RisqueSommelier.com

Risqué has just had a delightful day in San Francisco where he had the pleasure of spending the day at the Bliss Spa located at the W Hotel where Bryan, the cute massage therapist alleviated all his built-up tension with his gentle but strong hands, arms and an occasional elbow.

After exhausting the spa services, Risqué made his way to the infamous Michael Mina’s Restaurant bar in the St. Francis Hotel where Boris, the handsome bartender surprised Risqué with the perfect martini (Boris created) to complete his spa experience called “Indian Summer”.

Risqué loved it so much that he couldn’t wait to share it with his devout LUSHES.

Indian Summer

- 1.5 oz. Ketel One Citroen

- .75 oz. Gabriel Boudier Crème de Cassis

- 1 oz. Jorge Odonez Malaga Moscatel 2001

- 2 broken pieces of cucumber

- .75 oz. Fresh lime juice

- 1 drop Fee Brothers Grapefruit Bitters

- Splash of egg white

Fill shaker with ice, combine ingredients and shake, shake and shake. Pour into chilled martini glass and garnish with a slice of cucumber.

Makes 1 martini

Enjoy, my darlings…take a day off for a Spatini and go to the spa and afterwards, indulge in an Indian Summer.

Marchese Antinori Riserva 1996 Chianti Classico

While sharing a lovely afternoon on the dinning terrace on a late spring evening, Risqué was charmed by the presence of one of his newest LUSHES who came baring offerings; she brought with her a bottle of Marchese Antinori Reserva 1996 Chianti Classico. Risqué’s little soiree immediately centered around this lovely bottle of wine where everyone partaking referred to it as “Tongue Candy”.

The face of this wine reflects deep dark red with glints of fiery amber. One smell reveals earthy terroir and stoney minerality which leads to dark candied flavors of licorice, root beer and plum…almost Port’esque. The 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon blend swirls on the tongue with a woody tannic frame that showcases more licorice drops, root beer and Montmorency cherries. This Chianti Classico is made from selected grapes that have been grown on the Antinori Santa Cristina, Pèppoli and Badia a Passignano estates in the Mercatale Val di Pesa in Chianti Classico and where the wine has been aged in one and two year old French oak barrels.

Risqué thinks there is probably not a better term for a precious and delicious libation than “Tongue Candy” and this little confection certainly delivered oodles of exactly that. Risqué would pair this with almost anything boldly flavored, hickory grilled Cowboy bone-in Rib Eye steaks or Spicy Cajun grilled wild King Salmon come to mind. Along with dinner… Risqué would also pair this with a little “Eye Candy”… Sweet! Points for his new LUSH!

Alcohol 13% ($65)

Robert F. Varga, Nude on Blue Towel

Sun, Seashells, Surf, Salty, Sand, Sails, Swim Suits, Sandals, Skin and Sex all Swirl through Risqué’s Salacious mind as Summer begins to Sizzle. Summers always Summon images of the Season in Ptown MaSSachuSettS and days on the Shore and in the Swale preserves. Robert Varga Seizes this Sensual Scene Succinctly. The Shadows and Semi Sculptural aspect of his brush Stroke bring Stimulation, Spirit and Scope to his Sedulity.

Supposing yourself a voyeur Seagull, the Slim, Smooth, Sufficient, Stomach prone Subject peers down the Strand at Something of interest along the near Seaside… Risqué’s Savoir faire Says “There is Surely Something of Significant Substance to Spur Such Speculation”. Risqué’s finds the Subject’s observed supple aSS quite Satisfyingly Splendiferous!!!

Risqué recommends you Slip by the Leslie/Lohman Gallery Site and Surf the Supplications of Sumptuous art Skill in Varga’s Submissions.

Risqué, a lover, believer and consumer of aphrodisiacs has finally found an aphrodisiac in wine form. Full of love, lust and beauty, this mystical potion was quickly plucked in the night allowing for “cold skin maceration”, fermented in stainless steel and then aged on lees for 4 months. Truly a gift from the gods via Cotes de Gascogne.

The salacious scent revels soft floral and zesty citrus leaving a downy softness on the nose. On the tongue slides Verve (enthusiasm and vitality) with mossy and earthy notes, then after a delayed response explodes surprising tangerine and mandarin orange ending with a little stoney minerality and “racy acidity”.

Beautiful with a sweet Malpeque oyster topped with a light squeeze of citrus or paired with double crème brie.

Risqué says open the bottle and drink it solo because you really need to feel this wine first before taking on any delicacies. Aphrodisiac Magnifique!

Alcohol 12.5% ($12)

Who knew that after all these years of having Gay Parié, France would finally give us some Gay Wine??? Risqué say’s it’s about time!!! The new wine that will be launched 1 July is called TendreBulle Gay Vin by Domaine de Boyer.

Radog 2006 Dry Gewürztraminer, Monterey County, CA

It has been said that a dog with a loosely wagging tail is usually a dog that is friendly or excited. Risqué would believe this after his LUSHES anxiously wagged their tails in anticipation for more of the Radog Dry Gewürztraminer…everyone was certainly excited…and amazingly enough…wagging their tails.

Radog is certainly the best in show strutting a winning color of pale, pale straw and sniffing scents of light wet straw, sweet honeysuckle, white peach and light minerality notes. One wag of the tongue and flavors from this Alsatian style wine bark of bergamot, lime zest, juicy ripe peach, Bartlett pear, Gala apples and honeysuckle that are deliciously curled around a distinctive minerality note.

