cat shepard

Happy Birthday @richwmn Rich, may your new year be filled with laughter, fleet reports, Dailys & cruises! Thank you for creating this wonderful gathering place!

@dfish Safe travels, Debbie!

Well you are almost a year older, Rich!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another eerily colored marine layer. Perhaps the Saharan dust is making this happen. A super long walk this morning with Bindi. It is my favorite time to walk. The birds are just waking up and singing their morning songs. Thank you for keeping our lists Roy! Morning Dailyites! @dfish, Debbie thank you for letting us know that American bumped you out of first class when they changed your flight. We were so distracted by the seven hour flight change, that we never though to make sure everything else was ok. It was, but it might not have been - so thank you for mentioning it. Today is my day off from the gym, so gardening, house stuff, Bindi walks and pool time is in my future. @kazu thinking of you, Jacqui.❤️ Bindi greets our mail carrier every time we see her, because Bindi knows she will get treats. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Angels & Cowboys 2020 Rosé Though rosés are not usually my wine of choice, this one sounds appealing. I would like to try it. Excellent reviews from critics and consumers and a reasonable price. Several online distributors with prices starting at $13.98. Winemaker Notes The 2020 Rosé displays a bouquet of summer orchard fruit ranging from tangerine to peach accented by aromatic floral notes of violet and rose petal. On the palate the racy acidity delivers a focused savory herb element and minerality, along with delicate watermelon, raspberry, and Rainier Cherry fruit. Fresh and quaffable, this Rosé possesses a thirst-quenching fruitiness and dry finish that call for pairing with charcuterie platters, oysters, or a simple bowl of fresh strawberries. WE91 Wine Enthusiast Made from Grenache, this wine is light in color with an inviting, floral nose. Bright, zesty hits of grapefruit and tangerine dance around a svelte midpalate of focused acidity and lasting freshness.

Welcome to the Daily!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich. The marine layer is making for an interesting morning sky today. I wish I had captured a picture of the HUGE sun before it entered the marine layer. It was awesome in the truest sense of the word. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Miss seeing you @kazu Jacqui, hope all is well and you are just busy with Little/Shadow, flowers and fridges. Just noticed my buck is back hanging out in my back yard. Having a lazy morning. How appropriate. Off to the gym. Tonight getting together with my “traveling Sister” to talk about logistics. Our return flight changed yet again. But our motto is “It’s better than being canceled.” This hit home for me… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ************* Wirra Wirra 2019 Scrubby Rise Shiraz Very good to Excellent ratings from consumers & critics and a price that makes this Australian Shiraz an easy one to try. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $10.95. Winemaker Notes Deep plum with a bright crimson edge. Bouquet is bright, ripe raspberry and sweet mulberry fruits, laced with fragrant cabernet leaf and dried herbs. Palate of juicy red berries, ripe blue and black fruits as well as blood plum richness. The generous fleshy fruits are supported by supple tannins and provide a wine with great flavor, freshness and balance.Ideal pairings for this wine include lamb shoulder with Mediterranean spices, roast zucchini, squash and capsicum. WE89 Wine Enthusiast Wirra Wirra’s workhorse wine is a touch reductive when first poured, but it soon reveals typical South Aussie Shiraz notes of plump plum, ground pepper, chocolate, mint and licorice. It’s full-bodied, with dusty tannins and a baked earth character amid the plushness of the fruit and peppery spice.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich!, Another stellar start to the day. Yesterday’s breezes really helped manage the heat & humidity. Hoping for more today. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Off to an early Tai Chi class. Then hoping to get my phone protective screen replaced, Bindi walks, laundry and pool time will round out the day. The dogs of prior generations…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Quinta de la Rosa 2018 La Rosa Reserva Another bold red wine, this time from Portugal - and I’d love a taste. Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $47.23. Winemaker Notes On the nose, extremely fresh ripe black fruits aromas combine with floral notes ending in hints of liquor and chocolate. Rich, full, and complex on the palate with bold flavors, all the while maintaining its defining elegance. Succulent tannins contribute to a very long and delicious finish. WE93 Wine Enthusiast A selection of the best fruit from this estate, this wood-aged reserva is rich and firmly structured. It also has powerful berry fruits, ripe tannins and a texture that is developing well. This impressive wine will age very well and will likely be ready from 2022. Drink until 2026.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! The sun is just breaking through the marine layer. It was lovely walking this morning. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! A couple of gym classes, house cleaning, Bindi walks and laundry topped off by some pool time will fill my day. I hope someone leaves some zucchini on my porch. Love it as zoodles, stuffed, grilled, sautéed… Appropriate for today… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Kaapzicht 2017 Steytler Pentagon Estate Wine This bold South African red blend needs to breath, if served now. I would love a taste. It is a bit elusive. I found only a few online distributors with prices starting at $39.99. 92 Wine Enthusiast A muscular Bordeaux style blend that exudes power and concentration, tied up in a structure of fine grained tannin and bright acidity that not only promise extensive evolution, but also entices with every visit to the glass. Brooding dark fruit tightly packed in an intricate frame are delivered with great purity and finesse. Delicious matched with some slow-roasted rosemary lamb. Winemaker notes VARIETY : 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 10 % Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec WINERY : Kaapzicht Wine Estate WINEMAKER : Danie Steytler WINE OF ORIGIN : Stellenbosch ANALYSIS : alc : 14.57 % type : Red  style : Dry  body : Full  taste : Fruity    ageing :  15 years maturation should greatly reward with complexity and elegance. Handcrafted by a family whose lifeblood is wine, the Steytler Range is the culmination of our estate’s best wines in only exceptional vintages. Tradition and 4 generations of Steytler passion forge these wines. Vines planted in weathered granite topsoil on a layer of gravel, above a crumbly clay sub-soil. Yield of 5 tons per hectare. The five cultivars were vinified and aged separately in small French oak barrels for 28 months, personally selected by the winemaker and then blended together.

