RisqueSommelier.com

Muhammad Qasim
(1627) Musée du Louvre, Paris, France.

Wine Pourer

Illuminated miniature of Shah Abbas I (1571-1629), Persia

Shah Abbas I, through the story of this ancient gay poem, tells of the Muslim prince embracing his servant wine boy through its seductive lyrics… “May life grant all that you desire from three lips, those of your lover, the river, and the cup.”

Risqué firmly presses his lips against his wine cup contemplating the lips of his lover and that of the river flowing from his cup.

Input needed LUSHES… should Risqué exchange his pool boy for a wine boy?

Ten Knots 2006 Beachcomber White Wine, Paso Robles

Warm summer tropical trade winds brush against Risqué’s face with the rising humidity just adding to his thirst for something, cool, exotic and refreshing! His white sails were neatly trimmed for a smooth adventure into the evening with gorgeous lushes and a delicious view of the sun sinking into the Pacific. Risqué’s desires were met with complete satisfaction at 10 knots with this 47% Viognier, 46% Rousanne and 7% Marsanne Rhone style white from Paso Robles.

The sun danced across the golden citrine color which yielded pure sunshine through the Meyer lemon custard nose parsed with sweet toasted coconut. Again this viscous liquid is pure buttered tropical sun in the mouth with a huge impression of sweetness and more Meyer Lemon, toasted coconut, dried apricots and ripe juicy orange papaya… all with a perfectly clean, lightly acidic and soft, dry finish.

Risqué is always more about the journey than the destination and this white blend certainly helped to billow his sails and take him to his desired destination… ahhhh… get the message and enjoy this pure tropical bliss….

Alcohol: 14.9% ($21)

George Quaintance, a man of many talents was once a portrait artist, ballet dancer, coiffure designer, photographer, director of local plays, graphic artist, sculptor, night club dancer, body-builder and ultimately (tongue in cheek) just an art editor

George photographed nude men when it was virtually illegal and even Tom of Finland has openly admitted to copying Quaintance’s artistic style. His works paved the way for contemporary gay erotic art when there was no queer asphalt… This is not your average Bathhouse… as Risqué would love to find a bathhouse as beautiful as this and especially…. men as perfect as this. Risqué pictures himself among the Lilly pads tugging on the swath for the opportunity to meet their divine acquaintances.

Foxen 2006 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley

Holy Virgin Mary, this is fountain head pinot noir! In a lowly little shack, along a dusty road in “Santa Maria” this savior was born where horses, donkeys and doves foretold the coming. Risqué journeyed through many days and nights via German camel seeking out, beneath the star, this humble but sacred place to worship this divine effluence. Risqué cannot figure why the original account did not bring Gold, Frankincense, Myrrh and Foxen Pinot Noir.

This leggy medium-bodied liquid is a gift of royal purple garnet. The virgin pour from the bottle expose hints of sophisticated terroir quickly dissipating in the glass unveiling beautiful pinot fruit with a lovely wild shitake mushroom earthiness, cola, dried strawberries and cherries. Slipping across the tongue like a satin swath is huge pinot fruit coated in the exotic spices of cinnamon and cardamon, more cola and root beer with raspberries and cherries providing the ultimate incarnation of Pinot Noir.

May the Virgin of Foxen be with you! Hail Marys full of…Wine.

Alcohol 14.8% ($40)

CDC Alert

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a medical alert about
a highly contagious, potentially dangerous virus that is transmitted
orally, by hand, and even electronically.

This virus is called Weary Overload Recreational Killer (WORK). If you
receive WORK from your boss, any of your colleagues or anyone else via
any means whatsoever - DO NOT TOUCH IT.

This virus will wipe out your private life completely. If you should
come into contact with WORK you should immediately leave the premises.

Take two good friends to the nearest grocery store and purchase one or
both of the antidotes - Work Isolating Neutralizer Extract (WINE) and
Bothersome Employer Elimination Rebooter (BEER).

Take the antidote repeatedly until WORK  has been completely eliminated
from your  system.

You should immediately forward this medical alert to your friends. If
you do not have friends, you have already been infected and WORK is
controlling your life.

Eagle Eye 2005 Voluptuous, Red Wine, Napa Valley

The first words across Risqué’s lips following his first sip were “sensual and voluptuous”. With a veritable tango of flavors following, Risqué was struck to find the title of the artwork on the label is “Red Hot Dip”. It couldn’t be more appropriate! But in Risqué’s fruitive mind there is nothing sexier than a deep and powerful dip in a Tango which was historically danced between two men.

A flashy magenta with brickish red overtones shimmy in the glass while the nose dances to soft white pepper, caramelized cola, concentrated cherry, tantalizing blackberry and subtle oak. This is a satiny smooth Tango in the mouth with tart cherry, intense plum and dried herbs with a toffee embrace following. All of this foot work is on a light balanced tannic dance floor with a finale where licorice emerges from the cola. Voluptuous is a seductive medium-bodied blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 9% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Malbec, 3% Zinfandel.