Training Risqué LUSHES is a difficult task. For Risqué …it takes a lot of discipline and obedience training with dedication and unconditional love to develop a LUSH’S keen sense of smell, taste and ability to retrieve a good bottle of wine. But in the end they are truly Risqué’s best friend.

Would you be a good dog LUSH and fetch pour Risqué some more of the fabulous Radog 2006 Dry Gewürztraminer?

Alcohol 13.8% ($19)

Grasso 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Olive Ridge Vineyard, Napa Valley, CA

Loves come and loves go… and occasionally you find someone something that you want to hold on too… Holding is a skill… a discipline… an art to be perfected. “A little now… and a lot later” is Risqué’s motto when it comes to retention.

The 2005 exudes a showy garnet… almost black juice with scents of huge chewy oak, tobacco, blackberry, cherry, cedar and a touch of licorice. Opening further, a lovely essence of English toffee is revealed. The huge iron tannic spine structure carries in the mouth more chewy oak, very dark juicy berry and broad leaf cigar tobacco leading to a long finish of smoke and mocha. Risqué recommends lengthy decanting to reduce the alcohol content. Having been “barrel aged for 19 months in 66% new tight-grained French and Hungarian oak”, this unfined and unfiltered gem is definitely a keeper and should be added to your wine cellar as it will benefit from many years to come.

A case of this delicious collectable Cab Sav… will certainly satiate the now… but Risqué would recommend two… one for now and one for the later. One night stands are built on the here and now… Relationships are built on the long term… This one’s worth your investment of time… a true keeper!!!

Alcohol 14.5% ($54)

Ironstone Vineyards 2006 “Obsession” Symphony, CA

WOW! Risqué is rarely caught without a highly accurate assumption of just about anything in life… Men… Love… Food… and it is especially true with wine. The Obsession shattered Risqué’s accuracy. The bottle was a gift from some of Risqué’s lushy neighbors several years back and he had hesitated opening it as his assumption was that it was a sweet Riesling’esq liquid which isn’t among Risqué’s favorites.

The color is barely darker than white tea but don’t let it’s pale appearance mislead you as the nose explodes with fruit… ripe peaches, mouthwatering grapefruit, green pear, exotic ginger and sweet honeysuckle all with a soft wet shale minerality. As it nova’s in your mouth it again delivers more tangy grapefruit and lime with sweet florals and honey with the same sophisticated minerality all settling into a crisp, clean finish.

This Symphony is not only memorable… it has etched it’s taste portrait on Risqué’s palate and mind and has him “OBSESSING” over more!

Alcohol 12.0% ($8)

 Tudor 2005 Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Maria, CA

When Risqué thinks Dynasty, Ramessis, Ming, Caesar, Von Hapsburg, the House of Bourbon and Alexis Carrington come to mind, however Risqué is remiss not to mention the House of Tudor… which encompassed just a few notable Royals like Henry VIII (and a few expendable wives) and Elizabeth (the highly disputed Virgin Queen) number one. This stately and regal Pinot Noir pays great homage to every great Dynasty and especially to it’s Patronym… Tudor.

The legs of this crystal clear jeweled cherry liquid cling to the glass resembling arched cathedral windows and present a royal cherry nose crowned with earthy mushroom, rare Chinese tea, treasured sweet tobacco and fragrant Lebanon cedar. Across any Henry, Elizabeth or Mary’s lips this long reigning Pinot proclaims huge juicy rich Queen Anne cherry, wild brambly raspberry and yet undiscovered cola.

While Risqué sipped this from his best English Crystal (Carrington… adored the Bitches!!!) glasses he could not help but wonder… what would the Tudor Dynasty have said about the origin of this noble Pinot???… St. Lucia… Catholic you know… Mary could lose her head over it!

Alcohol 13.8 ($39)

Perfect pairs are rare among food and wine but rarer in our human lives. Risqué had the honor and privilege of sharing a night with his newly wedded Nephew and his perfectly paired lovely Bride, where they shared a decadent and entwined repast at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine in Orlando.

Cakebread Cellars 2006 Chardonnay, Napa, CA

Swaying bamboo yellow swirled in the low light perfumed with exotic vanilla, buttered toast, crisp apple, ripe pear and Florida orange blossom florals. More crisp pear filled the mouth with heightened sweet woody notes and juicy acidic pineapple.

Alcohol 14.1% ($40)

The Cakebread Chardonnay paired symbiotically with our perfectly coupled Roy’s sushi selections of Tuna Roll topped with Hamachi, Salmon & Avocado along with another roll of Seared Kobe Beef wrapped around Dynamite Crab, Tempura Asparagus & Avocado finishing with Island Style Ahi Tuna Poke served with Baby Greens, Truffled Soy and Inamona Jus.

Risqué’s choice of wine for the Honeymoon party was equally yoked.

Laetitia 2006 La Colline Pinot Noir, Single Vineyard, Arroyo Grande Valley, CA

In the romantically dim light the hues of this liquid were dark ruby surrendering a stupendous old rose and antique cedar chest nose, perfect in celebration of a wedding along with earthy moist forest floor, cola and aromatic pink pepper. The fine tannic frame supported a giant Pinot marrying more delicious cola, ripe cherry and buttery sticky caramel.

Alcohol 14.5% ($60)

Risqué intuitively requested the La Colline to accompany his connubial choice of entrée, Rustic Spice Grilled Filet Mignon & Teppanyaki Seared Tiger Shrimp with a Pearl Onion Cabernet reduction and Scampi Beurre Blanc.

Pure BLISS! Congratulations and every wish for a perfectly paired future… to the Newlyweds! Sunny and Ryan.