Thank you Tina. I did lots of sailing around the Thomas Point Lighthouse when I lived in Annapolis. Brings back wonderful memories.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! It was barely light when Bindi and I went out this morning. But it was a lovely walk. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! My friend and I successfully installed VeriFLY on her phone, completed her registration & uploaded her vaccination records. We even installed the NAVICA app needed for the proctored test. We earned our wine. Off to the gym. Then grocery shopping. And family visits. This one got me thinking…. 1918 seems so much further away from 1970.🤔 Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********* Doña Paula 2018 Estate Black Edition This bold, red blend has a high % of Malbec in it. Very good - excellent ratings from both consumers and critics, and reasonably priced. Several online distributors with prices starting at $12.95. 90 Wine Enthusiast Aromas of wild brush, black olive, rubber and wild blackberry comprise the nose. This Malbec-led blend feels lively and fresh, with blackberry, cassis and lightly toasted flavors. A steady finish offers no significant changes as it fades with ease. Let’s see if the vintner’s fact sheet is legible.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience in such detail. I have shared it with my roll call members.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another lovely morning here. I got some early weeding done, while Bindi figured out whether or not she needed to go out. The sun was just coming up, so the temp was perfect. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Need to get out now and get a bit more yard work done before it heats up. Then I will have earned my coffee! Heading to my “traveling Sister’s” place tonight to go over the latest changes to our trip & to get her VeriFLY account set up. We will earn our wine tonight. I can not believe I did not know this already…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******** Domaine de la Janasse 2019 Chaupin Grenache (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) This wine sounds delightful. Though outside of my normal budget, it is a very reasonably priced Châteauneuf-du-Pape, so perhaps for a special occasion. An event like testing negative, or successfully completing ArriveCAN or VeriFLY! 😎Available from several online distributors with prices starting at $69.00. Winemaker Notes A beautiful bottle, archetype of the appellation, which expresses the quintessence of Grenache in its cradle of Châteauneuf du Pape. Between notes of black fruit and violets, this vintage advances in time with suppleness, with already melted tannins. JD98 Jeb Dunnuck I was able to taste the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Chaupin on two occasions, rating it one point higher on one of those as well. Incredible notes of red and black fruits, violets, scorched earth, ground pepper, and Provençal garrigue notes define the nose, and it’s a darker, richer, slightly more powerful wine than usual, while still showing the inherent elegance and finesse this cuvée always shows. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following 15-20. Don’t miss it! Rating : 98+ WE98 Wine Enthusiast This Grenache is sourced from the sandy soils of two prized vineyards, La Janasse and La Crau. Redolent of rose petals, smoky tea leaves and black cherry, the deeply penetrating wine pulsates through a long, long finish. Matured 12 months in large-format wood, it’s pure in fruit and satiny on the palate. Stunning young, the wine should gain complexity through at least 2040 and hold much further still. Editors’ Choice D95 Decanter Amazing aerial freshness to the aromas - somehow both full-bodied but weightless with a perfect balance. This is silky smooth, a very elegant wine with a touch of blackcurrant to the raspberry fruits. The alcohol is warming on the finish however. Parcels of Grenache planted on lieux-dits Chapouin, La Janasse and La Crau, the oldest planted in 1912.

