laura, if your guests tastes run to medium body wines Nancy’s Chardonnay suggestions are good. My current fave is a white blend. Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier. I found it for 13.99. Ann

Rich, not sure if it was intentional, but I just realized that there is no Quote today. It took me two cups of coffee to realize this. 😎

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Hope your trip prep is going smoothly. Warmer, but cloudy this morning. Rain is predicted for later today. Roy, thank you for keeping our lists! @smitty34877 Terry, so happy to read all went well yesterday. I applaud you for even attempting stairs! Hope the pain subsides quickly. Today I am visiting Stetson Mansion to tour the rooms decorated for the holiday. This home built by the man who created Stetson hats is decorated each year by his descendants. I am excited to visit for the first time. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating. Get well & stay well everyone! ********* DuMOL 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) Napa This Cab has some fans. Very good - superb ratings from both consumers and critics. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $89.00. Winemaker Notes From the magnificent 2018 vintage, this classic Napa vineyard blend shows elements of both modern and traditional Napa Valley Cabernet styles. The wine is beautifully textured and layered with an expansive, mouth-filling palate and broad enveloping tannins, but this richness never comes at the expense of detail or freshness. There’s an intriguing seamless complexity that one would expect from a blend of vineyards; each site complements the next, layering nuance on top of power, breadth alongside elegance. The wine has evident volcanic-soil, cool-climate markers: intense floral lift, fragrant bay laurel, and woodsy potpourri notes. But it’s the fruit core from the warmer up-valley vineyards that leads the charge: ripe, dark, plush, and chewy with an extended arc of flavor and a subtle opulent finish. Highly perfumed, exotic floral aromas intersperse with blackberry, plum, sweet thyme, and spiced clove. The palate is fruit-focused with black cherry and dark cassis notes alongside a sense of crushed stone. Cedar, pencil lead, and sweet tobacco notes shine through with a touch of bittersweet cocoa. Power matched with elegance offers a balanced opulence with myriad nuances. The wine’s natural density and well-defined tannins promise an aging potential of 12+ years. WE98 Wine Enthusiast A lovely, 100% varietal wine aged 20 months in French oak, this is juicy, herbal and offers a substantial foundation of power. Cedar, tobacco and tomato leaf accent a core of crushed rock, dark plum and threads of acidity—the weight and structure lifted by underlying freshness. This is a good candidate for cellaring; enjoy best from 2028 through 2038. CG91 Connoisseurs' Guide This very attractive effort hits all the right notes from its showy black cherry and curranty first aromas to its energetic flavors and long, tannin-firmed finish. It is the kind of wine that some folks will enjoy young while others will be equally pleased with older versions that seem certain to age nicely over the next half-dozen years and more. It is, in a word or two, damn nice, and offers a look at DuMol Cabs at a slightly lower cost.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Back in the low 40s this morning. Should get up to the mid- high 60s later. Current forecast for the upcoming weekend shows warmer temps for the part of New England I will be visiting than my part of Florida! How ironic. Roy thank you for keeping our lists. @smitty34877Terry thinking of you today and praying all goes smoothly today and your recovery is quick and painless. Gym, chores, trip prep and then getting together with a neighbor to replace the luminary bags with sturdier ones. My nephew, who does snow plowing on the side sent me this one. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Get well & stay well everyone! ********** Clos du Bois Chardonnay, North Coast, California All released vintages of this wine share the same very good consumer and critic reviews and very reasonable prices. It is widely available online with prices starting at $9.99 for the 2019 vintage. Vintner’s Notes Our Clos du Bois Chardonnay is a refreshingly aromatic wine from the rugged coast of California. Scents of warm apple pastry rise from the glass with touches of honey and toasted oak. Bright layers of freshly sliced pear and ripe apple with zests of citrus carry through the long finish. Fruit for this classic Chardonnay originates from select vineyards along the coast of California. The North Coast imparts ripe apple and pear characteristics, while the Central Coast brings full, concentrated flavor and a gorgeous acidity to the grapes. We harvested the grapes in the cool of night, then gently pressed them to preserve the Chardonnay’s fruit characteristics. After settling, the juice was partially barrel fermented in a combination of French and American oak, with the remaining juice undergoing fermentation in stainless steel. To soften the wine’s acidity and impart a rich and creamy mouthfeel, we put the wine through malolactic fermentation.

@ottahand7 Happy Birthday, Nancy! May your new year be filled with laughter, love, great health & a cruise!