If you love the feel of sensuousness, passionately on the hunt for sexy and have a tendency to be seductive, Risqué recommends wrapping your arms around Voluptuous and succumb to your own Red Hot Dip!

Alcohol 14.6% ($25)

Estancia 2005 Reserve Chardonnay, Monterey

Risqué not only grew up on a street named Hardwood but he currently lives on a court with wood in the name and being true to his pathology he still unabashedly is attracted to wood, especially hardwood. Thus, Risqué has found a wine that bangs in the mouth with…what else…hardwood.

The 2005 100% Chardonnay shows a nice light straw with hints of lemon yellow on the clear filtered edge giving way to aromas of light soft white flowers, creamy sweet butter and toasty hardwood oak. Fresh in the glass there are huge tastes of Meyer lemon that eventually dissipate. The nice moderately acidic juice ultimately drops off and reveals additional flavors of ripe green pear, black fig, Tahitian vanilla and warm toasted pine nuts with long lingering notes of caramelized hardwood.

Although the abundant toasty wood note will leave a smile on your face, Risqué warns…be careful of the splinters!

Alcohol 13.5% ($19)

Felix d’Eon - Man Picnic - Colored Pencil

Soliciting the effect of paint from a pencil is quite a rare talent. Felix d’Eon coaxes the classic masters via male form from this simple medium. The effect renders the desire within the viewer to join in. Risqué imagines the literary work “As You Like It” being read aloud with Shakespeare’s gay innuendo implied. The heat of the day begs clothes be shed and cool water be sought and perhaps even some delicious mischief pursued. Seems to Risqué, the readers gaze is far more fetched by other than Shakespeare’s pros.

Felix d’Eon was born in Guadalajara, Mexico to a Mexican father and a French mother…and you know how Risqué loves anything French. The San Francisco based artist portrays the male art form in a style considered timeless and impressionistic. His works reflect his daily life with friends and lovers as Felix attempts to blend his life and existence into his art.

Risqué delights in what must be the menu at this man picnic especially with the hints of the firmness and angle of the wood in this warm and enticing work.

“Life is a (picnic) and most of the son’s of bitches are starving to death.”

Bergström “Cumberland Reserve” 2006 Pinot Noir

In Scottsdale, Arizona there is a wonderful, new privately owned restaurant called Canal. The name reflects its overlook of the stylish and hip Canal area with a contemporary loft-like lounge environ, featuring the combined influences of haute cuisine and haute couture. The space showcases the fashionable cuisine of Executive Chef Justin Beckett, larger than life runway videos, dramatic drapery and an illuminated serpentine catwalk… for those daring enough to publicly strut their stuff. Risqué, amused by anything haute couture, was amused by not only the concept of the restaurant, but also, the wine selection presented by our accomplished server, Michala, and at her experienced recommendation, chose the Bergström

The visuals deliver the Rubyist of red that fades into light cherry towards the edge of the liquid. First scents exude striking and prevalent dusty stone developing into red luscious cherry, ripe strawberry, sweet spice and cola that ultimately dominate the other scents. A beautiful long ending tantalizes the senses with ripened cherries, black pepper, wild strawberry and more of the stony dry minerality. Risqué recommends that this wine be decanted to illuminate the subtle flavors more quickly.

Risqué and LUSHES enjoyed not only the vogue wine but paired it with a vast array of stylish cuisine such as saucy Garlic Parmesan fries, Crab Spring Rolls, Lobster, shrimp & Truffled Enchiladas, Roasted Meatballs and Asian Chicken Taquitos.

Multiple bottles of this lusty libation were swirled, swished and swallowed by Risqué’s fashion forward entourage before their evening ended with paparazzi and fanfare… Look!!! Isn’t that Marc! Tre Chic!

Alcohol 14.2% ($45)

2005 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Superior, bold, huge and rich… is exactly howRisqué likes his MEN Cabernet Sauvignon. One might construe Risqué to be a wine snob… However, one can definitely consider Risqué a Paul Hobbs snob!

The 2005’s deep and dark burgundy color is showy by maintaining its dark richness almost to the edge of the liquid. Licorice root, coffee, clove, baker’s cocoa and vanilla abound the nose in this unblended, unfined and unfiltered 100% Cabernet Sauvignon where superiority is attained in the mouth with incredible deep rich cherry, light vanilla and clove which eventually develops into a beautiful rich toffee. Overall, this Cabernet Sauvignon is big and lush and full-bodied!!!

Risqué …a self-professed wine snob rates the Paul Hobbs 2005 Cab at a superior 94 while Robert Parker (some other wine snob) rated the 2005 at a substantial 92 points…you choose!

Wine snob or not, trust Risqué …and you will become a Hobbs snob too!

Alcohol 14.6% ($65)