If your windbreaker is also waterproof, and your hoodie is fleece or wool - you should be fine - if you can tighten the hoods so they do not blow off. otherwise you might want something to keep your ears warm. Gloves & scarf might be useful.

When I was there last year the site where the lava was currently flowing was at least 45 minutes from the parking area - one way. And it was flowing underground, so you could not see it. And that site was much closer to the parking area than the original eruption site, so depending on where it is currently erupting - it could be a moderate to strenuous hike.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich. Another lovely start to the day. Yesterday’s breezes were amazing & really helped make the humidity bearable. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites. Safe travels @StLouisCruisersSandi enjoy your visit! Just one class at the gym for me today. Then I want to try loading my vaccination records into VeriFLY. I had loaded the trip into it in June, but the vaccination record “button” has been grayed out. Someone on CC was helping another member and said we have to be within 30 days of the trip to do that & suggested they remove and then reload the trip. So I am going to try that today. This is how I feel this week… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******** Maison Evenstad 2018 Robardelle Premier Cru This superb Burgundy Pinot Noir is very elusive & pricey. I found two online distributors with prices starting at $125.00. I would love a taste though. Distributor notes Proprietors of world-renowned vineyards and wineries in Oregon and Burgundy, Ken and Grace Evenstad crafted Maison Evenstad to offer collectible and extremely limited wines that showcase the rich and diverse terroir found only in Burgundy. This small Premier Cru vineyard is in the southern part of the Volnay appellation and features rich soils with high limestone content and alluvial sediment. This acclaimed vineyard produces ethereal and high-toned wines, composed of bright red fruit and floral aromatics. An expressive wine with a deep, dark profile, this wine has a beautiful minerality on the nose filled with raspberry leaf and dark fruit. On the palate, black cherry, lavender, and subtle notes of herbs de Provence are balanced with a rich tannin profile reminiscent of the Burgundian rock soil. 95 Points International Wine Report & Wine Enthusiast.

