RisqueSommelier.com

Last week Risqué was in the HOT humid sun of Orlando where thousands of beautiful handsome men…and women gathered for GayDayS Orlando to frolic scantily in the sun, blatantly cruise the parks, daringly ride the rides and if in Risqué’s company, drink fabulous wine. Risqué had the pleasure of hosting a fantabulous LUSHES wine tasting party featuring delicious wines from Leona Valley Winery to holding court over a spectacular dinner at Seasons 52 where Risqué converted six fine looking men into Risqué LUSHES… boys always love to compare Pinots!

Etude 2006 Pinot Noir, Carneros, Napa Valley, CA

A delight to every LUSHES nose was the very fruity cherry, soothing coffee, cola and fresh raspberry that ends clean. On the tongue bursts a Burgundian style wine of earthy mushroom, big ripe plum and cherries with hints of oregano. Risqué found it paired fabulously with his spinach salad topped with blue cheese, Anjou pear, toasted pine nuts drizzled with a light vinaigrette.

Alcohol 14.2% ($40)

Freeman 2005 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, CA

With wafting scents of earthy mushrooms, dark sweet plum and silky dark chocolate, the tastes wrapped around the tongue with huge dark cherry, cola, espresso and BOYsenberry all nicely balanced and pairing well with entrees that encompassed mushroom flatbreads, to pork tenderloin and lamb chops.

Alcohol 14.2% ($40)

Depending on whether one likes a big Pinot or a beautifully shaped Pinot, Risqué finds each have their own ability to bring pleasure to his lips.

Risqué found himself with an afternoon in need of some entertainment, especially of the liquid variety and the moment couldn’t have provided a better opportunity. Seated at the Wine Merchant Wine Bar at the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero in San Francisco, the friendly Wine Steward offered Risqué a flight tasting of Hartley Ostini’s Hitching Post Winery collection of Pinot Noir. Four delicious Pinot Noir’s with which Risqué spent his afternoon:

2006 Cork Dancer, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara ($30)

This liquid is a beautiful Garnet color with a bright fruit nose loaded with pure unadulterated cherry. The mouth is tantalized with Tart Cherry a wonderful pronounced mushroom earthiness and lots and lots of rich cola… Delightful!!!

2005 Cargassachi, Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills ($43)

Slightly tea stained rose colored succulence yields a nose with plenty of damp and earthy forest floor. Lusciously soft and supple in the mouth it is brimming with wild strawberry, tangy rhubarb with a lingering spice filled cedary finish… Intoxicating!!!

2006 Rio Vista, Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills ($43)

Purple tinged garnet colored jewel has spectacular nose filled with dried fig, ripe cherry, green cedar and a wisp of smoke. The liquid has a satiny mouth feel with sweet cola, cherry conserve on a elegant and refined tannic frame. The lengthy cherry filled finish is delightfully integrated and balanced with the wood, fruit, acid and tannins… marvelously sophisticated. Risqué would never have guessed this was a California Pinot Noir!!! Amazing!!!

2006 Highliner Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara ($43)

The sparkling garnet liquid has a bright cherry fruit filled nose with earthy Shitake mushrooms. The impression of sweetness floods the mouth along with rich toasted oak frame supporting a body of dried concentrated plum and tart cherry. This wine will age nicely… well over 10 years. Stupendious!!!

It had been a long time since four such lovely beauties had left Risqué a bit overwhelmed yet very pleasantly satiated… He hopes it happens again very…. very… soon.

2006 St. Rita’s Earth, Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills ($35)

Little to no nose but lots of alcohol… typical Pinot Noir flavor with Cola aftertaste but quite HOT in the mouth.

Eagle Eye 2005 Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, CA

Risqué definitely has an eagle eye for that which is extraordinary. He has perfected his eagle eye in his transition from beautiful young chicken to savvy hawk. Risqué’s refined skills lead him to this savvy hawk Sauvignon Blanc.

The liquid treats the eye with yellow that glints with light summer green. The fresh soaring nose yields the traditional varietal grapefruit with bolder notes of succulent tropical guava, fragrant green lime, ripe Anjou pear and florals dominated by citrus blossom. Crisp and clean reign supreme on the palate with nuances of more sweet guava, Anjou pear and tangy lime. Delish with herbed Chevre and dried fruits!

If you find yourself as somewhat of a savvy hawk or savvy chicken, swoop down…not go down, and wrap your talons around this beautiful bottle.

Risqué says…”Watch out my little chickadees!!!”

Alcohol: 13.75% ($20)

Patz & Hall 2005 Chardonnay, Russian River (Dutton Ranch), CA

Risqué prefers beautiful blond men on Tuesdays… or whatever day and the same is true with mouth watering delicious Chardonnays… on Tuesday!!! But this is a “Blond” that Risqué would get oral with… any day.

Of course the color would be… a handsome sunny yellow natural blond with aromas rich with butter and toasty toffee, honey, ripe pineapple, cardamon balancing against a sophisticated minerality. The 100% Chardonnay was sur lie aged in 45% Burgundian French Oak barrels yielding a mouth filling and rich nectar of toasted oak, bountiful butterscotch, citrusy acidic Island pineapple, nice minerality and settling into warm buttered brioche.

Risqué dons his sun glasses (and just a little gay apparel!)… a pair of toasty buttered blonds and several chilled bottles of this decadent warm weather treat…. Here’s to his pool boys! Yum!

Alcohol: 14.7% ($39)