Sorry for the split post, but I got distracted & submitted my first reply before getting the wine du jour info & and I would not have been able to get it in time before the editing option timed out. Today’s wine Montes 2018 Alpha M Red (Apalta) Chile has superb - excellent reviews from consumers and critics. Definitely a bold wine. I would love a taste. It is a bit pricey. Available from a number of online distributors with prices starting at $89.90. Winemaker Notes The nose is perfumed and complex with outstanding aromas of ripe red and black fruits over subtle notes of crème de cassis, tobacco, and leather. Spice aromas of red and black pepper mingle with cinnamon and dark chocolate notes. In palate is smooth but structured, with silky tannins. Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot Ideal pairings include red meat, lamb, or cheeses. JS96 James Suckling Black fruit, dried herbs, spices and earthy undertones. Hints of bark and cedar, too. Full body with firm tannins that are fleshy in texture and provide excellent structure. Layered with a fruity core. Savory and succulent finish. This needs time to come together and mellow a bit, but very serious. D96 Decanter With the 1996 vintage of Montes Alpha M, Aurelio Montes jolted the high-end Chilean wine scene into life. 2018 was another superb year for this Cabernet Sauvignon, which is topped off with Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot to achieve a sophisticated expression of blackberry, cherry, blackcurrant, graphite and oak alongside good structure, fine, juicy tannins and a finish of blackcurrant jam. WS95 Wine Spectator Refined and powerful, with juicy richness to the raspberry tart, red plum and red currant flavors that are backed by vibrant acidity and tannins. The creamy finish is fine-textured, lingering with mineral and spice. WE93 Wine Enthusiast Can't miss Chilean aromas of herbal black fruits and juniper are backed by cedary oak, a hint of eucalyptus, tobacco and earthy warmth. Dry tannins dominate a gravelly palate that needs more time to soften. Flavors of charred oak, chocolate and herbal berry fruits see dryness prevail on a long and potent finish. Drink 2023–2035.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another glorious morning here! No storms last night, but someone captured one of the lightning bolts from Tuesday night’s storm. Glad I wasn’t there! Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Heading out to get some yardwork done before it gets too hot. Then more stuff to get ready for the trip. I do not have a tub @ger_77, but Gerry, I have three baskets of travel “stuff”. Need to go through them and start seeing what needs refilling or replacing. And perhaps getting Bindi’s bag ready. Today’s meme is a bit more subtle… Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! I will have to post the wine du jour in a separate post.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! It was actually cool here this morning after another night of wild storms. This time I heard the thunder and we even had about 5 minutes of light rain. But Bindi and I had an extra long walk this morning. Thank you for keeping our lists Roy! Morning Dailyites! @smitty34877, Terry glad to hear you are all feeling a bit better - even Tana & DH. Praying you all feel 100% soon. Perhaps this is what Tana needs to combat the after effects of her first bout. For all you DIY folk…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ************* Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen 2019 Eroica Riesling This Riesling was awarded the 2021 Sommelier “Wine of the Year” award! Has quite a few excellent ratings from crisis and has a surprisingly reasonable price! Definitely one I would love to sip. Several online distributors with prices starting at $16.45. Winemaker Notes #42 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2021 Eroica Riesling showcases the elegant purity of truly great Riesling. Sourced from cool climate vineyards, Eroica shows exuberant freshness with inviting stone fruit, citrus, and floral notes. Drink now to experience youthful charm or age this wine for added complexity. A good match for Asian dishes, Indian curries, crab, and scallops. Critical Acclaim W&S92 Wine & Spirits The flagship wine from this joint partnership is almost idealized as a Washington riesling, a wine that’s always about sunniness. The 2019 smells of citrus with talc-like, tangy lemon-lime scents that carry through the wine with a breezy elegance, the flavors kinetic in their lightness and energy, the finish tangy and bright, for oven-roasted turbot. WE92 Wine Enthusiast The aromas are reserved, with notes of lime, flower, wet slate and herb. The dried Nestea lemon iced tea flavors are center focused initially, broadening over time. It's a touch off-dry, barely perceptible given the big blast of acidity behind it. Pair it with lemongrass curried chicken. Cellar Selection JD91 Jeb Dunnuck The 2019 Riesling Eroica is outstanding, and certainly up with the finest examples of the variety coming out of the United States today. Classic notes of green citrus, lychee, petrol, and crushed rocks define the nose, and it’s medium-bodied, with a racy spine of acidity, plenty of balancing sweetness, and a crisp finish. WS91 Wine Spectator This fresh and lovely Riesling is crisp yet supple, with notes of orange blossom, petrol and floral peach that linger on the long finish.

Bon voyage & enjoy yourselves!

Tina, thank you for joining the Food & Beverage department! You added your own twist which made it special!

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! A spectacular sunrise greeted me this morning, after last night’s wild T-storm to the West of me. This huge black cloud hung under the thumbnail moon and spewed lightning. Both sheets and bolts. But I did not hear any thunder. It was amazing. Thank you for keeping our lists Roy. Morning Dailyites. @smitty34877 Terry, praying that you all feel better soon. Off early to the gym, then this evening I am helping my “traveling Sister” load ArriveCAN on her phone & open her account. That way we will be ready when it is time to load the health info. Just the mention of technology stresses her out. So I am sure we will have a glass or two of wine. Perhaps they could get.a job on a BHB….. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ******* Broadbent NV White (Vinho Verde) Portugal Fruity, but with a crisp citrus zing. Very good ratings from critics & consumers. A decent number of online distributors with prices starting at $8.95! Winemaker Notes Bartholomew Broadbent’s deep roots in Portugal inspired him to create his own range of table wines. His vision was to produce the most reliable and traditional of all Vinho Verdes and to resolve the usual whine that Vinho Verde never tastes like it tastes in Portugal. The solution was twofold: to partner with a winery that had consistent production, and to ship the wines in refrigerated containers. The latter enable the wine to taste as fresh and spritzy as it would ever taste in Portugal, and since its launch in 2005, Broadbent Vinho Verde has rapidly earned the reputation as one of the finest Vinho Verdes. The most popular white wine from Portugal, is a deliciously refressing, light wine. "Verde", meaning "Green" refers to the hints of lime color. It is an ideal warm weather wine, excellent for lunch and picnics, or an evening apertif. It makes a brilliant pairing with any fish, shellfish and poultry. Blend: 50% Loureiro, 40% Trajadura, 10% Pedernã

Pauline, how wonderful to “see” you! It is lovely to have you officially join the group! But Graham has allowed us all to get to know you!

Thanks Sharon, I have a rescheduled Alaska cruise tour, that I am reluctant to mention. I do not want to jinx myself. There have been so many changes it is exhausting going through the website bookmarks and archived emails to see which ones are still relevant & delete the rest. But we are just under four weeks away, and I am starting to believe this will really happen. I haven’t been to Alaska since 1995, so I might not recognize many places.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! Another gorgeous morning here. A very handsome buck is enjoying an early morning rest in my back yard. Bindi is being a bit lazy this morning, no interest in an early morning walk. Of course we did have a late bedtime walk yesterday. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! @smitty34877 Terry, I am so sorry to read that COVID has hit you! Prayers for all of you, especially Tana & DH. @kazuJacqui, I think Shadow’s prayer has been answered. A local animal advocate shared this yesterday. Who knows what was in Shadow’s past? A helpful tip for those of you working from home… Chores, gym, weeding through bookmarks for websites & emails related to an upcoming trip - postponed for a year. I can not believe how much info I have accumulated. Anyone interested in covering the “wine du jour” from August 28th - September 17th? I can provide you with an advanced copy of the list to help. I expect to have some internet access on the trip, but based on blogs I followed, there will be quite a few days with little or no internet access. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! ********** Francesco Cirelli 2018 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo This wine sounds lovely. Not widely reviewed and a bit elusive, I would love to try it, if I could find it. I found a few online distributors with prices starting at $20.64. 93 Wine Enthusiast Freshly pressed blackberries, cherries and cranberries take on earthy elements of crushed herbs and gravel in this amphora-aged Montepulciano. There's a polished, supple feel to the berry fruit on the medium-bodied palate, with streaks of crushed mineral and earthy spice lending depth. The finish lingers long on a bright cherry-skin note.

Thank you for today’s Report & Daily, Rich! It was cool here this morning. Just delightful! Lots of deer grazing this morning. Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites! Off early to the gym, then Aldi, family visits & pool time. My Sister loved this one…. Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone! *********** Avalanche 2019 Fendant (Valais) Our first Swiss wine and a varietal that I’ve not encountered before. It has an excellent rating from the Wine Enthusiast folk. Would love to try it. A bit elusive, but I found one online distributor offering it for $21.99. Description From: Valais, Switzerland Varietal: Fendant AVALANCHE WINES BY OLIVIER ROTEN A Swiss Wine Project How does a love story begin? Perhaps with a meal and a glass of wine... and the discovery that Switzerland, known for its incredibly beautiful yet sometimes treacherous mountain terrain, is also the home of vineyard lands that, for centuries, have produced wines that evoke the country’s unique culture and terroir. Our Avalanche wines feature several indigenous grape varietals grown in the high-elevation mountain valleys of the Valais region. They have been carefully chosen to showcase what the best Swiss winemakers have known for generations—that Switzerland produces some of the greatest wines (both red & white) in the world, which the rest of the world has not yet discovered. Just like the mountain peaks and valleys, there is much about Switzerland and its’ history, terrain, terroir and tradition still left to discover. What you discover will surprise and possibly even overwhelm you. Grapes are whole cluster pressed and thereafter the wine goes through fermentation in concrete tanks at controlled temperatures. The wine undergoes partial malolactic fermentation and is then aged for one year in concrete tanks before bottling. 92 Wine Enthusiast This wine is straw colored, with aromas of orange blossom, jasmine, lemon-lime zest and roasted yellow pepper, with whiffs of petrol and tomato leaf. Bright on entry and in the mouth, it is well balanced, with flavors of orange pith, mango, yellow cherry and fresh oregano. The finish is pleasantly acidic and persistent.